Ginkgo biloba extract down-regulates TLR4/NLRP3 signaling to protect airway inflammation in COPD rats

Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025, 10, v.60 1833-1838     font:big middle small

Fund programs: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No . 81874453) ; Scientific Research Project of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine (No . 2023ZD007)

Authors:Pan Ying1 , Mo Xueni 1 , Wang Gerui 1 , Feng Yuqing2 , Xie Fang2 , Mao Meiling1 , Wei Tingting1 , Xiang Jing1 , Huang Lianjian1 , Wei Fanbo1 , Yang Yibao2

Keywords:ginkgo biloba extract; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway; inflammation of the airways; airway remodeling; animal experiment;

DOI:10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000-1492.2025.10.008

〔Abstract〕 Objective To explore the regulatory effects of ginkgo biloba extract on airway inflammatory injury and Toll⁃like receptor 4(TLR4)/nucleotide⁃binding oligomerization domain⁃containing 3(NLRP3) pathway in rats with vided into four groups : the normal control group , the model group , the prednisone treatment group , and the ginkgo biloba extract treatment group , with 9 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group , the COPD rat mod⁃els in the other groups was constructed by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with ciga⁃rette smoke exposure. After successful modeling , the rats were continuously administered drugs for 12 weeks , fol⁃lowed by sampling. The general conditions and respiratory symptoms of the rats were observed. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining technique ; the mRNA and protein ex⁃pression levels of TLR4 , tumor necrosis factor⁃α (TNF⁃α ) , interleukin⁃1β (IL⁃1β) and NLRP3 in rat lung tissueswere detected by real⁃time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT⁃qPCR) and Western blot. Results Com⁃pared with the normal control group , the lung tissues of rats in the model group were significantly damaged , and the protein and mRNA expression of TLR4 , TNF⁃α , IL⁃1β , and NLRP3 increased ( P < 0. 05 ) . Compared with the model group , lung tissue damage was reduced in the prednisone group and the ginkgo biloba extract group , and TLR4 , TNF⁃α , IL⁃1β , NLRP3 protein and mRNA expression decreased (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Ginkgo biloba airway inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway.