ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Qingre Huayu Jianpi prescription （QHJ） on colitis-associated colorectal cancer （CAC） in mice， and its related mechanism. MethodC57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups including the normal， model， QHJ low-dose （QHJ-L， 10 g·kg-1）， and QHJ high-dose （QHJ-H， 40 g·kg-1） groups. Azoxymethane （AOM） and dextran sodium sulfate （DSS） were combined to chemically build a CAC mouse model for 14 weeks. Each drug group was given intragastrically from the 5th week to the 14th week， once per day. An equal volume of water was fed to the normal and model groups. The mouse survival rate， colon length， weight， and pathological alterations were assessed. The protein expressions of Wnt-3a protein signaling （Wnt3a）， β-catenin， Non-phosphor-β-catenin （Non-p-β-catenin）， and cholesterol-binding glycoproteins 133 （CD133） were detected by Western blot. The localization and expression of the cluster of differentiation （CD） 80 and CD11 antigen-like family member B （CD11b） were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The colon organoids derived from CAC mice were isolated and cultured to detect the expression of Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins. ResultThe survival rate of the CAC mice was improved by QHJ treatment and the number of colon tumors was inhibited significantly. Compared with those in the normal group， the expression levels of Wnt3a， β-catenin， Non-p-β-catenin， and CD133 in colon tissues in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin in the QHJ-L group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and the protein levels of Wnt3a， β-catenin， Non-p-β-catenin， and CD133 in the QHJ-H group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Meanwhile， the expression level of CD11b in the model group was significantly increased compared with that in the normal group while the CD80 level was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， CD11b in QHJ-L and QHJ-H groups was significantly decreased， and CD80 was significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of Non-p-β-catenin and CD133 in colonic organoids of CAC model mice were significantly increased， while QHJ treatment could inhibit the expressions of Non-p-β-catenin and CD133 in colonic organoids （P<0.01）. ConclusionQHJ could inhibit the inflammation-cancer development in CAC mice， the mechanism of which might be related to regulating the microenvironment and inhibiting the over-activation of Wnt signaling.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the intervention effect and mechanism of Buzhong Yiqiwan （BZYQ） on colitis mice. MethodSixty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 2 weeks blank group， 2 weeks model group， 2 weeks high-dose BZYQ （12 g·kg-1） group， 2 weeks low-dose BZYQ （6 g·kg-1） group， 4 weeks blank group， 4 weeks model group， 4 weeks high-dose BZYQ （12 g·kg-1） group， and 4 weeks low-dose BZYQ （6 g·kg-1） group. The colitis model was induced in mice by feeding 3% dextran sodium sulfate （DSS） for 7 days. The mice received BZYQ （12 and 6 g·kg-1） by gavage on the 8th day after modeling， once per day， and sacrificed on the 2nd and 4th weeks， correspondingly. The colon length and weight of mice in each group were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used for pathological observation and colonic mucosal inflammation was scored. The mRNA and protein expression of NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain 3 （NLRP3）， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1） was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the content of inflammatory cytokines， such as interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-18， and IL-33 in colonic tissues. ResultCompared with the 2 weeks blank group， the 2 weeks model group showed shortened colon length， increased colon weight （P<0.05）， loss of epithelial cells， destruction of gland structure， infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells in mucosa and submucosa， local crypt abscess， and increase in mucosal inflammation score （P<0.01） as revealed by light microscopy， elevated levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and IL-33 in colonic tissues （P<0.05）， and increased mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3， ASC， and Caspase-1 （P<0.05）. The intervention of BZYQ （12 g·kg-1） restored colon length， alleviated mucosal injury （P<0.05）， down-regulated the content of IL-18 （P<0.05）， reduced the mRNA expression of NLRP3 and ASC as well as the protein expression of ASC and Caspase-1 compared with the conditions in the 2 weeks model group. Compared with the 4 weeks blank group， the 4 weeks model group showed decreased colon length， increased colon weight （P<0.05）， decreased glands in the mucosal layer， expansion of glandular cavity， atrophy of crypt， local connective tissue hyperplasia and lymphocyte infiltration， increased inflammation score （P<0.01） as revealed by the light microscopy， increased expression of IL-1β， IL-18， and IL-33 （P<0.05）， and elevated mRNA and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome complex （P<0.05）. Compared with the conditions in the 4 weeks model group， the intervention of BZYQ （12 and 6 g·kg-1） could improve colon length and weight （P<0.05）， and the intervention of BZYQ （12 g·kg-1） could also improve the inflammation score of the colon （P<0.05）. Different from the acute stage， the intervention of BZYQ （12 and 6 g·kg-1） increased the content of IL-33 in the intestinal mucosa and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome complexes ASC and Caspase-1 （P<0.05）. ConclusionBZYQ can relieve the injury of colitis induced by DSS in mice. The mechanism is related to the regulation of intestinal immune response mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome， and it has different regulatory effects in acute and chronic inflammation stages.