Effect of modified Xiaochaihu decoction-containing serum on HepG2.2.15 cells via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the effect of modified Xiaochaihu decoction (mXCHD) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Patients with CHB, in addition to liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either Chinese (mXCHD) or western (entecavir) treatment, with 30 cases in each group. Serum was collected following treatment with mXCHD or entecavir for 7 days. A healthy group of 30 individuals was also included. HepG2.2.15 cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into four groups: Healthy; entecavir-treated; 10% mXCHD-treated; and 20% mXCHD-treated. The HepG2.2.15 cells in the four groups were treated with either serum from the healthy volunteers, entecavir-containing serum, or mXCHD-containing serum at different concentrations (10 or 20%, respectively). Following treatment with the corresponding serum, cell proliferation was examined using an MTT assay, and the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the cell supernatant was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Janus kinase (JAK)2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses, respectively. The results indicated that the most effective treatment for the promotion of HepG2.2.15 cell proliferation was a 20% concentration of mXCHD serum. The expression of HBsAg was significantly decreased in the groups treated with 10 and 20% mXCHD 48 h following intervention (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of STAT3 in the 20% mXCHD serum group were significantly increased, compared with those in the healthy group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), whereas no significant difference was observed in the expression of JAK2 among the four groups. These results indicated that mXCHD suppressed the hepatitis B virus, and treatment of the cells with mXCHD-containing serum promoted HepG2.2.15 cell proliferation via modulating the expression of STAT3, which may contribute to the clinical efficacy of mXCHD against CHB.

Molecular Mechanism of Action of Repurposed Drugs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Used for the Treatment of Patients Infected With COVID-19: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Xiao Cai Hu Tang (XCHT) is known as a TCM for liver treatment, particularly chronic hepatitis B. This TCM modulates STAT3 expression and indirectly suppresses the hepatitis B virus according to western blot analyses and real time PCR results ( Chen et al, 2017 ). Wu Ling San (WLS) has been used to treat impairments of the regulation of body fluid homeostasis in Japan, China, and Korea ( Ahn et al, 2012 ) through affecting the signal transduction pathway such as NF-kB, MAPKs, and HO-1 to demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects like MXSGT to treat pneumonia or respiratory diseases in lipopolysaccharide stimulated macrophages ( Oh et al, 2014 ).…”

XCHD Inhibits C6 Cell Growth Primarily via the p53/Caspase Pathway

“…XCHD is composed of Chinese thorowax root, Scutellaria baicalensis , Pinellia ternata , ginger, ginseng, Ziziphi jujubae , liquorice root, Phyllanthus urinaria , largehead atractylodes rhizome, Poria cocos , white peony root, and Fructus schisandrae . XCHD inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway [ 31 ]. The results of this study demonstrated XCHD attenuated the growth of C6 cells via activation of the miR-34a/p53 pathway.…”

Molecular Mechanism of Action of Repurposed Drugs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Used for the Treatment of Patients Infected With COVID-19: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Xiao Cai Hu Tang (XCHT) is known as a TCM for liver treatment, particularly chronic hepatitis B. This TCM modulates STAT3 expression and indirectly suppresses the hepatitis B virus according to western blot analyses and real time PCR results [155]. The synergistic effect of this TCM for the treatment of pneumonia is unknown and requires full elucidation in the future.…”