RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bu-zhong-yi-qi granule (BZYQ), a sort of Chinese herbal medicine, has exhibited therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the mechanism of BZYQ has not been fully clarified. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of BZYQ on UC rats model and at exploring its potential mechanism. METHODS: The UC rats were established by enema of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The therapeutic effects of BZYQ treatment were evaluated by disease activity index (DAI), colon macroscopic damage index (CMDI) scores, and histological observation. The mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins, occludin and claudin-1, in the colon was determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The expression of toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), p-NF-κB, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), MLC, and p-MLC levels in colon was determined by Western blot or qPCR. RESULTS: The results showed that BZYQ could attenuate DAI, CMDI, and histological inflammation. TJ proteins expression was decreased in UC rats, but treatment with BZYQ restored the expression of occludin and claudin-1. In addition, BZYQ administration ameliorated UC-associated increase in the production of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, p-NF-κB, MLCK, MLC, and p-MLC, while BZYQ administration increased the production of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effect of BZYQ on UC is at least partially through regulation of the secretion of some inflammatory cytokines and improvement of TJ integrity via TLR4/NF-κB/MLCK pathway.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qingre Jianpi decoction (ï¼QRJPD) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice and explore its mechanism. METHODS: All mice were randomly divided into six groups. Weight changes, disease activity index values, and histological damage were detected. Inflammatory cytokines and immune cell infiltration were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. The key protein expression levels of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were detected by western blot analysis, IHC, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: QRJPD played an anti-inflammatory role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited the inflammatory infiltration of immune cells by suppressing DSS-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. CONCLUSION: QRJPD exerts protective effects by inhibiting DSS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation.