Wei Chang An pill alleviates 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition process

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of Wei Chang An pill (WCA) on ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC model was established, and WCA was administered orally for 1 week. Body weight, colon length, disease activity index (DAI) score, and colon mucosa damage index (CMDI) score were recorded. Cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells was evaluated to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of WCA and its active ingredients. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers E-cadherin and vimentin in rat UC and WCA groups, and in Caco-2 cells stimulated with conditioned medium (CM) from THP-1 cells, with or without LPS or WCA. Results: WCA significantly inhibited body weight loss, decreased DAI and CMDI scores, blocked colon length shortening, and improved histological damage in UC rats. Furthermore, both myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and cytokine expression in UC tissues were significantly suppressed by WCA as well. In THP-1 cells, the mRNA expression of interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα) was significantly suppressed by WCA and its active ingredients. E-cadherin expression in UC rats and CM-stimulated Caco-2 cells was downregulated and vimentin expression was upregulated, whereas both were blocked when administered with WCA. Conclusions: Our data showed that WCA alleviated UC progression by inhibiting inflammation-induced EMT progression. Graphical abstract: http://links.lww.com/AHM/A56

Fecal microbiota transplantation as a therapy for treating ulcerative colitis: an overview of systematic reviews

“…Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory bowel disease that primarily affects distal colonic mucosa and submucosa [ 1 ]. UC is characterized by remission and alternating active phases, with abdominal pain, anemia, and bloody diarrhea as the main clinical manifestations.…”

“…The induction and maintenance of long-term stable remission are currently the main objectives in UC treatment in order to lower the possibility of relapse and prevent further development of CAC [ 4 ]. Mounting evidence have indicated the relation between the colonic microbiome and the pathogenesis of UC [ 1 ], but a majority of current treatments for UC still focus on immune system and pro-inflammatory factors rather than luminal microbial environment [ 5 , 6 ]. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been widely accepted as a highly effective treatment for persistent or resistant Clostridium difficile infection [ 7 – 9 ].…”

Macrophages in ulcerative colitis: A perspective from bibliometric and visual analysis

“…Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a rapidly increasing immune-mediated inflammatory disease worldwide [ 1 ]. Although the aetiology of UC remains unknown, it is speculated that environmental triggers, genetic factors, intestinal bacteria and immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of UC [ 2 ]. UC is pathologically characterised by abnormal mucosal immunoreactivity and persistent inflammatory infiltrates.…”