1.Effect of Qinghua Yichang Formula (清化益肠方) on NLRP3 Inflammasome in Intestinal Tissue of Mice with Acute Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury
Yuanyuan QIN ; Lingyan ZHU ; Li LI ; Bowen CHU ; Zequn JIANG ; Mianhua WU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(16):1695-1702
ObjectiveTo explore the effect and possible molecular mechanism of Qinghua Yichang Formula (清化益肠方, QYF) in treating acute radiation-induced intestinal injury mice via NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3). MethodsSixty C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, pre-modeling medication group, post-modeling medication group, inhibitor group, and QYF plus inhibitor group, with 10 mice in each group.Except for the control group, the other five groups were irradiated with a single full dose to establish the acute radiation-induced intestinal injury mice model. The pre-modeling medication group and the QYF plus inhibitor group were continuously given 4 g/ml of QYF decoction by gavage before modeling, 0.2 ml each time, once a day for 7 days. The post-modeling medication group, pre-modeling medication group and QYF plus inhibitor group were given 4 g/ml of QYF decoction for 14 days after modeling. The control group, model group and inhibitor group were given 0.2 ml of normal saline once a day for 14 consecutive days. Two hours after irradiation, the inhibitor group and the QYF plus inhibitor group were given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml of the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 (concentration: 10 mg/kg), once every two days. To observe the pathological changes in intestinal tissues, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 in intestinal tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression level of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in intestinal tissues. The proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleens of mice were detected by flow cytometry. ELISA was used to determine the levels of IFN-γ, IL-18, and IL-1β in mice serum. ResultsHE staining showed no lesions in the intestinal tissue of mice in the control group. The mice in the model group had shortened intestinal villi, thinned mucosal layers, multifocal mucosal necrosis in the lamina propria, and local neutrophil infiltration. The pathological damage of intestinal tissue of mice in each medication group was improved to varied degrees, among which the QYF plus inhibitor group showed most obvious improvement. Compared to those in the control group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 in the intestinal tissue of mice in the model group significantly increased, with higher NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD protein expression in the intestinal tissue, increased proportion of CD4+ T cells in spleen, decreased proportion of CD8+ T cells, and increased levels of IFN-γ, IL-18 and IL-1β in serum (P<0.05). Compared to those in the model group, the above indicators in the other medication groups were all improved (P<0.05).The NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD proteins in the pre-modeling medication group were lower than those in the post-modeling medication group (P<0.05); and the NLRP3 mRNA level in the QYF plus inhibitor group was lower than that in the inhibitor group (P<0.05). ConclusionQYF may play a role in preventing and treating acute radiation-induced intestinal injury by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3.
2.Mechanism of Tumor T Cell Exhaustion from Perspective of ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi Transformation Malfunction
Xinhao TANG ; Bowen CHU ; Yuanyuan QIN ; Yeling LIU ; Xinyan SHU ; Mianhua WU ; Gang YIN ; Jianguo DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):176-185
In order to promote the innovative application of Sanjiao theory and Yingwei theory, this paper tries to apply the ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation theory to the treatment of tumor diseases, integrating it with T cell exhaustion mechanism to elaborate on its scientific connotation and using network pharmacology and bioinformatics to elucidate the correlation between the anti-tumor mechanism of ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation and T cell exhaustion. The ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation function is closely related to the immunometabolic ability of the human body, and the ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation system constitutes the immunometabolic exchange system within and outside the cellular environment. Cancer toxicity is generated by the fuzzy Sanjiao Qi, and the long-term fuzzy Sanjiao Qi is the primary factor leading to T cell exhaustion, which is related to the long-term activation of T cell receptors by the high tumor antigen load in the tumor microenvironment. Qi transformation malfunction of the Sanjiao produces phlegm and collects stasis, which contributes to T cell exhaustion and is correlated with nutrient deprivation, lipid accumulation, and high lactate levels in the immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment, as well as with the release of transforming growth factor-β and upregulated expression of programmed death receptor-1 by tumor-associated fibroblasts and platelets in the tumor microenvironment. Ying and Wei damage due to Sanjiao Qi transformation malfunction is similar to the abnormal manifestations such as progressive loss of exhausted T cell effector function and disturbance of cellular energy metabolism. Guizhi decoction, Shengming decoction, and Wendan decoction can correct T cell exhaustion and exert anti-tumor effects through multi-target and multi-pathways by regulating ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) may be one of the main pathways to correct T cell exhaustion. It was found that HIF-1α may be one of the important prognostic indicators in common tumors by bioinformatics. The use of the ''Sanjiao-Yingwei'' Qi transformation method may play an important part in improving the prognosis of tumor patients in clinical practice.