title: Berberine ameliorates TNBS induced colitis by inhibiting inflammatory responses and Th1/Th17 differentiation.
abstract: Th1 and Th17 cells, and their associated cytokines, have been associated with the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Berberine (BBR), a compound long used in traditional Chinese medicines, has been reported to have therapeutic effects in treating experimental colitis. In this study, we show that BBR had a protective effect on mice with TNBS-induced colitis. BBR inhibited levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α both in the local colon and sera, and transiently increased levels of IL-22. BBR also markedly increased sIgA expression in the colon. BBR had pronounced effects on macrophage populations. Treatment with BBR adjusted the M2/M1 ratio. In addition, BBR exerted effects on adaptive immunity by suppressing numbers of Th1 and Th17 cells, as well as expression levels of their associated cytokines and transcriptional factors. BBR downregulated STAT3 and STAT1 phosphorylation, and inhibited phosphorylation of NF-kB. In vitro experiments showed that BBR inhibited the differentiation of Th17 and, to a lesser degree, Th1 cells, without affecting regulatory T cells. Therefore, we conclude that BBR plays a regulatory role in modulating the balance of immune responses in TNBS-induced colitis. Our study will help us understand the regulatory mechanisms exerted by BBR in the treatment of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China; Department of Laboratory Science, Guanghua Rheumatology Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chengzhen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yebin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Ruijing Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhengting
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Ruijing Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: niuxiaoyin@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoyin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: guangjie_chen@163.com.
authors.forename: Guangjie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
keywords: Berberine; Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Th1; Th17