Mechanism of Dahuang Zhechongwan in Treating Myocardial Fibrosis of Rats via TGF-β1/Smads/miR29 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine， namely Dahuang Zhechongwan （DHZCW） was used to treat myocardial fibrosis in model rats， observe its effect on myocardial fibrosis in rats， and explore its action mechanism. MethodThirty-six SPF male Kunming rats were divided into blank group， model group， low-， medium-， high-dose groups of DHZCW （0.056， 0.084， 0.168 g·kg-1）， captopril group （10 mg·kg-1）， with six rats in each group. Except for the blank group， the other groups were intraperitoneally injected isoproterenol solution of 5 mg·kg-1 for 15 consecutive days to replicate the myocardial fibrosis model. At the beginning of modeling， the rats in each group took drugs， and they were sacrificed 28 days after administration. Serum and heart tissue were collected for the corresponding detection. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining were used to observe tissue inflammation， cellular degeneration， necrosis， and fibrosis. The contents of hydroxyproline （HYP）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， type-Ⅲ procollagen （PC Ⅲ） in serum of rats and rats were determined by enzyme-related immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The expression levels of key pathway proteins transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）， α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， Smad2， Smad3， and Smad7 were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of key pathway genes TGF-β1， α-SMA， Smad2， Smad3， Smad7， miR-29a-5p， miR-29b-2-5p， and miR-29c-5p were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the blank group， the pathological changes of fibrosis in the model group were obvious， the contents of serum HYP， TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， HA， LN， and PCⅢ were increased （P<0.01）， the protein expression levels of TGF-β1， α-SMA， Smad2， and Smad3 were increased； the protein expression level of Smad7 was decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1， α-SMA， Smad2， and Smad3 were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while those of Smad7， miR-29a-5p， miR-29b-2-5p， and miR-29c-5p were decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after 28 days of administration， serum HYP， TNF-α， IL-1β， IL-6， HA， LN， and PCⅢ in high-， medium-， and low-dose groups of DHZCW and captopril groups were decreased （P<0.01）. Except for the low-dose group， the protein contents of TGF-β1， α-SMA， Smad2， and Smad3 were decreased， while the protein content of Smad7 was increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1， Smad2， α-SMA， and Smad3 in high-dose group of DHZCW were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while those of Smad7， miR-29a-5p， miR-29b-2-5p， and miR-29c-5p were increased （P<0.05）. The mRNA expressions of TGF-β1， Smad2， and Smad3 in the medium-dose group of DHZCW were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while mRNA expression of Smad7 was increased （P<0.01）. The mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and Smad2 in the low-dose group of DHZCW were decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionDHZCW can improve myocardial fibrosis in rats， and its action mechanism may be related to the regulation of the TGF-β1/Smads/miR-29 pathway. In addition， there is dose dependence in the range of 0.056-0.168 g·kg-1， and the effect of the high-dose group is more stable.

Mechanism of Dahuang Zhechongwan in Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis in Rats by Regulating Intestinal Flora Based on 16S rDNA Sequencing / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Dahuang Zhechongwan （DHZCW） on adenine-induced renal fibrosis in rats from the perspective of intestinal flora. MethodThirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， and high-， medium- and low-dose DHZCW groups （0.168， 0.084， 0.042 g·kg-1）， and a pirfenidone group （200 mg·kg-1）， with 6 rats in each group. Except for those in the blank group， rats in other groups were treated with adenine suspension （250 mg·kg-1） by gavage for 28 days for renal fibrosis model induction. Subsequently， they received drug intervention for 4 weeks. Urine samples were collected from rats in metabolic cages， and renal function indicators including blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， urea， creatinine （Crea）， cystatin C （Cys C）， and 24-hour urine protein （24 h TP） were measured. Kidney samples were collected and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson's trichrome staining to observe the pathological changes in rat renal tissues. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of key effector proteins α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， type Ⅰ collagen （ColⅠ）， and type Ⅲ collagen （ColⅢ） in the kidneys. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA was used to analyze the species diversity of rat intestinal flora. ResultCompared with the blank group， the model group showed increased BUN， urea， Crea， Cys C， and 24 h TP levels （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high-， medium-， and low-dose DHZCW groups， as well as the pirfenidone group， showed significant reductions in BUN， urea， Crea， Cys C， and 24 h TP levels （P<0.01）， indicating that DHZCW intervention significantly improved renal function. In the model group， renal tissues exhibited significant fibrotic changes， and the protein levels of α-SMA， ColⅠ， and ColⅢ were significantly increased （P<0.01） compared to those in the blank group. Compared with the model group， the high-dose DHZCW group and the pirfenidone group had relatively normal tissue structure， with no significant pathological damage observed. However， fibrotic changes were observed in the medium- and low-dose DHZCW groups， with the changes being more significant in the low-dose group. The protein levels of α-SMA， ColⅠ， and ColⅢ were significantly decreased in the high-， medium-， and low-dose DHZCW groups， as well as the pirfenidone group （P<0.01）， indicating that DHZCW effectively reduced abnormal collagen deposition and inhibited renal fibrosis. From the perspective of intestinal flora， at the phylum level， compared with the blank group， the model group showed a significant increase in the abundance of Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes， leading to a significant imbalance in their ratio. At the family level， the model group decreased the abundance of Lachnospiraceae， Prevotellaceae， and Bacteroidota_unclassified， and increased the abundance of Ruminococcaceae， Lactobacillaceae， and Oscillospiraceae. At the genus level， the model group showed significantly reduced abundance of Firmicutes_unclassified， Bacteroidota_unclassified， and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001， etc.， and increased abundance of UCG-005， Clostridia_UCG-014_unclassified， etc. Compared with the model group， DHZCW effectively reduced the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria， regulating the intestinal flora. ConclusionDHZCW can effectively improve renal function and inhibit renal fibrosis， and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of intestinal flora.

Mechanism of Dahuang Zhechongwan in Inhibiting Silicosis in Mice via p38 MAPK/NF-κB/TGF-β1 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the effects and mechanism of Chinese classical prescription Dahuang Zhechongwan on silicosis in mice. Method:Thirty-six male Kunming mice of SPF grade were randomized into the normal control group， model control group， tetrandrine （Tet， 0.039 mg·kg^-1） group， as well as high- （1.560 g·kg^-1）， medium- （0.780 g·kg^-1）， and low-dose （0.390 g·kg^-1） Dahuang Zhechongwan groups， with six mice in each group. Mice in all groups except for the normal control group underwent static inhalation of silica （SiO₂） dust for 40 consecutive days to induce fibrosis. After 28 days of intervention with corresponding drugs， the mice were sacrificed to collect the serum and lung tissues， with the former used for detecting tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， interleukin-1<italic>β </italic>（IL-1<italic>β</italic>）， IL-6， and hydroxyproline （HYP） levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and the latter for observing the pathological changes. Meanwhile， the protein and mRNA expression levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， nuclear transcription factor-<italic>κ</italic>B （NF-<italic>κ</italic>B）， transforming growth factor-<italic>β</italic>₁ （TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁）， <italic>α</italic>-smooth muscle actin （<italic>α</italic>-SMA）， Smad2， Smad3， and Smad7 in the lung tissues were determined by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. Result:Compared with the normal group， the contents of TNF-<italic>α</italic>， IL-1<italic>β</italic>， IL-6 and HYP in the model group were significantly increased， the difference was statistically significant（<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）； compared with the model group， the high-dose group of Dahuang Zhechongwan could significantly reduce the contents of TNF-<italic>α</italic>， IL-6 and HYP in the serum of mice（<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， indicating that Dahuang Zhechongwan could reduce the lung inflammation of silicosis mice. At the same time， compared with the normal group， the protein and mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK， NF-<italic>κ</italic>B p65， TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， <italic>α</italic>-SMA， Smad2 and Smad3 in the model group were significantly increased（<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the protein and mRNA expression levels of Smad7 were significantly decreased（<italic>P</italic><0.01）； compared with the model group， the protein and mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK， NF-<italic>κ</italic>B p65， TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁， <italic>α</italic>-SMA， Smad2 and Smad3 in the high-dose Dahuang Zhechongwan group were significantly increased the protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased（<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while Smad7 protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly increased（<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Dahuang Zhechongwan ameliorates the alveolar inflammation， extracellular matrix （ECM） deposition， and fibrosis in mice with silicosis possibly by regulating the p38 MAPK/NF-<italic>κ</italic>B/TGF-<italic>β</italic>₁ pathway.

Mechanism of Dahuang Zhechongwan Against Multiple Organ Fibrosis： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Dahuang Zhechongwan （DHZCW） is a classic prescription from the Jingui Yaolue（《金匮要略》） by ZHANG Zhong-jing，with the effects of tonifying deficiency， relaxing the middle， promoting regeneration， and resolving stasis. It has been widely used in the clinical treatment of various diseases with definite efficacy achieved. The research on multiple organ fibrosis has shown that DHZCW can slow down the development of organ fibrosis in the heart， liver， kidney， lung， etc.， and good results in both clinical practice and experimental research have been obtained. The present study reviewed the previous investigations on the experimental mechanism of DHZCW in the treatment of multiple organ fibrosis and revealed that the pathogenesis was closely related despite different disease sites. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM），these diseases shared a common pathogenesis，which was manifested by deficiency. Long-term diseases led to the formation of "dried blood". From the perspective of modern medicine， the diseases all showed pathological changes in the deposition of extracellular matrix （ECM）， and their occurrence and development were all based on certain effector cells ［such as hepatic stellate cell （HSC） and pancreatic stellate cell （PSC）］， with same cytokines ［such as tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α），interleukin-6 （IL-6），IL-1β，and α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）］ and some key pathways ［transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1）/Smad， phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， and lipopolysaccharide （LPS） paracrine and autocrine mechanisms］ involved. As a classic prescription for "deficiency-induced dry blood"， DHZCW was effective in treating fibrosis， which was presumedly related to the inhibition of ECM deposition by intervening in the above-mentioned mechanisms， thereby delaying the disease progression. This study is expected to provide literature support to clarify the scientific connotation of DHZCW in the treatment of multiple organ fibrosis and lay a foundation for further experimental and clinical research.