Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 565-575.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220608.001

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Efficacy of Sishen Wan (四神丸) on dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis and its effect on toll-like receptor 2/interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4/nuclear factor-κB signal pathway

ZHANG Zhaohua1, LIU Rong1, DU Nana3, ZHU Xiangdong1,2()   

  1. 1 School of Basic Medicine, Gansu university of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
    2 College of Chinese Medicine, Ningxia medical university, Yinchuan 750000, China
    3 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • Received:2022-01-18 Accepted:2022-04-15 Online:2022-08-15 Published:2022-07-12
  • Contact: ZHU Xiangdong
  • About author:Prof. ZHU Xiangdong, School of Basic Medicine, Gansu university of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China. zhuxiangdong33@163.com, Telephone: +86-15339312501
  • Supported by:
    Explore the Immune Mechanism of Treating Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Treg/Th17 Cell Imbalance by Warming the Kidney and Invigorating the Spleen through Intestinal Flora(81960826)

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Sishen Wan (四神丸, SSW) on ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and its effect on toll-like receptor 2/interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR2/IRAK4/NF-κB) sig-naling pathway in colonic tissue. METHODS: In this study, 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank and model groups. The experimental UC model in rats was established by subcutaneous injection of hydrocortisone + senna gavage for 21 d + dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)/ ethanol solution enema. The successful model rats were randomly divided into the model group; mesalazine (0.36 g/kg) group; and high-, medium-, and low- dose SSW (24, 12, and 6 g/kg) groups. The model and blank groups were gavaged with equal volumes of distilled water once a day for 21 d. The general condition of the rats was observed, and the body mass, fecal properties, and occult blood were recorded for calculating the disease activity index (DAI) score. The colonic tissue of the rats was collected, and its general morphology and pathological form were noted for obtaining the colonic mucosal injury index (CMDI) score. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to view the pathological changes of the colon tissue in each group, apoptosis of the cells was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expressions of TLR2, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), IRAK4, and NF-κB p65 mRNA in the colon tissue. The expressions of TLR2, MyD88, IRAK4, and NF-κB p65 protein were detected using western blotting and immunohistochemistry assay, and the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the colon tissue were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the general condition of the model group was relatively poor. The DAI and CMDI scores of the model group increased significantly (P < 0.01), the glands and intestinal mucosa disappeared partially, and several inflammatory cells infiltrated and gathered in the mucosal layer and base layer of the rats in the model group. Furthermore, the cell apoptosis and expression levels of TLR2, MyD88, IRAK4, and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein in the colon tissue of rats in the model group increased significantly (P < 0.01). The levels of IL-1β and TNF-α increased significantly in the colon tissue of rats in the model group (P < 0.01). After treatment with SSW, compared with the model group, the general condition of the UC rats improved. Moreover, the DAI and CMDI scores of the UC rats decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the pathological changes in the colon tissue of the UC rats tended to be normal. The cell apoptosis and expression levels of TLR2, MyD88, IRAK4, and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein in the colon tissue of the UC rats decreased gradually (P < 0.01), and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α decreased significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SSW can improve the general condition and alleviate the intestinal mucosal injury of UC model rats. Additionally, SSW can inhibit the TLR2/IRAK4/ NF-κB signaling pathway, but further studies are required to confirm it.

Key words: colitis, ulcerative, toll-like receptor 2, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases, NF-kappa B, signal transduction, therapeutic uses, Sishen Wan

Cite this article

ZHANG Zhaohua, LIU Rong, DU Nana, ZHU Xiangdong. Efficacy of Sishen Wan (四神丸) on dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis and its effect on toll-like receptor 2/interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4/nuclear factor-κB signal pathway[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, 42(4): 565-575.