Bulk RNA sequencing on hepatic tissues from colitis mice treated with a sublethal indirubin dose.
Many plant-derived bioactive molecules with low solubility and permeability can cause hepatocyte injury. However, the mechanism by which they induce hepatic damage without passive diffusion into the hepatic circulatory system remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that indirubin, the main component of indigo naturalis with poor aqueous solubility, predisposes mice with chronic colitis to hepatic injury.  This closely mimics the hepatic damage commonly observed in ulcerative colitis patients treated with indigo naturalis. To elucidate the mechanism of indirubin-induced hepatocyte injury in chronic colitis, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on hepatic tissues from DSS-induced colitis mice treated with a sublethal indirubin dose. Overall design: Chronic colitis was induced in C57BL/6J mice using three cycles of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration. Each cycle comprised 1 week of 1.8% (w/v) DSS in drinking water followed by 1 week of recovery. The mice were randomised into 3 groups: (1) the control group received 200 µL of sterile water orally each day; (2) the DSS group received 200µL of sterile water orally each day; (3) the Indirubin groups were given 1g/kg/day of Indirubin in 200µL sterile water orally each day