Effect of qingchang huash recipe on NF-kappaB/Tolls pathway in ulcerative colitis patients and mechanism study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Qingchang Huashi Recipe (QHR) on the activation and expressions of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and contents of interleukin-8 (IL-8), thus exploring its possible mechanisms for treating ulcerative colitis (UC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HT-29 cells were induced to inflammation model by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). HT-29 cells were divided into 6 groups, i.e., the vehicle control group, the model control group, the sulfasalazine (SASP) group, the high dose QHR group, the middle dose QHR group, the low dose QHR group. Effects on the cell growth were detected by MTT. The chemoattractant of macrophages was observed using Transwell. The expressions of NF-kappaB and TLR4 protein were detected using immune cell fluorescence method. The content of IL-8 was detected by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The growth of cells were not inhibited in each group. Statistical difference existed in each dose QHR group in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages, reducing activation of NF-kappaB, lowing expressions of TLR4 protein, and decreasing the secretion of IL-8, when compared with the model control group (P < 0.05). No statistical difference existed in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages between the high dose QHR group and the vehicle control group (P > 0.05). But its inhibition on NF-kappaB activation was higher in the high dose QHR group than in the SASP group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QHR could obviously attenuate the inflammatory reaction of HT-29 cells, inhibit the chemoattractant of macrophages, reduce the activation of NF-kappaB, lower expressions of TLR-4, and attenuate the secretion of IL-8, which might be one of its mechanisms for treating UC.</p>

Effects of qingchang huashi recipe on the dendritic cells of the colonic mucosa and the mesenteric lymph nodes in experimental colitis rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of qingchang huashi recipe (QHR) on the dendritic cells (DCs) of experimental colitis rats, thus exploring its possible mechanisms for treating ulcerative colitis (UC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The UC rat model was induced by TNBS/anhydrous alcohol. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the QHR group, and the Mesalazine group, 10 in each group. Since the 2nd day of modeling, corresponding medication was respectively administered to each treatment group by gastrogavage for 10 successive days. The number of DCs in the colonic mucosa was observed using iMmunohistochemical assay. The DCs ratio in the mesenteric lymph nodes, and the expressions of surface molecules MHC-II and CD86 were detected using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the number of DCs in the colonic mucosa significantly decreased, the expression of MHC-II in the mesenteric lymph nodes significantly decreased in the QHR group and the Mesalazine group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the DCs ratios and the CD86 expression among the 4 groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QHR could decrease the infiltration of DCs in the colonic mucosa, and suppress the activation of DCs in the mesenteric lymph nodes, which might be one of its mechanisms for treating UC.</p>