Baitouweng Decoction Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis in Mice Partially Attributed to Regulating Th17/Treg Balance and Restoring Intestinal Epithelial Barrier

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic intestinal disease with unclear pathogenesis. With an increasing global prevalence over the past two decades, UC poses a serious threat to public health. Baitouweng decoction (BTW), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to have good clinical efficacy for treating intestinal inflammation. Yet, the efficacy of BTW in UC and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. The current study aimed to determine whether BTW suppressed intestinal inflammation in mice and the potential mechanism. We used a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis model to test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of BTW. Clinical symptoms were scored by the disease activity index (DAI), and the colon length and pathological changes in colon tissue were also used to further evaluate the efficacy of BTW. Precisely how BTW affected immune function and the intestinal barrier of UC mice was also examined. BTW significantly reduced DAI score and colonic pathological damage. BTW regulated the balance between T helper (Th)17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells, decreased interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and increased IL-10 levels. BTW reduced intestinal permeability of UC mice, increased expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and zonula occludens-1), and decreased expression of phospho-nuclear factor (p-NF)-κB and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) in the colon. BTW inhibited the ERK/p-NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressed expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and inducible NO synthase in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells. BTW significantly promoted the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids in the gut, particularly acetate, propionate, isobutyric acid, and isovalerate. The results suggest that BTW can protect against DSS-induced UC. The mechanism may be partially attributed to regulating the balance of Th17/Treg cells and restoring the intestinal epithelial barrier.

Probiotic Bacillus cereus Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice through Improvement of the Intestinal Barrier Function, Anti-Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota Modulation

“…The previous studies suggested that the DSS treatment exhibited an increased intestinal permeability, downregulated expression of TJ-related proteins, and impaired subcellular distribution of epithelial TJs . In our study, DSS significantly downregulated TJ-related protein expression, which was consistent with the results of a previous study . However, B. cereus administration significantly upregulated TJ-related protein expression.…”

“…34 In our study, DSS significantly downregulated TJ-related protein expression, which was consistent with the results of a previous study. 35 However, B. cereus administration significantly upregulated TJrelated protein expression. B. cereus was previously reported to enhance the intestinal epithelial barrier function.…”

Expression of Th17/Treg Cells in Peripheral Blood and Related Cytokines of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis of Different Syndrome Types and Correlation with the Disease

“…Moreover, when chronic inflammation is repeatedly irritated, it also quickly progresses to malignant lesions of the colorectal, which poses a threat to the quality of life and life safety of patients [3]. Regarding the pathogenesis of UC, clinical considerations are mainly about colonic mucosal epithelial cells secreting abnormal mucus glycoproteins, changes in the permeability of intestinal mucosal, and antigens entering the intestinal mucosa, leading to a series of inflammatory changes and immune responses, and further production of inflammatory mediators and antibodies, cytokines, and oxygen free radicals, but its ultimate pathogenesis and reasons still need to be further studied [4][5][6]. At present, many scholars tend to believe that it may be related to the autoimmune system, among which, T helper cell 17 ( 17), regulatory T cells (Treg), and cytokines are closely related to their occurrence and recurrence [7].…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Th17/Treg Balance in Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Its composition mainly includes four herbs: Pulsatilla chinensis , Coptis chinensis , Phellodendron amurense , and Cortex Fraxini [ 88 ]. BTW intervention decreased the expression of cytokines associated with Th17 cells differentiation (including IL-6, IL-1 β , and TNF- α ) and upregulated the expression of IL-10, a key indicator of Treg cells differentiation, thereby regulating the proportion of Th17 cells and Treg cells in mice and restoring Th17/Treg balance, in order to reduce DAI scores and colonic pathological damage in mice [ 89 ]. The ingredients of Jiedu Huayu Decoction (JDHY), a TCM remedy for blood circulation improvement and stasis removal, include Pulsatilla chinensis , Scutellaria barbata , Phellodendron amurense , Portulaca oleracea L., and Coptis chinensis .…”