title: Effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 in a rat model of experimental colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Astragalus membranaceus is a Chinese medicinal herb and has been shown to improve hapten-induced experimental colitis. One of its major components is polysaccharides. We investigated the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 in a rat model of experimental colitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental colitis model was induced by TNBS. Forty five rats were divided into five groups (n=9): Normal control group, receiving ethanol vehicle with no TNBS during induction and IP saline injection during treatment; TNBS colitis model group (TNBS+IP saline), receiving only IP saline vehicle treatment; APS low dose group (TNBS+L-APS), receiving APS 100mg/kg; APS high dose group (TNBS+H-APS), receiving APS 200mg/kg; and positive control group (TNBS+Dexm), receiving dexamethasone 0.3mg/kg. The clinical features, macroscopic and microscopic scores were assessed. The expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to normal control rats, TNBS+IP saline had significant weight loss, increased macroscopic and microscopic scores, higher disease activity index (DAI) up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 mRNA expression and up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β protein expression. Compared to TNBS+IP saline, treatment with APS or dexamethasone significantly reduced DAI, partially but significantly prevented TNBS colitis-induced weight loss and improved both macroscopic and microscopic scores; high dose APS or dexamethasone significantly down-regulated TNF-α and IL-1β expressions (both mRNA and protein) and up-regulated NFATc4 mRNA and protein expression. The effect of high dose APS and dexamethasone is comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APS significantly improved experimental TNBS-induced colitis in rats through regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Food and Drug Administration Center for Evaluation and Certification, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Huan-Bing
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sitang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Pei-Yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lan-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA. Electronic address: dyli@cmh.edu.
authors.forename: Ding-You
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C477593:Nfatc4 protein, rat; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
keywords: Astragalus polysaccharides; Experimental colitis; IL-1β; NFATc4; TNF-α