Kuijie decoction ameliorates ulcerative colitis by affecting intestinal barrier functions, gut microbiota, metabolic pathways and Treg/Th17 balance in mice

Kaixin Peng; Suhong Xia; Siqi Xiao; Mingyu Zhang; Jiazhi Liao; Qin Yu

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.117316

Kuijie decoction ameliorates ulcerative colitis by affecting intestinal barrier functions, gut microbiota, metabolic pathways and Treg/Th17 balance in mice

J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Jan 30;319(Pt 3):117316. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117316. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Authors

Kaixin Peng¹, Suhong Xia¹, Siqi Xiao¹, Mingyu Zhang¹, Jiazhi Liao², Qin Yu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095#, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, 430030, China.
² Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095#, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, 430030, China. Electronic address: liaojiazhi@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
³ Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095#, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, 430030, China. Electronic address: yuqin@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37852335
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117316

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Currently, the clinical treatment is limited and difficult to achieve satisfactory results for ulcerative colitis (UC). The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of UC is very complex. Kuijie decoction (KJD) as a classic TCM, is widely used in the clinical treatment of UC, but the mechanism of its action is still unclear.

Aim of the study: This study is to investigate the protective effects of KJD on UC and the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods: The experimental model of UC was induced by DSS, and KJD was introduced into the model at the same time. Clinical symptoms, including the body weight, colon length and colon histopathological, were used to measure the severity of colitis. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins was quantified. The effect of KJD on intestinal flora and intestinal metabolism was determined by 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomics analysis, respectively. The proportion of Th17 cells and Tregs in the spleen was examined by flow cytometry.

Results: Mice treated with KJD showed significantly alleviated clinical symptoms and histological damage, such as more body weight gain, lower disease activity index (DAI) score, and longer colon length. The administration of KJD also led to the down-regulation of inflammatory mediators, upregulation of the expression of ZO-1, occludin and decreased claudin-2, as well as altered microbiota composition against DSS challenges (especially an increase of Lachnospiraceae). KJD enhanced the percentage of Treg cells but decreased the proportion of Th17 cells to maintain intestinal homeostasis by improving gut microbiota metabolism.

Conclusions: In summary, KJD maintained intestinal epithelial homeostasis by regulating epithelial barrier function, intestinal flora, and restoring Th17/Treg balance. KJD has the potential to be a Chinese medicine treatment for UC.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Kuijie decoction; Microbial metabolites; Th17/Treg balance; Ulcerative colitis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Body Weight
Colitis, Ulcerative* / chemically induced
Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Metabolic Networks and Pathways
Mice
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Th17 Cells

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S