Man Zhang1, Heng Fan1, Songwei Tan2, Qing Tang3, Xingxing Liu1, Dongmei Zuo1, Yi Liao1, Zhen Nan1, Chen Tan1. 1. Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. 2. School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. 3. Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. Electronic address: tqqing405@126.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract due to the imbalance of immune homeostasis of T helper cells and/or regulatory T cells (Tregs). The Traditional Chinese medicine herb has been clinically proven for use in the treatment of IBD but its possible mechanism remains unknown. The study aims to assess the effect of Chinese medicinal herb decoction QRZSLXF (Qing Re Zao Shi Liang Xue receipt) for the treatment of TNBS-induced experimental colitis in mice and explore its relevant mechanism involved in Th17 and Tregs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice colitis was induced by 50% 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (TNBS) ethanol solution weekly manner. These established model mice were divided into model control (0.8% NaCl treatment), FICZ, naphthoflavone (NaFTV), dexamethasone (DXM), and QRZSLXF (QrLx) groups. The colonoscopy, H&E staining, and immune staining were used to analyze the disease severity, inflammatory condition and Th17 or Treg related factors expression. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was used to assess the content of FICZ in the colon tissues. Western blot and ELISA were used to examine the expression of Th17 or Treg related factors protein levels. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the number and ratio of Th17/Tregs in splenocytes, and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes (MLNCs), and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs). RESULTS: NaFTV, DXM and QrLx groups intestinal inflammation scores were significantly lower than that in colitis model control and FICZ groups, while the IL-6, STAT3, and RORγt expression levels were significantly lower than those in the model control and FICZ groups. Mass spectrometry results showed FICZ that in both DXM and QrLx groups was lower than control model and FICZ groups. Flow cytometry results showed that DXM, NaFTV and QrLx could significantly reduce Th17 proportion and increase Treg proportion in splenocytes, MLNCs, and LPMCs. CONCLUSIONS: NaFTV and QrLx treatment could decrease symptoms and inflammatory colitis, by decreasing of FICZ concentration and AhR signaling in colon, resulting in reducing the expression of IL-6, STAT3, and RORγt, whereas increasing the expression of FOXP3, consequently reducing the proportion of Th17 cells and increasing the proportion of Treg cells, respectively.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract due to the imbalance of immune homeostasis of T helper cells and/or regulatory T cells (Tregs). The Traditional Chinese medicine herb has been clinically proven for use in the treatment of IBD but its possible mechanism remains unknown. The study aims to assess the effect of Chinese medicinal herb decoction QRZSLXF (Qing Re Zao Shi Liang Xue receipt) for the treatment of TNBS-induced experimental colitis in mice and explore its relevant mechanism involved in Th17 and Tregs. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Micecolitis was induced by 50% 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (TNBS) ethanol solution weekly manner. These established model mice were divided into model control (0.8% NaCl treatment), FICZ, naphthoflavone (NaFTV), dexamethasone (DXM), and QRZSLXF (QrLx) groups. The colonoscopy, H&E staining, and immune staining were used to analyze the disease severity, inflammatory condition and Th17 or Treg related factors expression. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was used to assess the content of FICZ in the colon tissues. Western blot and ELISA were used to examine the expression of Th17 or Treg related factors protein levels. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the number and ratio of Th17/Tregs in splenocytes, and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes (MLNCs), and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs). RESULTS:NaFTV, DXM and QrLx groups intestinal inflammation scores were significantly lower than that in colitis model control and FICZ groups, while the IL-6, STAT3, and RORγt expression levels were significantly lower than those in the model control and FICZ groups. Mass spectrometry results showed FICZ that in both DXM and QrLx groups was lower than control model and FICZ groups. Flow cytometry results showed that DXM, NaFTV and QrLx could significantly reduce Th17 proportion and increase Treg proportion in splenocytes, MLNCs, and LPMCs. CONCLUSIONS:NaFTV and QrLx treatment could decrease symptoms and inflammatory colitis, by decreasing of FICZ concentration and AhR signaling in colon, resulting in reducing the expression of IL-6, STAT3, and RORγt, whereas increasing the expression of FOXP3, consequently reducing the proportion of Th17 cells and increasing the proportion of Treg cells, respectively.
Authors: Xiao-Hong Du; Qing-Jun Chen; Jian-Bo Song; Yan Xie; Yan Zhi; Ru-Ru Sun; Guo-Hui Liu; Xin Kang Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2020-07-04 Impact factor: 2.629