Objective:
Autoimmune diseases (AD) account for a high percentage of the population. One
of the most prevalent is autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). However, the therapeutic effects of Buzhong Yiqi
(BZYQ) decoction on AIT have not been studied yet. The majority of the present study was conducted
on NOD.H-2h4 mice in an attempt to ascertain the therapeutic effects of BZYQ decoction on AIT.
Methods:
The 0.05% sodium iodide water (NaI)-induced AIT mice model was established. A total
of nine NOD.H-2h4 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the normal group provided with
regular water, the model group drinking freely 0.05% NaI, and the treatment group treated with
BZYQ decoction (9.56 g/kg) after NaI supplementation (NaI + BZYQ). BZYQ decoction was administered orally once daily for eight weeks. The thyroid histopathology test was used to measure
the severity of lymphocytic infiltration. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was
used to determine the levels of anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and
IL-17. The Illumina HiSeq X sequencing platform was utilized to analyze the thyroid tissue by
mRNA expression profiles. Bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the biological function
of the differentially expressed mRNAs. In addition, the expression of Carbonyl Reductase 1
(CBR1), 6-Pyruvoyltetrahydropterin Synthase (PTS), Major Histocompatibility Complex, Class II
(H2-EB1), Interleukin 23 Subunit Alpha (IL-23A), Interleukin 6 Receptor (IL-6RA), and Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
Results:
The treatment group exhibited significantly lower rates of thyroiditis and lymphocyte infiltration compared to the model group. Serum levels of TgAb, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 were significantly higher in the model group, but they fell dramatically after BZYQ decoction administration.
According to our results, 495 genes showed differential expression in the model group compared to
the control group. Six hundred twenty-five genes were significantly deregulated in the treatment
group compared to the model group. Bioinformatic analysis showed that most mRNAs were associated with immune-inflammatory responses and were involved in multiple signaling pathways, including folate biosynthesis and the Th17 cell differentiation pathway. CBR1, PTS, H2-EB1, IL23A, IL-6RA and JAK1 mRNA participated in folate biosynthesis and the Th17 cell differentiation
pathway. The qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the above mRNAs were regulated in the model
group compared to the treatment group.
Conclusion:
The results of this investigation have revealed novel insights into the molecular
mechanism of action of BZYQ decoction against AIT. The mechanism may be partially attributed
to the regulation of mRNA expression and pathways.