Effect of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction （加味葛根芩连汤） on the Intestinal Mucus Barrier and Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in Ulcerative Colitis Model Mice
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2025.09.012
- VernacularTitle:加味葛根芩连汤对溃疡性结肠炎模型小鼠肠黏液屏障和肠道干细胞增殖分化的影响
- Author:
Jinke HUANG
1
;
Jiaqi ZHANG
1
;
Fengyun WANG
1
;
Xudong TANG
1
Author Information
1. Xiyuan Hospital，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，Beijing，100091
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
ulcerative colitis;
Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction （加味葛根芩连汤）;
mucus barrier;
goblet cells;
stem cell proliferation
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;66(9):941-947
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction （加味葛根芩连汤， MGQD） in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） based on intestinal mucus barrier. MethodsThirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group， a model group and a MGQD group with 10 mice in each. Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt （DSS） was used to construct the UC model in all groups except for the control group. Meanwhile， mice in the MGQD group were given 20 g/kg of MGQD decoction by gavage according to their body weight， while those in the control group and model group were given 0.2 ml/20 g of pure water by gavage， once a day for 7 consecutive days. On the day following the last gavage， the body weight， disease activity index （DAI） score， spleen weight， and colon length were compared. The pathological changes of the intestinal mucosal tissues were observed by HE staining； the protein expression levels of mucin 2 （MUC2） and leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 5 （Lgr5） in the intestinal mucosal tissues were detected by immunofluorescence； the cuprocytes in the intestinal mucosal tissues were detected by AB/PAS staining； and the expression level of Ki67 in the intestinal mucosal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. ResultsHE staining showed that the colon mucosal tissue of the mice in the control group was intact. In the model group， the colon mucosal epithelial structure was severely damaged， with a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosal propria. In the MGQD group， the mucosal tissue structure was partially lost， with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration.The body weight and colon length of mice in the model group decreased significantly compared to those in the control group， while DAI scores and spleen weight increased， and the levels of MUC2， Ki67， Lgr5 proteins， and the number of goblet cells were significantly reduced （P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the MGQD group had increased body weight of mice， colon length， and decreased DAI scores and spleen weight； the levels of MUC2， Ki67， Lgr5 proteins， and the number of goblet cells were increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionMGQD has a favorable ameliorative effect on UC-related symptoms and pathological tissue damage， and its mechanism of action may be related to the restoration of the prolife-ration and differentiation of intestinal stem cells into goblet cells， thereby promoting the repair of the intestinal mucus barrier.
