Effect of Huangqintang on Intestinal Flora in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis and Its Protective Mechanism on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20222005
- VernacularTitle:黄芩汤对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道菌群的影响及肠黏膜屏障的保护作用机制
- Author:
Yaqing LIU
1
;
Hangyu XU
1
;
Dunfang WANG
1
;
Bin LIU
2
;
Xuran MA
1
;
Xue FENG
1
;
Weipeng YANG
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,Beijing 100700,China
2. Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine,Harbin 150040,China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Huangqintang;
ulcerative colitis;
intestinal flora;
intestinal mucosal barrier
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2023;29(7):11-19
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect of Huangqintang (HQT) on ulcerative colitis (UC) model mice and investigate its protective effect against UC by regulating intestinal flora. MethodMale Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group,model group, high-, medium-, and low-dose HQT groups (20, 10, 5 g·kg-1), flora interference group, flora interference model group, and flora interference-drug treatment group (HQT, 20 g·kg-1). The flora interference model was constructed through intragastric administration of antibiotics (200 mg·kg-1 bacitracin and 200 mg·kg-1 vancomycin) for 8 d, and the UC model was constructed by allowing mice with free access to 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution for 7 d. HQT was administered for 7 d. After the experiments, the mice were sacrificed, and blood, colon, and feces were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the colonic lesions. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expression of Claudin1, MUC1, Occludin, and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1) in colon tissues was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The fecal DNA of mice was extracted and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. ResultCompared with the normal group, the model group showed increased serum content of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01) and decreased IL-10 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the HQT groups displayed decreased serum levels of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased IL-10 content (P<0.01), increased mRNA and protein expression levels of Claudin1, MUC1, Occludin, and ZO-1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). After flora interference, the diversity and abundance of intestinal bacteria decreased. To be specific, Proteobacteria increased (P<0.01), and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes decreased (P<0.01). After UC induction by DSS, Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes decreased (P<0.05). The high-, medium-, and low-dose HQT groups showed increased Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes (P<0.05, P<0.01) and decreased Firmicutes (P<0.05). Additionally, the abundance of Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Escherichia-Shigella, and Helicobacteris was positively proportional to the dose of HQT. ConclusionHQT can inhibit the inflammatory response of UC mice, restore the imbalance of intestinal flora, and repair the damaged intestinal mucosal barrier.