Mechanism Study on the Inhibition of Allergic Rhinitis in Rats by Regulating the PI3K/mTOR/HIF-α Signaling Pathway with She-Ti-Zhi-Qiu decoction

Objective Exploring the effect of She-Ti-Zhi-Qiu decoction (STZQ) on the PI3K/mTOR/HIF-α signaling pathway by constructing a rat model of allergic rhinitis (AR).Methods Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into Control group (C), Model group (M), Low-dose STZQ group (L-STZQ), Medium-dose STZQ group (M-STZQ), High-dose STZQ group (H-STZQ), and the Desloratadine citrate disodium group (D). OVA+Al(OH)3 was used to construct AR rat model. L-STZQ group, M-STZQ group, H-STZQ group, and D group were gavaged with low, medium, and high doses of STZQ and Western medicine for 14 days, respectively. C group and M group were gavaged with normal saline. The apparent indexes were measured by behavioral scores of rats. Serum and nasal mucosa of rats were collected. HE was used to observe the pathological conditions of nasal mucosa. The serum levels of IgE, TSLP, IL-25, IL-5, Eotaxin-1 and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. The expression of PI3K protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of PI3K, mTOR and HIF-1α were detected by Real-time PCR to explore the mechanism of STZQ in the treatment of AR.Results Compared with M group, M-STZQ, H-STZQ and D groups could reduce the inflammatory lesions of nasal mucosa and decrease the behavioral score of AR rats (P<0.05); H-STZQ and D groups could reduce the serum IgE level in AR rats (P<0.05). The M-STZQ group inhibited the levels of IL-25 and IL-8 (P<0.05), while the H-STZQ and D groups decreased the levels of TSLP, IL-25, IL-5, Eotaxin-1, and IL-8 (P<0.05). H-STZQ and D groups could down-regulate the expression of PI3K protein (P<0.05) and inhibit mTOR and HIF-1α mRNA levels (P<0.05).Conclusion She-Ti-Zhi-Qiu decoction may improve AR by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR/HIF-α signaling pathway, and can serve as a new target for the treatment of AR.