Supplementary Material for: Hochuekkito, a Japanese Herbal Medicine, Restores Metabolic Homeostasis between Mitochondrial and Glycolytic Pathways Impaired by Influenza A Virus Infection
<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Hochuekkito (HKT), a traditional Japanese
herbal medicine (Kampo), has been used to treat symptoms of several
diseases. In a recent clinical study, HKT was shown to be protective
against the influenza virus infection. However, the underlying mechanism
of the prophylactic effect is not clear. Mitochondrial and glycolytic
pathways play important roles in cellular energy metabolism to maintain
biological functions. These metabolic pathways are affected by the
influenza virus infection. In this study, we examined the relationship
between the preventive effects of HKT against the influenza virus
infection and cellular energy metabolism in mitochondria and glycolysis
using Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1)
virus (IAV). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Mitochondrial and glycolytic
metabolic pathways were evaluated on the basis of the oxygen consumption
rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), respectively,
using the XF24 Extracellular Analyzer. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The
OCR/ECAR ratio in IAV-infected cells was lower than that in control
cells. Cells that were treated with HKT before IAV infection showed a
metabolic pattern similar to that in the control cells (increase in both
OCR and ECAR). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our results suggest that HKT
not only activates both mitochondrial and glycolytic energy metabolism
in IAV-infected cells but also helps maintain metabolic homeostasis
similar to that in noninfected cells.</p