Yupingfeng granules alleviate pediatric asthma by regulating CD83 alternative splicing and reducing serum IgE levels

Fang Tang; Jing Huang; Xiaoning Lu; Huasong Zhang; Fang Tang; Jing Huang; Xiaoning Lu; Huasong Zhang

doi:10.3934/Allergy.2025019

AIMS Allergy and Immunology

2025, Volume 9, Issue 4: 257-269. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2025019

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Research article

Yupingfeng granules alleviate pediatric asthma by regulating CD83 alternative splicing and reducing serum IgE levels

1.
Department of Paediatrics; The Affiliated Shunde Hospital of Jinan University, Foshan, 528306, China
2.
Department of Otolaryngology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China

Received: 16 July 2025 Revised: 20 October 2025 Accepted: 04 November 2025 Published: 14 November 2025

Objective
Yupingfeng granules (YPFs), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, have been widely used in managing allergic diseases; yet, their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether YPFs alleviate pediatric asthma by modulating alternative splicing in immune-related genes.
Methods
Fifty-four children with asthma were randomized to receive standard treatment with or without YPF for 30 days. Clinical outcomes were assessed using C-ACT/TRACK scores and serum IgE levels. RNA sequencing of peripheral blood lymphocytes was conducted before and after treatment to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and regulated alternative splicing events (RASEs). Correlations between key RASEs and IgE changes were analyzed.
Results
YPF significantly improved asthma control and reduced serum IgE compared to standard therapy alone (p < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis identified 66 significant RASEs, mainly exon skipping events. Notably, splicing changes in CD83 and PPP2CA were strongly correlated with IgE reduction (r = 0.58 and 0.62, respectively; p < 0.05). Enrichment analysis revealed involvement of pathways such as cAMP signaling and ABC transporters.
Conclusion
YPF may exert immunomodulatory effects in pediatric asthma by regulating alternative splicing of immune genes, especially CD83 and PPP2CA, thereby reducing IgE levels. These findings suggest a novel post-transcriptional mechanism for traditional herbal therapy in allergic airway disease.
- Yupingfeng granules,
- pediatric asthma,
- CD83,
- IgE,
- alternative splicing,
- RNA-seq
Citation: Fang Tang, Jing Huang, Xiaoning Lu, Huasong Zhang. Yupingfeng granules alleviate pediatric asthma by regulating CD83 alternative splicing and reducing serum IgE levels[J]. AIMS Allergy and Immunology, 2025, 9(4): 257-269. doi: 10.3934/Allergy.2025019

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Abstract

Objective

Yupingfeng granules (YPFs), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, have been widely used in managing allergic diseases; yet, their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether YPFs alleviate pediatric asthma by modulating alternative splicing in immune-related genes.

Methods

Fifty-four children with asthma were randomized to receive standard treatment with or without YPF for 30 days. Clinical outcomes were assessed using C-ACT/TRACK scores and serum IgE levels. RNA sequencing of peripheral blood lymphocytes was conducted before and after treatment to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and regulated alternative splicing events (RASEs). Correlations between key RASEs and IgE changes were analyzed.

Results

YPF significantly improved asthma control and reduced serum IgE compared to standard therapy alone (p < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis identified 66 significant RASEs, mainly exon skipping events. Notably, splicing changes in CD83 and PPP2CA were strongly correlated with IgE reduction (r = 0.58 and 0.62, respectively; p < 0.05). Enrichment analysis revealed involvement of pathways such as cAMP signaling and ABC transporters.

Conclusion

YPF may exert immunomodulatory effects in pediatric asthma by regulating alternative splicing of immune genes, especially CD83 and PPP2CA, thereby reducing IgE levels. These findings suggest a novel post-transcriptional mechanism for traditional herbal therapy in allergic airway disease.

Acknowledgments

The work was funded by the 2022 Self-Funded Science and Technology Innovation Project by Foshan Science and Technology Bureau (2220001005246), the Medical and Health Science and Technology Plan of Longgang Shenzhen (LGKCYLWS2022019).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Author contributions

F. Tang, and H. Zhang designed the study. H. Zhang performed the analyses with assistance from F. Tang. J. Huang and X Lu contributed to experimental design and experimental operation. F. Tang, and H. Zhang wrote the manuscript. F. Tang, and H. Zhang supervised the study. All authors discussed the results and interpretation, and contributed to the final version of the paper.

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