Strictosamide alleviates acute lung injury via regulating T helper 17 cells, regulatory T cells, and gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Nauclea officinalis (Pierre ex Pit.) Merr. & Chun (Rubiaceae) is widely used to treat respiratory diseases in China. Strictosamide is its main active component and has significant anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of strictosamide in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) remain largely unknown. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the regulatory effects of strictosamide on T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells)/Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and gut microbiota in ALI-affected mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ALI model was induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneal injection. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, the number of inflammatory cells in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the Wet/Dry (W/D) ratio, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were utilized as evaluation indices for the therapeutic efficacy of strictosamide on ALI. Flow cytometry (FCM), enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting were used to determine the regulation of strictosamide on the Th17/Treg cells and the STAT3/STAT5 signaling pathway. The analysis of gut microbiota was conducted using 16S rDNA sequencing. The verification of the relationship between the gut microbiome and immune function was conducted using Spearman analysis. RESULTS: Strictosamide attenuated inflammation on ALI induced by LPS, which reduced the levels of Th17-related factors interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 and increased Treg-related factors IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß. In the spleens and whole blood, strictosamide reduced the proportion of Th17 cells and increased the proportion of Treg cells. Furthermore, strictosamide increased Forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) and p-STAT5 protein expression while inhibiting Retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptors-γt (RORγt) and p-STAT3 expression. Moreover, strictosamide reshaped the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota, and influence the associations between immune parameters and gut microbiota in ALI mice. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the results of the current investigation showed that strictosamide has a therapeutic impact on LPS-induced ALI. The mechanism of action of this effect may be associated with the modulation of Th17 and Treg cells differentiation via the SATA signaling pathway, as well as the impact of the gut microbiota.

[Diagnosis and treatment characteristics of head-wind sha in She medicine].

The diagnosis and treatment characteristics of head-wind sha in She medicine were analyzed and summarized. By visiting She-nationality villages and towns in Zhejiang province and Fujian province and interviewing hundreds of doctors of She medicine, the sha diagnosis, sha differentiation, experience and theory of treatment were arranged, and a comprehensive summary on theory and application of head-wind sha in She medicine such as pathogeny, name of disease, mechanism, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment was made. It is believed that the methods of diagnosis and treatment in She medicine for head-wind sha could effectively enhance curative effect, safety and patients' quality of life, and the further research should be carried out.

[Comparative identification on Dai medicine "Pokou" and its processing product].

OBJECTIVE: To research identification methods of the Dai Medicine "Pokou" (the rhizome of Homalomena gigantea) and its processing product, and provide basis for identification of the drug in further research and application. METHODS: Macroscopic, microscopic observation and TLC and FTIR techniques were used to authenticate this raw medicine and its processing product. RESULTS: There were certain differences in the macroscopic features. The TLC result and infrared spectra of the samples had also obvious differences. The methods for identification of this raw medicine and its processing product were established, The detailed tissue and powder of this medicine were drawn. CONCLUSION: The results provided the basis for identification of the medicine and establishment of its quality standard.

[Effect of vitamin D supplementation in early life on the expression of interleukin-10 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in rat asthma model].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of vitamin D supplementation in early life on rat asthma model. METHOD: Thirty two sex-mature, female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (n = 8), a low dose group (n = 8), a medium dose group (n = 8) and a high dose group (n = 8). From the seventh day of pregnancy on, the rats in each group were given different doses of vitamin D by intragastric administration, until the offspring rats were 21 days old. The rats in the control group were fed with DMSO-PBS. After the offsprings were weaned, 8 rats were randomly selected from each group. The number of male and female rats was equal. The rats were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with aerosol OVA to establish the asthma model. The lung tissues were examined for pathologic changes after HE staining. ELISA was used to determine the concentrations of IL-10 in serum and BALF. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to measure the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in lung tissues. RESULT: (1) Pathologic changes of lung tissues: compared with the control group, light microscope (LM) showed that eosinophil cells infiltration and the airway inflammation decreased in the low dose and medium dose groups, but increased in the high dose group. (2) The concentrations of IL-10 in serum and BALF: In serum, compared with the control group [(18.7 +/- 4.7) pg/ml], the concentrations of IL-10 in the low dose group [(30.2 +/- 2.8) pg/ml, P < 0.05] and the medium dose group [(51.5 +/- 6.6) pg/ml, P < 0.05] were significantly increased. And the IL-10 level of medium dose group was higher than that of the low dose group (P < 0.05). In BALF, compared with the control group [(59.1 +/- 14.4) pg/ml], the concentrations of IL-10 in the medium dose group [(90.0 +/- 14.3) pg/ml, P < 0.05] was significantly increased. There were no significant changes in the low dose group [(58.1 +/- 3.4) pg/ml, P > 0.05], whereas in the high dose group [(45.3 +/- 6.5) pg/ml, P < 0.05] the level significantly decreased. (2) The expression of ICAM-1 in lung tissues: compared with the control group, there were no significant changes in the low dose group (P > 0.05). The expression of ICAM-1 was significantly decreased in the medium dose group (P < 0.05). In the high dose group, the expression of ICAM-1 was significantly increased (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adequate intervention with 1,25(OH)2D3 in the early life could alleviate the inflammation in the lung tissues, reduces eosinophil cell infiltration in rat asthma model. However, overdose might play a detrimental role. Its mechanism may be associated with the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on IL-10 secretion and the expression of ICAM-1.