Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang improves chronic intestinal fibrosis in mice with colitis through CRH-R2-mediated IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway

Shiyi Wang¹ , Xudong Zhang¹, Xiaojian Wang², Yihong Fan³

¹Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo Municipal Hospital of TCM Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 819 North Liyuan Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, China; ²Department of Gastroenterology, Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo Medical Center, No. 57 Xingning Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315040, China; ³Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China.

For correspondence:- Shiyi Wang Email: wangshiyi2@126.com Tel:+8657187089085

Accepted: 9 July 2024 Published: 31 July 2024

Citation: Wang S, Zhang X, Wang X, Fan Y. Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang improves chronic intestinal fibrosis in mice with colitis through CRH-R2-mediated IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2024; 23(7):1045-1053 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v23i7.1

© 2024 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the potential mechanism of action of Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang (TXYF) on inflammation-related intestinal fibrosis in mice. In addition, to examine dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induction and the stimulation of human intestinal fibroblasts (CCD-18Co) by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1).

Methods: Chronic colitis in C57BL/6 mice was induced by administering 2 % DSS and TXYF extract (11.2 g/kg per day). An intestinal fibrosis cell model was constructed by stimulating CCD-18Co cells with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL). The status and weight loss of colitis of the mice was assessed by Disease Activity Index (DAI) while colonic tissue injury and fibrosis were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and Masson’s trichrome staining. Relative expression levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRH-R2) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in colon tissues and CCD-18Co cells were determined using Western blot. A cell model of intestinal fibrosis was constructed by stimulating CCD-18Co cells with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL). At the same time, the cells were subjected to the intervention of TXYF drug-containing serum (TXYF-DS).

Results: TXYF significantly improve the pathological changes, weight loss, and DAI score of colon tissue in DSS induced colitis mice (p < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-6 and p-STAT3 were significantly reduced, while the expression level of CRH-R2 was upregulated in the mouse colon tissue (p < 0.05). At the cellular level, TXYF-DS intervention significantly reduced cell mortality and mitigated the degree of cell fibrosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression level of CRH-R2 was up-regulated while that of IL-6 and p-STAT3 were down-regulated.

Conclusion: TXYF ameliorates chronic intestinal fibrosis in colitis-afflicted mice by restricting IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway whilst upregulating CRH-R2 expression.

Keywords: Colitis, Chronic intestinal fibrosis, Tong-Xie-Yao-Fang, CRH-R2, IL-6/STAT3 pathway