Effects of Qinghua Zhixie Formula on macrophage polarization in a rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome via Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways
10.3969/j.issn.1001-1528.2025.02.012
- VernacularTitle:基于Nrf2/HO-1和NF-κB信号通路探讨清化止泻方对腹泻型肠易激综合征大鼠巨噬细胞极化的影响
- Author:
Hua HUANG
1
;
Yong-tong WANG
1
;
Xu-feng DING
1
;
Jie JIANG
1
;
Li-jiang JI
1
Author Information
1. 南京中医药大学常熟附属医院肛肠科,江苏南京 215500
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Qinghua Zhixie Formula;
diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome;
macrophage;
macrophage polarization;
Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway;
NF-κB signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine
2025;47(2):438-445
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM To investigate the effects of Qinghua Zhixie Formula on improving symptoms of a rat model of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)and its impact on the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the pirenzepine group(20 mg/kg),and the low-dose and high-dose Qinghua Zhixie Formula groups(13.64,27.29 g/kg),with 10 rats in each group.An IBS-D rat model was established using chronic restraint stress combined with gavage of senna leaf decoction.Each group underwent corresponding medication for 14 days.The rats had their changes of food intakes,stool characteristics,and body weight observed;their abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)measured to assess the intestinal pain sensitivity;their histopathological changes in the colon mucosa observed using HE staining;their colon mucosa apoptosis assessed using TUNEL staining;their colon expressions of ZO-1,Occludin and Nrf2 proteins detected using immunofluorescence staining;their ratio of M1/M2 macrophages in mesenteric lymph nodes measured by Flow cytometry;and their colon protein expressions of Nrf2,HO-1,p-IκBα and p-P65 analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with Qinghua Zhixie Formula showed increased body weight and AWR pain threshold(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);generally intact colon tissue structure with orderly arrangement of epithelial cells and no significant cell degeneration or shedding;enhanced fluorescence intensity of colon ZO-1 and Occludin proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);reduced apoptosis rate of colon tissue cells(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);more polarized M2 phenotype of macrophages in mesenteric lymph nodes(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of colon Nrf2 and HO-1(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased expressions of p-IKBα/IKBα and p-P65/P65(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Qinghua Zhixie Formula can improve the function of the intestinal epithelial mucosal barrier in the IBS-D rat models,and this may be related to the modulation of macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and inhibited activation of NF-κB signaling pathway.
