title: Herbal prescription Chang'an II repairs intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with post-inflammation irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The herbal prescription Chang'an II is derived from a classical TCM formula Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang for the treatment of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this study we investigated the effects of Chang'an II on the intestinal mucosal immune barrier in a rat post-inflammation IBS (PI-IBS) model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of PI-IBS was established using a multi-stimulation paradigm including early postnatal sibling deprivation, bondage and intrarectal administration of TNBS. Four weeks after TNBS administration, the rats were treated with Chang'an II (2.85, 5.71 and 11.42 g · kg(-1) · d(-1), ig) for 14 d. Intestinal sensitivity was assessed based on the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores and fecal water content. Open field test and two-bottle sucrose intake test were used to evaluate the behavioral changes. CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were counted and IL-1β and IL-4 levels were measured in intestinal mucosa. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate ultrastructural changes of the intestinal mucosal barrier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PI-IBS model rats showed significantly increased AWR reactivity and fecal water content, and decreased locomotor activity and sucrose intake. Chang'an II treatment not only reduced AWR reactivity and fecal water content, but also suppressed the anxiety and depressive behaviors. Ultrastructural study revealed that the gut mucosal barrier function was severely damaged in PI-IBS model rats, whereas Chang'an II treatment relieved intestinal mucosal inflammation and repaired the gut mucosal barrier. Furthermore, PI-IBS model rats showed a significantly reduced CD4(+)/CD8(+) cell ratio in lamina propria and submucosa, and increased IL-1β and reduced IL-4 expression in intestinal mucosa, whereas Chang'an II treatment reversed PI-IBS-induced changes in CD4(+)/CD8(+) cell ratio and expression of IL-1β and IL-4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chang'an II treatment protects the intestinal mucosa against PI-IBS through anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-anxiety effects.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Feng-yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Xuanwu Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Beijing 100000, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Yong-qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-ge
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: En-lin
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Xu-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C000605451:Chang'an II; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; C000594089:IL1B protein, rat; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid