ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of Tojapride, a Chinese herbal formula extract, on strengthening the barrier function of esophageal epithelium in rats with reflux esophagitis (RE).@*METHODS@#Ten out of 85 SD rats were randomly selected as the sham group (n10), and 75 rats were developed a reflux esophagitis model (RE) by the esophageal and duodenal side-to-side anastomosis. Fifty successful modeling rats were divided into different medicated groups through a random number table including the model, low-, medium-, and high-dose of Tojapride as well as omeprazole groups (n10). Three doses of Tojapride [5.73, 11.46, 22.92 g/(kg•d)] and omeprazole [4.17 mg/(kg•d)] were administrated intragastrically twice daily for 3 weeks. And the rats in the sham and model groups were administered 10 mL/kg distilled water. Gastric fluid was collected and the supernatant was kept to measure for volume, pH value and acidity. Esophageal tissues were isolated to monitor the morphological changes through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and esophageal epithelial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells p65 (NF-KBp65), κB kinase beta (IKKß), occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the esophageal tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively.@*RESULTS@#The gastric pH value in the model group was significantly lower than the sham group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, gastric pH value in the omeprazole and medium-dose of Tojapride groups were significantly higher (P<0.05). A large area of ulceration was found on the esophageal mucosa from the model rats, while varying degrees of congestion and partially visible erosion was observed in the remaining groups. Remarkable increase in cell gap width and decrease in desmosome count was seen in RE rats and the effect was reversed by Tojapride treatment. Compared with the sham group, the IKKß levels were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.05). However, the IKKß levels were down-regulated after treatment by all doses of Tojapride (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The occluding and ZO-1 levels decreased in the model group compared with the sham group (Ps0.01 or Ps0.05), while both indices were significantly up-regulated in the Tojapride-treated groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Tojapride could improve the pathological conditions of esophageal epithelium in RE rats. The underlying mechanisms may involve in down-regulating the IKKß expression and elevating ZO-1 and occludin expression, thereby alleviating the inflammation of the esophagus and strengthening the barrier function of the esophageal epithelium.
ABSTRACT
Purpose To study the expression and significance of Gal-3 and BCL-2 in ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods 64 cases of patients diagnosed as UC in the Department of Digestive Dseases were selected as the observation group in our hospital from August 2014 to December 2015.And 50 healthy volunteers were selected as control group.The expression levels of BCL-2 and Gal-3 in the two groups were detected,and the correlation between and UC and between BCL-2 and Gal-3 was studied.Results The positive rate of Gal-3 in the control group was 100％,higher than 37.5％ in the observation group(x2 =48.142,P ＜0.001).The positive rate of BCL-2 in the control group was 20％,which was lower than that in the observation group of 90.62％ (x2 =58.171,P ＜ 0.001).The Gal-3 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅰ was higher than UC Grade Ⅱ (x2 =5.539,P =0.019),The Gal-3 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅰ was higher than UC Grade Ⅲ (x2 =4.532,P =0.033),The Gal-3 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅲ was lower than UC Grade Ⅱ (x2 =0.183,P=0.669).The BCLo2 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅰ was lower than UC Grade Ⅱ (x2 =5.539,P=0.019).The BCL-2 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅰ was lower than UC Grade Ⅲ (x2 =6.098,P=0.014).The BCL-2 positive rate of UC Grade Ⅲ was higher than UC Grade Ⅱ (x2 =0.511,P =0.475).BCL-2 and Gal-3 expression was not related to gender,age and disease duration (P ＞ 0.05).The expression of BCL-2 and Gal-3 was not correlated.Conclusion The expression level of BCL-2 in UC is higher than that in normal colorectal mucosa.The expression level of Gal-3 is lower than that of normal colorectal mucosa.The expression of UC has no effect on sex,age and course of disease,and it could be used as the prediction standard of UC.