title: Huangqin-tang ameliorates dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis by regulating intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis, inflammation and immune response.
abstract: Huangqin-tang (HQT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula widely used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in China. However, the molecular mechanisms by which HQT protects the colon are unclear. We studied the protective effects of HQT and the underlying mechanisms in an experimental mouse model and in vitro. In vivo, dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced acute and chronic colitis were significantly ameliorated by HQT as gauged by phenotypic, histopathologic and inflammatory manifestations of the disease. Mechanistically, DSS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling was inhibited by HQT. Moreover, HQT-treated mice demonstrated significant changes in cell apoptosis, expression of apoptosis-associated genes such as caspase-3, bax, bcl-2, and intestinal permeability. HQT also increased occluding and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), inhibited cell proliferation (Ki67), and increased regulatory T cells numbers, protein expression of Foxp3 and IL-10 in the colonic tissue. In vitro, HQT down-regulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and supressed the NF-κB signalling pathway in lipopolysaccharides-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our study suggests that HQT plays a critical role in regulating intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis, inflammation and immune response in colitis and offers novel therapeutic options in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scientific Research Platform, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.|Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drug Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Jiantao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scientific Research Platform, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Wenyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Zhuguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Caiguo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scientific Research Platform, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostics of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Congcong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Xuebao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scientific Research Platform, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China.
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006706:Homeostasis; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C439205:Huangqin-Tang; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016264:Dextran Sulfate