The Japanese Herbal (Kampo) Medicine Hochuekkito Attenuates Lung Inflammation in Lung Emphysema

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder. It often causes weight loss, which considered poor prognostic factor. A Japanese herbal Kampo medicine, Hochuekkito (TJ-41), has been reported to prevent inflammation and loss in COPD patients, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain unknown. In present study, we investigated role of TJ-41 vivo using mouse model lung emphysema. We used epithelium-specific Taz conditional knockout mice (Taz CKO mice) as emphysema mimicking chronic COPD. Acute was induced by intratracheal lipopolysaccharide administration, simulating exacerbation. Mice were fed diet containing 2% or control diet. showed increased numbers cells bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared mice. This effect reduced treatment. acute exacerbation model, mitigated attenuated histopathological studies. Additional vitro experiments human macrophage cell line U-937 demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression significantly downregulated TJ-41. These results suggest anti-inflammatory effects both phase during an conclusion, our study sheds light on establishes its potential new therapy preventive medicine for exacerbations long-time maintenance patients.