Changes of inherent immune response and acquired immune response in the tung tissue and the intestinal tissue of ulcerative colitis rats and the intervention of Chinese compound: an experimental research / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore Chinese medical theory of Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly correlated by observing changes of inherent immune response and acquired immune response in the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue of ulcerative colitis (UC) model rats and the intervention of Chinese compounds (CM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group (n = 10), the model group (n = 15), the treatment 1 group (n = 15, treated from Fei), the treatment 2 group (n = 15, treated from the intestine), and the Western medicine (WM) group [n = 15, treated with Sulfasalazine (SASP). Except those in the normal control group, the UC rat model was prepared by allergizing colon mucosa combined with TNBS-alcohol (50%) enema, and then intervened by medication (treated with CM complex prescription of treatment from lung, CM complex prescription of treatment from intestine, and SASP). After intragastric administration for 4 weeks, rats were sacrificed and samples taken. The expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-8 contents in the lung tissue, the intestinal tissue, and the serum were detected by radioimmunoassay. Serum MedCAM-1 contents were detected using ELISA. Changes of the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), neutrophil migration inhibition factor (MIF), mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MadCAM-1) mRNA in the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue were detected by real time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the expression levels of TNF-α, TLR4 mRNA, IL-8, MIF mR- NA, and MadCAM-1 mRNA obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of TNF-α, TLR4 mRNA, IL-8, MIF mRNA, and MadCAM-1 mRNA obviously decreased in the treatment 1 and 2 groups (P < 0.01). The expression of MadCAM-1 mRNA in the intestinal tissue was obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01), while the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB mRNA was obviously lower in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of MadCAM-1 mRNA all significantly deceased in each treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum TNF-α contents were higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, serum TNF-α contents could be lowered in the treatment 1 and 2 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The main mechanisms of the intestinal injury in this UC model might be related with activation of acquired immune response, accompanied with lowered functions of inherent immune response. The main mechanisms of the lung injury in this UC model might be related acquired immune response and inherent immune response. Treatment from Fei and treatment from Dachang both could obviously improve the immunodissonance of Fei and Dachang, indicating the special relation between the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue, thus providing experimental evidence for Chinese medical theory of Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly correlated.</p>

effect of treatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine on vasoactive intestinal peptide contents of ulcerative colitis rats: a comparison study / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of treatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine on the level of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the lung and intestine of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The UC rat model was established in 52 rats by using rabbit intestine mucosa tissue allergen combined TNBS-ethanol model (with the model successful rate of 78.0%). Eight rats randomly selected from 40 successfully modeled rats and 8 of 16 rats from the normal group were recruited as the model group and the normal control group before intervention (at week 0). The rest 32 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Western medicine treatment group (salazosulfapyridine), the treatment from lung group (Huangqi Jiegeng Decoction), and the treatment from intestine group (Huangqi Huanglian Decoction), 8 in each group. Rats in each treatment group were administered with corresponding medication 8 times the dose of a 60 kg adult human. Another 8 normal rats were recruited as the normal group. Equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the model group and the normal group by gastrog avage, once per day. Contents of VIP in the lung tissue and the intestinal tissue were detected at week 0 and 4 after 4-week consecutive intervention. Pathomorphological changes of the lung tissue and the colon tissue were observed under light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group at week 0, evenly distributed diffuse inflammation could be seen in the pulmonary interstitial tissue; the bronchial wall was thickened; a huge amount of infiltration surrounded bronchi and blood vessels; a large area of necrosis of intestinal mucosa and inflammatory cell infiltration could also be seen in the model group. Pathological injuries of the lung and the colon were more alleviated in each treatment group than in the model group at the same time point. Compared with the normal control group at the same time point, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly decreased in the model group at the end of week 4 (P<0.05); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly increased in the model group at the end of week 0 and 4 (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, VIP contents in the lung tissue significantly increased in the Western medicine treatment group and the treatment from lung group at the end of week 4 (P<0.01); VIP contents in the colon tissue significantly decreased in the treatment from lung group and the treatment from intestine group (P<0.05, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment from the lung and treatment from the intestine showed predominant advantage in improving local inflammation of the lung and the intestinal tract, alleviating pathological injuries, promoting repair of injuries through regulating VIP contents in the lung tissue and the colon tissue.</p>

Exploration of the theory of "Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related" from observing changes of inflammatory cytokines and oxygen free radicals in the lung tissue of ulcerative colitis rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the theory of "Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related" and the pathogenesis of lung injury by observing changes of inflammatory cytokines and oxygen free radicals in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 50 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, the normal control group and the model group, 25 rats in each group. The UC model was established by allergizing colon mucosa combined with TNBS-alcohol (50%) enema. Another 25 rats were recruited as the normal control group. At week 2 and 4 after modeling, the pathomorphological changes of the lung were observed. Furthermore, the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1beta were determined by ELISA. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated with colorimetry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the pathomorphology of the lung tissue in the model group appeared abnormal at week 2 and 4. Compared with the normal control group, levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and MDA in the lung tissue significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 01) and the activities of SOD significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, SOD, and MDA might be common material bases for the large intestine involved in lung disease of UC patients, thus providing a modern scientific basis for the theory of Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related.</p>