Ethnopharmacological relevance: The incidence and mortality of bronchial asthma are increasing, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is widely regarded as the common cause of clinical exacerbation of asthma. Ma-Xing-GanShi decoction (MXGSD), a classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is well-known for treating respiratory diseases, while the mechanism of effecting on RSV-exacerbated asthma remains to be explored. Aim of the study: In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which MXGSD exerts a protective effect on asthma exacerbated by RSV in vivo and in vitro. Materials and methods: MXGSD is composed of four Chinese medicine, including Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C. A.Mey. (herbaceous stem, 27g), Prunus armeniaca L. (dry seed, 27g), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (radix and rhizome, 18g), and Gypsum fibrosum (main component: CaSO4.2H2O, 54g). In the present study, the exacerbated asthmatic mice model with the treatment of OVA plus RSV was replicated, and accompanied by the TMT proteomic analysis and further experimental investigations. Then, the protective effect of MXGSD (13.2, 6.6, 3.3 g/ kg/d, 7d) on the mice treated by OVA plus RSV, and the mechanism of regulating TRPV1 was explored. In addition, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of 16HBE cells pretreated with MXGSD medicated serum was also tested after stimulation with the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin. Results: The results suggested that MXGSD could reduce the levels of inflammation cells, airway hyper responsiveness, and pathological damage of lung tissue. TMT quantitative proteomics analysis and further experimental exploration revealed that MXGSD could reduce the levels of IL-4, IL-13, PGE2, and SP in BAL and down-regulate the expression of TRPV1 mRNA and protein in lung tissue. Furthermore, 16HBE cells stimulated by capsaicin showed an increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, while the pretreatment of MXGSD medicated serum could reduce it. Conclusion: MSGSD showed a protective effect on RSV-exacerbated asthma, which may be related to its regulation of TRPV1 expression and reduction of Th2 cytokines and neurogenic inflammatory mediators. It may provide an objective basis and reference for the clinical application of MXGSD.
