1.Evaluation of Pulmonary Air-Blood Barrier Damage in Ulcerative Colitis Inflammatory Cancer Transformation Model Mice:Based on the "Lung-Intestine Correlation" Theory
Huiyan XU ; Haimei ZHANG ; Xinyu ZHAN ; Fanwu WU ; Yongsen JIA ; Chenxi WU ; Lingyu KONG ; Xin YAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(7):776-783
ObjectiveTo dynamically observe and evaluate the damage to the pulmonary air-blood barrier in mice during the inflammatory cancer transformation process of ulcerative colitis (UC) based on the "lung-intestine correlation" theory. MethodsSixty-five C57BL/6 mice were divided into a normal group (n=25) and a model group (n=40) using a random number table. Azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) method was used to establish a mouse model of UC inflammation cancer transformation in the modeling group. According to the tissue collection time points at 5, 8, 11, 13, and 15 weeks, the normal group mice were randomly divided into the normal 5w, 8w, 11w, 13w, and 15w groups. The model group mice, 10 mice of which died after the first cycle of DSS administration, were randomly divided into model 5w, 8w, 11w, 13w, and 15w groups. During the experiment, the general condition of the mice was observed daily, and their body weight was measured weekly. At the corresponding tissue collection time points, the colon length of each group was measured. Histopathology of mouse lung and colon tissues was examined using HE staining. Immunofluorescence was used to detect changes in the positive expression of tight junction protein (ZO-1), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin), and cytoskeletal protein (F-actin) in lung and colon tissues. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), BCL2-associated X protein (Bax), and Cysteine aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3) in lung tissues. Western Blot was employed to measure protein levels of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, and F-actin in lung tissues. ResultsCompared to the normal group at the same time point, the mice in the model group at each time point generally had poorer conditions, with weight loss and shortened colon length (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the model 5w group, there was significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon tissue; in the model 8w group, there was mild atypical hyperplasia; in the model 11w group, the crypt structure was disordered, and moderate to severe atypical hyperplasia occurred; in the model 13w and 15w groups, tumors appeared. Pulmonary interstitial lesions, inflammation, vasculitis, and fibrosis were observed at all stages of UC inflammation cancer transformation. The protein levels of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, and F-actin, as well as Bcl-2 mRNA expression in lung tissue decreased during the acute inflammatory recovery period, atypical hyperplasia period, and canceration period, while the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA increased; the expressions of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, and F-actin proteins in colon tissue decreased during the acute inflammatory recovery period, atypical hyperplasia period, and canceration period (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared to the model 5w group, the ZO-1 and F-actin protein levels and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in lung tissue in the other model groups increased in the atypical hyperplasia period and canceration period, while the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA decreased; the expression of ZO-1 protein in colon tissue increased in the canceration period, and the expression of VE-cadherin protein decreased in the atypical hyperplasia period (P<0.01 or P<0.05). ConclusionIn the process of "inflammatory response-atypical hyperplasia-carcinogenesis" in UC inflammatory cancer transformation mice, there were damage to air-blood barrier.
2.Mechanism of Zishen Qinggan Prescription in Improving Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes Based on Transcriptomics
Jingcun WANG ; Chunyu TIAN ; Fan ZHANG ; Xiaojin LA ; Fanwu WU ; Liang ZHU ; Leilei MA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):109-117
ObjectiveBased on network pharmacology and transcriptomics, the mechanism of Zishen Qinggan prescription (ZSQGF) in improving glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) model rats was explored. MethodBased on network pharmacology analysis of the differential genes between ZSQGF and T2DM, gene ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) analysis were conducted, and molecular docking analysis was used to verify the binding between components and targets. A T2DM rat model was established by high-fat feeding and injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, metformin (Met, 72 mg·kg-1) group, and ZSQGF high-, medium-, and low-dose groups (ZSQGF-H, ZSQGF-M, and ZSQGF-L, with 4.8, 2.4, and 1.2 g·kg-1 raw drug in the solution). The living status of rats was monitored and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in rat serum were detected. The liver tissues were subjected to Hematoxylin eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining. The differential genes were analyzed through transcriptomics, GO and KEGG analysis, and the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was obtained to screen key targets. With network pharmacology and transcriptomics analysis results, the protein pathways were identified. The expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-1 and MMP-9 proteins in liver tissues were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) modifying factor(BMF), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4), and fatty acid synthase(FASN) was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR). The expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the liver was detected by immunofluorescence staining. ResultTranscriptomics and network pharmacology analysis suggested that ZSQGF may protect the liver through the glucose and lipid metabolism pathway and the inflammation pathway. Experiments showed that after 8 weeks of administration, the body weight, blood sugar, serum indicators, and pathological staining results of rats were improved. Western blot results indicated a decrease in the relative expression levels of NF-κB, MMP-1 and MMP-9 proteins in the liver. Real-time PCR results showed a decrease in the transcriptional expression of BMF, NOX4, and FASN in the ZSQGF-H group, while immunofluorescence staining results present decreased expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 in the ZSQGF groups. ConclusionZSQGF can improve the glucose and lipid metabolism by inhibiting the expression of FASN, reducing lipid synthesis, and regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

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