1.Effect and mechanism of alkaloids from Portulacae Herba on ulcerative colitis in mice based on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Jia-Hui ZHENG ; Ying-Ying SONG ; Tian-Ci ZHANG ; Wen-Ting WANG ; Zhi-Ping YANG ; Jin-Xia AI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):874-881
This study investigated the functions and regulatory mechanism of Portulacae Herba and its chemical components on the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathway in the colon tissue of mice with dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC). A total of 35 mice were randomly divided into groups, including a blank group, a model group, a mesalazine group(0. 5 g·kg~(-1)), and low, medium,and high dose alkaloids from Portulacae Herba groups(9, 18, 36 mg·kg~(-1)), and a combination treatment group, with 5 mice in each group. The blank group was given purified water, while the other groups were continuously given a 3% DSS solution for 7 days to induce the UC model. From day 8 onwards, the treatment group received oral gavage according to the prescribed doses for 14 days. The overall condition, body weight, stool characteristics, and presence of blood in the stool were recorded daily. After the experiment, the disease activity index(DAI) was assessed for each group, and colon length was measured. Histopathological changes in colon tissue were examined using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were measured using Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).Compared to the blank group, the model group showed a significant decrease in body weight, a notable increase in DAI scores, a significant shortening of colon length, and evident histopathological damage. The levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum were significantly elevated, and the protein and m RNA expression of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in colon tissue were significantly up-regulated. In contrast, the alkaloids from Portulacae Herba treatment groups significantly improved symptoms and reduced body weight loss in mice, decreased DAI scores, alleviated colon shortening, lowered serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β,significantly down-regulated the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB proteins and genes in colon tissue, as well as reduced histopathological damage. Therefore, the study suggests that alkaloids from Portulacae Herba can alleviate intestinal inflammation damage in DSS-induced UC mice, with its mechanism involving the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology*
;
Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology*
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Alkaloids/administration & dosage*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Humans
;
Female
;
Colon/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
2.Angelicae Dahuricae Radix polysaccharides treat ulcerative colitis in mice by regulating gut microbiota and metabolism.
Feng XU ; Lei ZHU ; Ya-Nan LI ; Cheng CHENG ; Yuan CUI ; Yi-Heng TONG ; Jing-Yi HU ; Hong SHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):896-907
This study employed 16S r RNA gene high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics to explore the mechanism of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix polysaccharides(RP) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC). A mouse model of UC was induced with 2. 5% dextran sulfate sodium. The therapeutic effects of RP on UC in mice were evaluated based on changes in body weight, disease activity index( DAI), and colon length, as well as pathological changes. RT-qPCR was performed to assess the m RNA levels of interleukin(IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, myeloperoxidase(MPO), mucin 2(Muc2), Occludin, Claudin2, and ZO-1 in the mouse colon tissue. ELISA was employed to measure the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in the colon tissue. The intestinal permeability of mice was evaluated by the fluorescent dye permeability assay. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of Muc2 and occludin in the colon tissue. Changes in gut microbiota and metabolites were analyzed by 16S r RNA sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS), respectively. The results indicated that low-dose RP alleviated general symptoms, reduced colonic inflammation and intestinal permeability, and promoted Muc2 secretion and tight junction protein expression in UC mice. In addition, low-dose RP increased gut microbiota diversity in UC mice and decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria such as Ochrobactrum and Streptococcus. Twenty-seven differential metabolites were identified in feces, and low-dose RP restored the levels of disturbed metabolites. Notably, arginine and proline metabolism were the most significantly altered amino acid metabolic pathways following lowdose RP intervention. In conclusion, RP can ameliorate general symptoms, inhibit colonic inflammation, and maintain intestinal mucosal barrier integrity in UC mice by modulating gut microbiota composition and arginine and proline metabolism.
Animals
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics*
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Polysaccharides/administration & dosage*
;
Angelica/chemistry*
;
Humans
;
Colon/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Mucin-2/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
3.Mechanisms and treatment of inflammation-cancer transformation in colon from perspective of cold and heat in complexity in integrative medicine.
Ning WANG ; Han-Zhou LI ; Tian-Ze PAN ; Wei-Bo WEN ; Ya-Lin LI ; Qian-Qian WAN ; Yu-Tong JIN ; Yu-Hong BIAN ; Huan-Tian CUI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2605-2618
Colorectal cancer(CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, primarily originating from recurrent inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Therefore, blocking the inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon has become a focus in the early prevention and treatment of CRC. The inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon involves multiple types of cells and complex pathological processes, including inflammatory responses and tumorigenesis. In this complex pathological process, immune cells(including non-specific and specific immune cells) and non-immune cells(such as tumor cells and fibroblasts) interact with each other, collectively promoting the progression of the disease. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon belongs to the categories of dysentery and diarrhea, with the main pathogenesis being cold and heat in complexity. This paper first elaborates on the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the inflammation-cancer transformation process in the colon from the perspectives of inflammation, cancer, and their mutual influences. Subsequently, by comparing the pathogenic characteristics and clinical manifestations between inflammation-cancer transformation and the TCM pathogenesis of cold and heat in complexity, this paper explores the intrinsic connections between the two. Furthermore, based on the correlation between inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon and the TCM pathogenesis, this paper delves into the importance of the interaction between inflammation and cancer. Finally, it summarizes and discusses the clinical and basic research progress in the TCM intervention in the inflammation-cancer transformation process, providing a theoretical basis and treatment strategy for the treatment of CRC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Humans
;
Colon/pathology*
;
Integrative Medicine
;
Animals
;
Cold Temperature
;
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Hot Temperature
;
Inflammation
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy*
4.Effect of Hesperidin on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Related Depression in Rats through Gut-Brain Axis Pathway.
Hui-Qing LIANG ; Shao-Dong CHEN ; Yu-Jie WANG ; Xiao-Ting ZHENG ; Yao-Yu LIU ; Zhen-Ying GUO ; Chun-Fang ZHANG ; Hong-Li ZHUANG ; Si-Jie CHENG ; Xiao-Hong GU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(10):908-917
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the pharmacological impact of hesperidin, the main component of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, on depressive behavior and elucidate the mechanism by which hesperidin treats depression, focusing on the gut-brain axis.
METHODS:
Fifty-four Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly allocated to 6 groups using a random number table, including control, model, hesperidin, probiotics, fluoxetine, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium groups. Except for the control group, rats in the remaining 5 groups were challenged with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 21 days and housed in single cages. The sucrose preference test (SPT), immobility time in the forced swim test (FST), and number in the open field test (OFT) were performed to measure the behavioral changes in the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain tissue, and the histopathology was performed to evaluate the changes of colon tissue, together with sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene on feces to explore the changes of intestinal flora in the rats.
RESULTS:
Compared to the control group, the rats in the model group showed notable reductions in body weight, SPF, and number in OFT (P<0.01). Hesperidin was found to ameliorate depression induced by CUMS, as seen by improvements in body weight, SPT, immobility time in FST, and number in OFT (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Regarding neurotransmitters, it was found that at a dose of 50 mg/kg hesperidin treatment upregulated the levels of 5-HT and BDNF in depressed rats (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the colon tissue of the model group exhibited greater inflammatory cell infiltration, with markedly reduced numbers of goblet cells and crypts and were significantly improved following treatment with hesperidin. Simultaneously, the administration of hesperidin demonstrated a positive impact on the gut microbiome of rats treated with CUMS, such as Shannon index increased and Simpson index decreased (P<0.01), while the abundance of Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota increased in the hesperidin-treated group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of hesperidin on depressive behavior in rats may be related to inhibition of the expressions of BDNF and 5-HT and preservation of the gut microbiota.
Animals
;
Hesperidin/therapeutic use*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Depression/drug therapy*
;
Male
;
Stress, Psychological/drug therapy*
;
Brain/metabolism*
;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism*
;
Serotonin/metabolism*
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Behavior, Animal/drug effects*
;
Rats
;
Brain-Gut Axis/drug effects*
;
Chronic Disease
;
Colon/drug effects*
5.Colon Dialysis with Yishen Decoction Improves Autophagy Disorder in Intestinal Mucosal Epithelial Cells of Chronic Renal Failure by Regulating SIRT1 Pathway.
Yan-Jun FAN ; Jing-Ai FANG ; Su-Fen LI ; Ting LIU ; Wen-Yuan LIU ; Ya-Ling HU ; Rui-Hua WANG ; Hui LI ; Da-Lin SUN ; Guang ZHANG ; Zi-Yuan ZHANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(10):899-907
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the mechanism of colon dialysis with Yishen Decoction (YS) in improving the autophagy disorder of intestinal epithelial cells in chronic renal failure (CRF) in vivo and in vitro.
METHODS:
Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, CRF, and colonic dialysis with YS groups by a random number table method (n=10). The CRF model was established by orally gavage of adenine 200 mg/(kg•d) for 4 weeks. CRF rats in the YS group were treated with colonic dialysis using YS 20 g/(kg•d) for 14 consecutive days. The serum creatinine (SCr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological changes of kidney and colon tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Autophagosome changes in colonic epithelial cells was observed with electron microscopy. In vitro experiments, human colon cancer epithelial cells (T84) were cultured and divided into normal, urea model (74U), YS colon dialysis, autophagy activator rapamycin (Ra), autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), and SIRT1 activator resveratrol (Re) groups. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Claudin-1, silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), LC3, and Beclin-1 both in vitro and in vivo.
RESULTS:
Colonic dialysis with YS decreased SCr and BUN levels in CRF rats (P<0.05), and alleviated the pathological changes of renal and colon tissues. Expressions of SIRT1, ZO-1, Claudin-1, Beclin-1, and LC3II/I were increased in the YS group compared with the CRF group in vivo (P<0.05). In in vitro study, compared with normal group, the expressions of SIRT1, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 were decreased, and expressions of Beclin-1, and LC3II/I were increased in the 74U group (P<0.05). Compared with the 74U group, expressions of SIRT1, ZO-1, and Claudin-1 were increased, whereas Beclin-1, and LC3II/I were decreased in the YS group (P<0.05). The treatment of 3-MA and rapamycin regulated autophagy and the expression of SIRT1. SIRT1 activator intervention up-regulated autophagy as well as the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-1 compared with the 74U group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Colonic dialysis with YS could improve autophagy disorder and repair CRF intestinal mucosal barrier injury by regulating SIRT1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells.
Animals
;
Sirtuin 1/metabolism*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Autophagy/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Epithelial Cells/metabolism*
;
Colon/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/drug therapy*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Renal Dialysis
;
Rats
;
Kidney/drug effects*
6.Sinisan, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, alleviates acute colitis by facilitating colonic secretory cell lineage commitment and mucin production.
Ya-Jie CAI ; Jian-Hang LAN ; Shuo LI ; Yue-Ning FENG ; Fang-Hong LI ; Meng-Yu GUO ; Run-Ping LIU
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(4):429-444
OBJECTIVE:
Ulcerative colitis is closely associated with intestinal stem cell (ISC) loss and impaired intestinal mucus barrier. Sinisan (SNS), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, has a long history in the treatment of intestinal dysfunction, yet whether SNS can relieve acute experimental colitis by modulating ISC proliferation and secretory cell differentiation has not been studied. Our study tested the effect of SNS against acute colitis and focused on the mechanisms involving intestinal barrier recovery.
METHODS:
Network pharmacology analysis and blood entry component analysis of SNS were used to explore the underlying mechanism by which SNS affects the acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model. RNA-sequencing was used to demonstrate the mechanism. Further, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed in vivo and in the colonic organoids to investigate the cell lineage differentiation-related mechanism of SNS. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS were predicted by network pharmacology analysis.
RESULTS:
SNS dramatically suppressed DSS-induced acute colonic inflammation in mice. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed downregulation of inflammation and apoptosis-related genes, and upregulation of lipid metabolism and proliferation-related genes, such as Irf7, Pparα, Clspn and Hspa5. Additionally, ISC renewal and intestinal secretory cell lineage commitment were significantly promoted by SNS both in vivo and in vitro in colonic organoids, leading to enhanced mucin expression. Furthermore, potential active ingredients from SNS that mediated inflammation, lipid metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, stem cells and secretory cells were predicted using a network pharmacology approach.
CONCLUSION
Our study shed light on the underlying mechanism of SNS in attenuating acute colitis from the perspective of ISC renewal and secretory lineage cell differentiation, suggesting a of novel therapeutic strategy against colitis. Please cite this article as: Cai YJ, Lan JH, Li S, Feng YN, Li FH, Guo MY, et al. Sinisan, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, alleviates acute colitis by facilitating colonic secretory cell lineage commitment and mucin production. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(4): 429-444.
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Mice
;
Colon/pathology*
;
Mucins/metabolism*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Cell Differentiation/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Colitis/metabolism*
;
Cell Lineage/drug effects*
;
Dextran Sulfate
;
Stem Cells/drug effects*
;
Disease Models, Animal
7.Therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid-berberine supramolecular nanoparticles on ulcerative colitis based on supramolecular system induced by weak bond.
Shan GAO ; Feng GAO ; Jing-Wei KONG ; Zhi-Jia WANG ; Hao-Cheng ZHENG ; Xin-Qi JIANG ; Shu-Jing XU ; Shan-Lan LI ; Ming-Jun LU ; Zi-Qi DAI ; Fu-Hao CHU ; Bing XU ; Hai-Min LEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(10):2739-2748
Ulcerative colitis(UC) is a recurrent, intractable inflammatory bowel disease. Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, serving as heat-clearing and toxin-removing drugs, have long been used in the treatment of UC. Berberine(BBR) and ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA), the main active components of Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus, respectively, were employed to obtain UDCA-BBR supramolecular nanoparticles by stimulated co-decocting process for enhancing the therapeutic effect on UC. As revealed by the characterization of supramolecular nanoparticles by field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and dynamic light scattering(DLS), the supramolecular nanoparticles were tetrahedral nanoparticles with an average particle size of 180 nm. The molecular structure was described by ultraviolet spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance(H-NMR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the formation of the supramolecular nano-particle was attributed to the mutual electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction between BBR and UDCA. Additionally, supramolecular nanoparticles were also characterized by sustained release and pH sensitivity. The acute UC model was induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) in mice. It was found that supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve body mass reduction and colon shortening in mice with UC(P<0.001) and decrease disease activity index(DAI)(P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between the supramolecular nanoparticles group and the mechanical mixture group(P<0.001, P<0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6), and the results showed that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels(P<0.001) and exhibited an obvious difference with the mechanical mixture group(P<0.01, P<0.05). Flow cytometry indicated that supramolecular nanoparticles could reduce the recruitment of neutrophils in the lamina propria of the colon(P<0.05), which was significantly different from the mechanical mixture group(P<0.05). These findings suggested that as compared with the mechanical mixture, the supramolecular nanoparticles could effectively improve the symptoms of acute UC in mice. The study provides a new research idea for the poor absorption of small molecules and the unsatisfactory therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine and lays a foundation for the research on the nano-drug delivery system of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy*
;
Ursodeoxycholic Acid/adverse effects*
;
Berberine/pharmacology*
;
Interleukin-6
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Colon
;
Nanoparticles
;
Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Colitis/chemically induced*
8.Mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder on treatment of ulcerative colitis based on NLRP3 inflammatory.
Yu-Hui LIU ; Zi-Ling RONG ; Hong-Yang ZHU ; Yu-Ting LI ; Yu YOU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2022;47(21):5863-5871
This study deciphered the mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder in treatment of mouse model of ulcerative colitis(UC) via NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain 3(NLRP3) signaling pathway. After three days of adaptive feeding, 70 SPF-grade BALB/c mice were randomized into 7 groups: normal group, model group(dextran sodium sulfate, DSS), mesalazine group(DSS + 5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA), NLRP3 inhibitor group(DSS + MCC950), and high-, medium-, and low-dose Shenling Baizhu Powder groups(DSS + high-, medium-, and low-dose Shenling Baizhu Powder), with 10 mice per group. The normal group had free access to double distilled water, and the remaining groups had free access to DSS-containing water to establish the acute UC model. Intragastric administration was started at the same time as modeling for one week. During the experiment, the general mental state and disease activity of each group of mice were recorded and scored. After the experiment, colon and serum samples were collected. The pathological changes in colon tissue were observed through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to determine the levels of interleukin-18(IL-18) and myeloperoxidase(MPO) in colon tissue and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in serum. Immunofluorescence(IF) and immunohistochemistry(IHC) methods were employed to examine the expression of NLRP3 and IL-18 in colon tissue. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), cystein-aspartate protease 1(caspase-1), and downstream inflammatory cytokines in colon tissue. Compared with the normal group, the modeling of UC increased the disease activity index(DAI), colon pathological injury score, IL-1β level in serum, and IL-18 and MPO levels in colon tissue(P<0.05, P<0.01). Furthermore, the modeling caused obvious pathological changes and up-regulated the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, pro-IL-1β, cleaved-IL-1β, pro-IL-18, and cleaved-IL-18 in the colon(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the administration of corresponding drugs decreased the DAI, pathological injury score, IL-1β level in serum, and IL-18 and MPO levels in colon tissue, and down-regulated the protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, pro-IL-1β, cleaved-IL-1β, pro-IL-18, and cleaved-IL-18 in the colon(P<0.05, P<0.01). According to the results of previous study and this study, we concluded that Shenling Baizhu Powder can alleviate the inflammatory response and intestinal damage of DSS-induced UC by regulating the expression of the proteins and inflammatory cytokines associated with NLRP3 signaling pathway.
Mice
;
Animals
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy*
;
Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Interleukin-18/genetics*
;
Powders
;
Colon/metabolism*
;
Caspase 1
;
Mesalamine/adverse effects*
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Cytokines/metabolism*
;
Water
;
Colitis/pathology*
9.YAP regulates intestinal epithelial cell proliferation through activation of STAT3 in DSS-induced colitis and associated cancer.
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2022;47(12):1637-1645
OBJECTIVES:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammation of the colon. Impaired epithelial repair is an important biological features of UC. Accelerating intestinal epithelial repair to achieve endoscopic mucosal healing has become a key goal in UC. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a key transcriptional coactivator that regulates organ size, tissue growth and tumorigenesis. Growing studies have focused on the role of YAP in intestinal epithelial regeneration. This study explore the molecular mechanism for the role YAP in modulating colonic epithelial proliferation, repair, and the development of colitis associated cancer.
METHODS:
We constructed the acute colitis mouse model through successive 5 days of 3% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induction. Then YAP-overexpressed mouse model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection the YAP overexpressed and negative control lentivirus into DSS mice. On the 5th day of DSS induction and the 5th day of normal drinking water after removing DSS (5+5 d), the mice were killed by spinal dislocation. The colon was taken to measure the length, and the bowel 1-2 cm near the anal canal was selected for immunohistochemical and Western blotting. We used YAP over-expressed colonic epithelial cells and small interfering signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) RNA to probe the regulation of YAP on STAT3, using cell counting kit-8 and scratch assays to explore the role of YAP on colonic epithelial cell proliferation. Finally, we conducted co-immunoprecipitation to test the relationship between YAP and STAT3.
RESULTS:
After DSS treatment, the expression of YAP was dramatically diminished in crypts. Compared with the empty control mice, overexpression of YAP drastically accelerated epithelial regeneration after DSS induced colitis, presenting with more intact of structural integrity in intestinal epithelium and a reduction in the number of inflammatory cells in the mucosa. Further Western blotting, functional experiment and co-immunoprecipitation analyses showed that the expression of YAP in nucleus was significantly increased by 2 h post DSS cessation, accompanied with up-regulated total protein levels of STAT3 and phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3). Overexpression of YAP enhanced the expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, and their transcriptional targets including c-Myc and Cyclin D1. In addition, it promoted the proliferation and the "wound healing" of colonic cells. However, these effects were reversed when silencing STAT3 on YAP-overexpressed FHC cells. Moreover, protein immunoprecipitation indicated that YAP could directly interact with STAT3 in the nucleus, up-regulatvng the expressvon of STAT3. Finally, during the process of CAC, overexpression of YAP mutant caused the down-regulated expression of STAT3 and inhibited the development and progress of CAC.
CONCLUSIONS
YAP activates STAT3 signaling in regulation of epithelial cell proliferation and promotes mucosal regeneration after DSS induced colitis, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target in UC. However, persistent and excessive YAP activation may promote CAC development.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Colitis/drug therapy*
;
Colon/metabolism*
;
Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Intestinal Mucosa
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/metabolism*
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
YAP-Signaling Proteins/metabolism*
10.Anti-inflammatory effect of interleukin-35 in mice with colitis and its mechanism.
Zhanjun LU ; Yangyang HU ; Sisi LI ; Lijuan ZANG ; Weiliang JIANG ; Jianjiong WU ; Xiening WU ; Yue ZENG ; Xingpeng WANG
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2018;47(5):499-506
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanisms of interleukin-35 (IL-35) in inflammatory bowel disease.
METHODS:
BALB/c mice were divided into three groups with 10 mice in each group:control group, model group (oral administration of 4% glucan sodium sulfate for 7 d) and IL-35-treated group (oral administration of 4% glucan sodium sulfate for 7 d, intraperitoneal injection of 2 μg IL-35 at d2-5). Disease activity index (DAI) was scored every day. After 7 d, the mice were sacrificed, and the serum and intestinal tissue samples were collected. The gross morphology of the colon was observed; HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue; flow cytometry was employed to detect the change of macrophage polarization ratio in colon tissue; the mRNA expression levels of cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and SHIP1 in colon tissue were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR; the expression and distribution of SHIP1 in colon tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry; Western blotting was adopted to detect the expression level of SHIP1 protein in colonic intestinal tissues of each group.
RESULTS:
The DAI scores of the mice in the model group were higher than those in the control group, while the DAI scores in the IL-35-treated group were lower than those in the model group (all <0.01). Compared with the control group, the colon length was significantly shortened in the model group (<0.05), while the colon length of the IL-35-treated group had an increasing trend compared with the model group, but the difference was not statistically significant (>0.05). Compared with the model group, microscopic inflammatory infiltration score was decreased and microscopic crypt destruction and score was significantly lower in IL-35-treated group (all <0.05). The relative expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ in the colon tissue of IL-35-treated group was decreased compared with the model group, while the relative expression of IL-10 mRNA was higher than that of the model group (all <0.05). Compared with the control group, the proportion of M1 macrophages in the model group increased (<0.05), while the proportion of M1 macrophages in the IL-35-treated group was lower than that in the model group (<0.05). The relative expression of SHIP1 mRNA and protein in the colon tissue of IL-35-treated group was higher than that in the model group (all <0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
IL-35 can inhibit the polarization of M1 macrophages and regulate inflammatory cytokines to promote anti-inflammatory effect on mice with colitis.
Animals
;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
;
pharmacology
;
Colitis
;
drug therapy
;
physiopathology
;
Colon
;
drug effects
;
Cytokines
;
genetics
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Gene Expression Regulation
;
drug effects
;
Glucans
;
pharmacology
;
Interleukin-6
;
genetics
;
Interleukins
;
pharmacology
;
Macrophages
;
drug effects
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases
;
genetics

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