AUTHOR=Wang Nan , Ma Qianqian , Zhang Junxian , Wang Jie , Li Xiaojun , Liang Yan , Wu Xueqiong 

TITLE=Transcriptomics-based anti-tuberculous mechanism of traditional Chinese polyherbal preparation NiuBeiXiaoHe intermediates

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1415951

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1415951

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Integrated traditional Chinese medicine and biomedicine is an effective method to treat tuberculosis (TB). In our previous research, traditional Chinese medicine preparation NiuBeiXiaoHe (NBXH) achieved obvious anti-TB effects in animal experiments and clinical practice. However, the action mechanism of NBXH has not been elucidated.</p></sec><sec><title>Method</title><p>Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected to extract mRNA and differentially expressed (DE) genes were obtained using gene microarray technology. Finally, GEO databases and RT-qPCR were used to verify the results of expression profile.</p></sec><sec><title>Result</title><p>After MTB infection, most upregulated DE genes in mice were immune-related genes, including <italic>cxcl9</italic>, <italic>camp</italic>, <italic>cfb</italic>, <italic>c4b</italic>, <italic>serpina3g</italic>, and <italic>ngp</italic>. Downregulated DE genes included <italic>lrrc74b</italic>, <italic>sult1d1</italic>, <italic>cxxc4</italic>, and <italic>grip2</italic>. After treatment with NBXH, especially high-dose NBXH, the abnormal gene expression was significantly corrected. Some DE genes have been confirmed in multiple GEO datasets or in pulmonary TB patients through RT-qPCR.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>MTB infection led to extensive changes in host gene expression and mainly caused the host’s anti-TB immune responses. The treatment using high-dose NBXH partially repaired the abnormal gene expression, further enhanced the anti-TB immunity included autophagy and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and had a certain inhibitory effect on overactivated immune responses.</p></sec>