Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction Attenuates DSS‐Induced Colitis in Rats by Reducing Inflammation and Improving Intestinal Barrier Function via Upregulating the MSP/RON Signalling Pathway

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, nonspecific, inflammatory disease for which an effective treatment is lacking. Our previous study found that Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction (QCWZD) can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of UC and ameliorate dextran sulphate sodium- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis in rats by downregulating the IP10/CXCR3 axis–mediated inflammatory response. The purpose of the present study was to further explore the mechanism of QCWZD for UC in rats models, which were established by 7-day administration of 4.5% dextran sulphate sodium solution. QCWZD was administered daily for 7 days; then we determined the serum macrophage-stimulating protein concentration (MSP) and recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) expression and its downstream proteins (protein kinase B [Akt], phosphorylated [p] Akt, occludin, zona occluden- [ZO-] 1, and claudin-2) in colon tissue using Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In DSS-induced UC, QCWZD significantly alleviated colitis-associated inflammation, upregulated serum MSP expression and RON expression in the colon, reduced the pAkt levels, promoted colonic occluding and ZO-1 expression, and depressed claudin-2 expression. In conclusion, the MSP/RON signalling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC by involving the inflammatory response and improving intestinal barrier function. QCWZD appears to attenuate DSS-induced UC in rats by upregulating the MSP/RON signalling pathway.

Gut Microbiota-Mediated NLRP12 Expression Drives the Attenuation of Dextran Sulphate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction

“…Because QCWZD is a compound of multiflavor Chinese medicines and each of them has different chemical constituents, it may have regulatory effects on UC through multilinks and multiple targets, so we carried out a number of studies. We found QCWZD can alleviate inflammatory reaction and improve the intestinal barrier function in DSS-induced UC rats by downregulating the IP10/CXCR3 axis [8] and upregulating the MSP/RON pathway [7]. Furthermore, we also found that QCWZD could resist the interactive network of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and their overactivated interactions [29].…”

“…Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction (QCWZD) is a potent traditional Chinese herbal formulation formulated by Junxiang Li. Our previous studies found that QCWZD could relieve the clinical symptoms of UC patients [5, 6], reduce inflammation, and improve the intestinal barrier function in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced UC rats [7, 8]. Recently we found that there was a difference in the composition and abundance of gut microbiota in patients with UC and healthy people [9]; we wonder if QCWZD could treat UC by regulating gut microbiota, which is involved in the occurrence and development of UC [10].…”

Quyushengxin Formula Causes Differences in Bacterial and Phage Composition in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

“…Feng et al [5] indicated that Shenzhu Capsule contained two herbal medicines (Renshen and Baizhu) and improved UC by altering TNF signalling pathway, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway and NF-kb signalling pathway. Qingchang Wenzhong Decoction comprising of eight kinds of herbs attenuated dextran sulphate sodium-(DSS-) induced UC in rats by upregulating macrophage-stimulating protein concentration/receptor tyrosine kinase signalling pathway [6]. In addition, Quyushengxin formula (QYSX), known as Kuijie formula, contains eight kinds of herbs.…”

Elevated preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts poor prognosis of patients with primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor

“…Over the last decade, cancer-related inflammation has been clearly established as playing a critical role in promoting tumor progression and metastasis [9]. In fact, inflammatory processes have been evaluated using widely available biomarkers, including macrophage-stimulating protein, C-reactive protein, or other hematological parameters, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet-tolymphocyte ratio (PLR) [10][11][12]. Among these inflammatory biomarkers, the preoperative blood NLR and PLR are negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with solid tumors, including colorectal, pancreatic, non-small cell lung and ovarian tumors [13,14].…”