Huangqin-Tang Ameliorates TNBS-Induced Colitis by Regulating Effector and Regulatory CD4(+) T Cells.
Huangqin-Tang decoction (HQT) is a classic traditional Chinese herbal formulation that is widely used to ameliorate the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential and immunological regulatory activity of HQT in experimental colitis in rats. Using an animal model of colitis by intrarectally administering 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), we found that administration of HQT significantly inhibited the severity of TNBS-induced colitis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with HQT produced better results than that with mesalazine, as shown by improvedweight loss bleeding and diarrhoea scores, colon length, and intestinal inflammation. As for potential immunological regulation of HQT action, the percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells were reduced, but those Th2 and Treg cells were enhanced in LPMCs after HQT treatment. Additionally, HQT lowered the levels of Th1/Th17-associated cytokines but increased production of Th2/Treg-associated cytokines in the colon and MLNs. Furthermore, we observed a remarkable suppression of the Th1/Th17-associated transcription factors T-bet and ROR-γt. However, expression levels of the Th2/Treg-associated transcription factors GATA-3 and Foxp3 were enhanced during treatment with HQT. Our results suggest that HQT has the therapeutic potential to ameliorate TNBS-induced colitis symptoms. This protective effect is possibly mediated by its effects on CD4(+) T cells subsets.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China ; China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Ying
Y
Zou
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Wen-Yang
WY
Li
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Zheng
Z
Wan
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Bing
B
Zhao
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Zhi-Wei
ZW
He
Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Zhu-Guo
ZG
Wu
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Guo-Liang
GL
Huang
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Jian
J
Wang
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Bin-Bin
BB
Li
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Yang-Jia
YJ
Lu
China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Cong-Cong
CC
Ding
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Hong-Gang
HG
Chi
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan 523808, China.
Xue-Bao
XB
Zheng
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C439205:Huangqin-Tang; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid