Tangshen Formula Attenuates Colonic Structure Remodeling in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Aim. This study investigated the effect and mechanism of the Chinese herbal medicine Tangshen Formula (TSF) on GI structure remodeling in the rat model of diabetes. Methods. Type 2 diabetic rats were used. Wet weight per unit length, layer thicknesses, levels of collagens I and III, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and Smad2/3 expression in the rat colon were measured. Results. Compared with the control group animals, wet weight and layer thicknesses of the colon increased, and expressions of collagens I and III, NF-κB, IFN-γ, IL-6, TGF-β1, and Smad2/3 increased significantly in the diabetic animals. TSF inhibited increase in colonic wet weight and layer thicknesses, downregulated expressions of collagens I and III in the mucosal layer, and downregulated expressions of NF-κB, IFN-γ, IL-6, TGF-β1, and Smad2/3 in the colon wall. Furthermore, level of expression of NF-κB was associated with those of TGF-β1 and Smad2/3. Expression of TGF-β1 was associated with the most histomorphometric parameters including colonic weight, mucosal and muscle thicknesses, and levels of collagens I and III in mucosal layer. Conclusion. TSF appears to attenuate colonic structure remodeling in type 2 diabetic rats through inhibiting the overactivated pathway of NF-κB, thus reducing expressions of TGF-β1.

Effect of Tangshen formula on the remodeling of small intestine and colon in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

“…Our previous study has demonstrated that Tangshen Formula could partly attenuate colonic structure remodeling in type 2 diabetic rat model [ 23 ]. However, that study did not analyze the biomechanical properties and did not include small intestinal segments.…”

“…In GK diabetic rat (another spontaneous type 2 diabetes model), intestinal histological [ [38] , [39] , [40] ] and biomechanical [ 39 , 40 ] remodeling has been reported, and similar data were obtained as STZ-induced diabetic rat model. Recently, our group has demonstrated the histological remodeling of colon such as wet weight and layer thicknesses increasing in high fat feeding plus low dose STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rat model [ 23 ]. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study in relation to histological and biomechanical remodeling of GI tract has been reported in world-widely used ZDF type 2 diabetic model so far.…”

“…Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including herb medicine have been widely used to treat diabetes and proved to have efficacy in improving diabetic symptoms and complications [ 42 ]. It has been demonstrated that several Chinese herb medicines could improve diabetes-induced small intestinal and colon remodeling in diabetic animal models [ 11 , 19 , 20 , 23 ]. TSF is a traditional Chinese herbal compound and showed effective for diabetic kidney diseases in both diabetic patients [ 22 ] and diabetic animals [ 43 ].…”

“…Tangshen Formula (TSF) has been used in diabetic patients to treat diabetic kidney diseases and proved to have efficacy [ 22 ]. Although no clinical study about the effect of TSF on diabetic gastrointestinal disorders, our group has in previous study demonstrated that TSF could partly attenuate colonic structure remodeling in type 2 diabetic rats [ 23 ]. However, it is not clear so far whether TSF has same effect on small intestine and the effect on biomechanical properties of bowel.…”

Top 10 academic progress on traditional Chinese medicine in 2022

“…[106][107][108] Mechanistic research has revealed that the Tangshen formula can promote hepatic lipid autophagy, alleviate hepatic steatosis by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway, [109] and reduce renal lipid deposition by promoting cholesterol efflux through regulating the PGC-1a/LXR/ ABCA1 pathway. [110] The Tangshen formula has significant therapeutic effects on multiple organ damage, [111] including the treatment of fatty liver, [109] improvement of gastrointestinal dynamics, [112] and reduction of myocardial fibrosis while fighting renal fibrosis. [113]…”