Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway: A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251426
- VernacularTitle:中药调控JAK2/STAT3信号通路治疗溃疡性结肠炎的研究进展
- Author:
Renxun ZHANG
1
;
Jinwen LI
2
;
Wang DING
2
;
Yuanqing JI
1
;
Jing CHEN
1
;
Zhixia HU
1
;
Xiaopeng DONG
1
Author Information
1. Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000,China
2. Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000,China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
ulcerative colitis;
the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway;
traditional Chinese medicine;
research progress
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(21):273-283
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory intestinal disease with a complex pathogenesis. Its recurrent attacks easily lead to persistent intestinal mucosal damage, resulting in a year-by-year increase in incidence and imposing a heavy burden on patients. Currently, the treatment of UC mainly relies on corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and aminosalicylate preparations. However, these therapies are limited by significant side effects, strong drug resistance, and poor long-term prognosis. As one of the important inflammatory pathways, the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway can regulate the occurrence and development of UC through multiple pathways by modulating multiple downstream targets. Therefore, the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway offers a new research direction for the treatment of UC. Numerous studies have shown that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in intestinal inflammatory responses, intestinal mucosal barrier damage, T helper cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) immune imbalance, intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Chinese medicine has attracted increasing attention because of its unique advantages, including fewer side effects, individualized diagnosis and treatment, and enhancement of efficacy with reduction of toxicity. In addition to traditional Chinese herbal formulas, more Chinese medicine monomers and extracts have played key roles because of their more precise therapeutic targets. In recent years, many studies have confirmed that Chinese medicine can exert therapeutic effects on UC by interfering with the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating intestinal inflammatory responses, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, regulating the balance of Th17/Treg immune cells, inhibiting intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, and suppressing oxidative stress. This article summarizes and reviews recent research progress in this field from three aspects, including an overview of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, the relationship between the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and UC, and the regulatory mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the future clinical treatment of UC and drug development.