Yimei Baijiang Formula Treats Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice via NF-κB Signaling Pathway
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251127
- VernacularTitle:基于NF-κB信号通路探讨薏梅败酱方对炎症相关性结直肠癌模型小鼠的作用
- Author:
Qian WU
1
;
Xin ZOU
2
;
Chaoli JIANG
3
;
Long ZHAO
3
;
Hui CHEN
3
;
Li LI
3
;
Zhi LI
1
;
Jianqin LIU
4
Author Information
1. College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000,China
2. Affiliated Hospital of TCM of Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing 404000,China
3. The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000,China
4. Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000,China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Yimei Baijiang Formula;
colitis-associated colorectal cancer;
nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway;
inflammatory factors;
apoptosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(3):119-130
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Yimei Baijiang formula (YMBJF) on colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mice. MethodsSixty male Balb/c mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into 6 groups: Normal, model, capecitabine (0.83 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (4.63, 9.25, 18.50 g·kg-1, respectively) YMBJF. The mouse model of CAC was established by combining azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg·kg-1) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS, 2%). At the 5th week after the start of modeling, the capecitabine group and the YMBJF groups were respectively administrated with the corresponding doses of drugs by gavage once a day for a total of 6 weeks. The body weights and general conditions of mice were measured and observed, and the disease activity index (DAI) was scored. The tumors in the colorectal tissue were counted, and the colorectal length was measured. The histological features of the colorectal tissue in each group of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression and localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-67 (Ki67), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and phosphorylated nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) proteins were observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The apoptosis of tumor cells was observed by the TUNEL assay. The mRNA levels of IL-6,IL-1β, TNF-α, nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), NF-κB inhibitor alpha (IκBα), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in the colorectal tissue were quantified by Real-time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR). The protein levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65, IκBα, p-IκBα, Bcl-2, and Bax in the colorectal tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, each YMBJF group showed decreases in DAI and tumor number (P0.01), and the medium-dose and high-dose YMBJF groups showed increases in colorectal length (P0.05). In addition, each YMBJF group showed alleviated colorectal mucosal pathological injury, declined levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the serum (P0.05), reduced expression of Ki67 and PCNA (P0.01), and down-regulated expression of p-NF-κB p65 (P0.05). The apoptosis in the medium-dose and high-dose YMBJF groups increased (P0.01). Each YMBJF group and the capecitabine group showed down-regulated mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB p65, and Bcl-2 (P0.05) and up-regulated mRNA levels of IκBα and Bax (P0.05). The mRNA level of IκBα was up-regulated, and that of Bcl-2 was down-regulated (P0.05) in the high-dose YMBJF group. The protein levels of p-IκBα and Bcl-2 were down-regulated (P0.05) in each YMBJF group. The protein levels of IκBα and Bax were up-regulated in the medium-dose and high-dose YMBJF groups (P0.01), while those of NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 were down-regulated (P0.05). ConclusionYMBJF can reduce the number of tumors, reduce the levels of inflammatory factors, promote tumor cell apoptosis, and inhibit tumor cell proliferation by regulating the direct effector molecules of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the mouse model of CRC.