Effects of Taoren Chengqitang on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and TLR9 Signaling Pathway in Septic Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the protective effect of Taoren Chengqitang on intestinal mucosal barrier in septic rats and its possible mechanism. Method: Rats were divided into sham operation group, model group (replication of septic rats with cecal ligation and perforation), low, middle and high-dose Taoren Chengqitang groups (2.85,5.70,8.55 g·kg-1), and dexamethasone group (0.01 g·kg-1),with 12 rats in each group. After last administration, rats were put to death, the morphological changes of intestinal mucosa were observed under electron microscope, the bacterial translocation rates in lymphoglandulae mesentericae, liver, kidney and spleen tissues were detected; the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (i-FABP) levels in small intestine tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Expressions of Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-kappa B subunit p65 in small intestine tissues were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Result: Compared with sham operated group, the bacterial translocation rate, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in model group increased significantly, DAO, i-FABP, mucosal thickness and villus height decreased significantly, and protein expressions of TLR9, MyD88 and nucleus NF-κB p65 increased significantly (PPκB p65 protein decreased significantly. Compared with model group, the bacterial translocation rate, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in organs of low, medium and high-dose Taoren Chengqitang groups and dexamethasone group decreased significantly, DAO, i-FABP, mucosal thickness and villus height increased significantly, while the protein expressions of TLR9, MyD88 and nucleus NF-κB p65 decreased significantly (PκB p65 protein increased significantly. Conclusion: Taoren Chengqitang has a certain protective effect on intestinal mucosal barrier in septic rats, which may be related to the inhibition of TLR9 signaling pathway.