[Therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid-berberine supramolecular nanoparticles on ulcerative colitis based on supramolecular system induced by weak bond].

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a recurrent, intractable inflammatory bowel disease. Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, serving as heat-clearing and toxin-removing drugs, have long been used in the treatment of UC. Berberine(BBR) and ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA), the main active components of Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, respectively, were employed to obtain UDCA-BBR supramolecular nanoparticles by stimulated co-decocting process for enhancing the therapeutic effect on UC. As revealed by the characterization of supramolecular nanoparticles by field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and dynamic light scattering(DLS), the supramolecular nanoparticles were tetrahedral nanoparticles with an average particle size of 180 nm. The molecular structure was described by ultraviolet spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance(H-NMR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the formation of the supramolecular nano-particle was attributed to the mutual electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction between BBR and UDCA. Additionally, supramolecular nanoparticles were also characterized by sustained release and pH sensitivity. The acute UC model was induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) in mice. It was found that supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve body mass reduction and colon shortening in mice with UC(P<0.001) and decrease disease activity index(DAI)(P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between the supramolecular nanoparticles group and the mechanical mixture group(P<0.001, P<0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6), and the results showed that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels(P<0.001) and exhibited an obvious difference with the mechanical mixture group(P<0.01, P<0.05). Flow cytometry indicated that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce the recruitment of neutrophils in the lamina propria of the colon(P<0.05), which was significantly different from the mechanical mixture group(P<0.05). These findings suggested that as compared with the mechanical mixture, the supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve the symptoms of acute UC in mice. The study provides a new research idea for the poor absorption of small molecules and the unsatisfactory therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine and lays a foundation for the research on the nano-drug delivery system of traditional Chinese medicine.

[Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharides regulates Nrf2/HO-1 to relieve liver injury caused by multiple heavy metals in vivo and in vitro].

This study explored whether Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharides(SSP) activates the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) signaling pathway to protect against liver damage jointly induced by multiple heavy metals. First, based on the proportion of dietary intake of six heavy metals in rice available in Beijing market, a heavy metal mixture was prepared for inducing mouse liver injury and HepG2 cell injury. Forty male Kunming mice were divided into five groups: control group, model group, glutathione positive control group, and low-and high-dose SSP groups, with eight mice in each group. After 30 days of intragastric administration, the liver injury in mice was observed by HE staining. In the in vitro experiment, MTT assay was conducted to detect the effects of SSP at 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg·mL~(-1) on HepG2 cell survival at different time points. The content of alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in the 48-h cell culture fluid was measured using micro-plate cultivation method, followed by the detection of the change in reactive oxygen species(ROS) content by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in cells were determined by RT-PCR, and their protein expression by Western blot. HE staining results showed that compared with the model group, the SSP administration groups exhibited significantly alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and fatty infiltration in the liver, with better outcomes observed in the high-dose SSP group. In the in vitro MTT assay, compared with the model group, SSP at four concentrations all significantly increased the cell survival rate, decreased the ALT, AST, and ROS content(P<0.05), and down-regulated Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA and protein expression(P<0.05). SSP significantly improves inflammatory infiltration in the liver tissue of mice exposed to a variety of heavy metals and corrects the liver fat degeneration, which may be related to its regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, reduction of ROS, and alleviation of oxidative damage.

Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide protects against six-heavy-metal-induced hepatic injury associated with the activation of Nrf2 pathway to regulate oxidative stress and apoptosis.

The hepatic protective role of Sagittaria sagittifolia polysaccharide (SSP) and its possible mechanism were discussed in mice and L02 hepatocytes injured by heavy metals mixture of Cd + Cr (VI) + Pb + Mn + Zn + Cu. After 30-day intervention, blood and liver samples were collected for the relevant assessments. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay showed 24 h was the best protecting point and the SSP protection at 1 mg/mL was strongest in L02 hepatocytes. SSP can alleviated hepatic injury, as evidenced by significantly decreased the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, also increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH), total sulphydryl (T-SH) contents. SSP effectively reduced pathological damage of mice and accumulation of heavy metals in liver, as well as decreased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in L02 hepatocytes. After SSP treatment, the protein expressions or gene transcription of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase1 (HO-1) decreased in L02. The protein expression of Nrf2 and NQO1 were increased while HO-1 was decreased in liver. Besides, SSP can attenuates apoptosis through reducing the protein expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3, and increasing B-cell lymphoma gene 2 (Bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xl). SSP protects against six-heavy-metal-induced hepatic injury in mice and L02 hepatocytes. Supported by Nrf2 gene silencing, the mechanisms may correlate with activating Nrf2 pathway to mitigate oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Allium tuberosum alleviates pulmonary inflammation by inhibiting activation of innate lymphoid cells and modulating intestinal microbiota in asthmatic mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study tests whether long-term intake of Allium tuberosum (AT) can alleviate pulmonary inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice and evaluates its effect on the intestinal microbiota and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: phosphate buffer saline, OVA and OVA + AT. The asthmatic murine model was established by sensitization and challenge of OVA in the OVA and OVA + AT groups. AT was given to the OVA + AT group by oral gavage from day 0 to day 27. On day 28, mice were sacrificed. Histopathological evaluation of lung tissue was performed using hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. The levels of IgE in serum, interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-13 from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ILCs from the lung and gut were detected by flow cytometry. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing was used to analyze the differences in colon microbiota among treatment groups. RESULTS: We found that long-term intake of AT decreased the number of inflammatory cells from BALF, reduced the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF, and IgE level in serum, and rescued pulmonary histopathology with less mucus secretion in asthmatic mice. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing results showed that AT strongly affected the colonic bacteria community structure in asthmatic mice, although it had no significant effect on the abundance and diversity of the microbiota. Ruminococcaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae were identified as two biomarkers of the treatment effect of AT. Moreover, AT decreased the numbers of ILCs in both the lung and gut of asthmatic mice. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that AT inhibits pulmonary inflammation, possibly by impeding the activation of ILCs and adjusting the homeostasis of gut microbiota in asthmatic mice.

Consumption of Lamb Meat or Basa Fish Shapes the Gut Microbiota and Aggravates Pulmonary Inflammation in Asthmatic Mice.

OBJECTIVE: In China, lamb and fish are well-known triggers for an asthma attack. Our investigation aims at assessing whether the long-term intake of lamb meat or Basa fish would aggravate pulmonary inflammation as well as exploring changes in the intestinal microbiota and immune cells in asthmatic mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The murine asthmatic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) plus aluminum on day 0 and 14 and nebulization of OVA from day 21 to 27. Lamb meat or fish was administered to asthmatic mice by oral gavage from day 0 to 27. RESULTS: Our results showed that long-term consumption of lamb meat or Basa fish in asthmatic mice increased the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), enhanced levels of IL-5, IL-13 in BALF and total IgE in serum, aggravated pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion. Long-term oral lamb enhanced the proportion of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) from small intestine while it inhibited that of Treg from lung in asthmatic mice. Oral fish showed no remarkable effect on that of ILC2 from lung and small intestine but inhibited that of intestinal Treg in asthmatic mice. What's more, the chao-1 and observed species richness as well as PD whole tree diversity increased in asthmatic mice while these increments were inhibited after lamb treatment. PCA analysis indicated that there were significant differences in the bacterial community composition after lamb or fish treatment in asthmatic mice. Both lamb and fish treatment enhanced the abundance of colonic Alistipes in asthmatic mice. CONCLUSION: Collectively, long-term intake of lamb or fish shapes colonic bacterial communities and aggravates pulmonary inflammation in asthmatic mice, which provides reasonable food guidance for asthmatic patients.