Effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 in a rat model of experimental colitis

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2014-12, Vol.70 (2), p.81-86
• Main Authors: Yang, Min, Lin, Huan-Bing, Gong, Sitang, Chen, Pei-Yu, Geng, Lan-Lan, Zeng, Yong-Mei, Li, Ding-You
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Astragalus membranaceus - chemistry; Astragalus polysaccharides; Body Weight - drug effects; Colitis - chemically induced; Colitis - genetics; Colitis - pathology; Colon - drug effects; Colon - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Experimental colitis; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; IL-1β; Interleukin-1beta - genetics; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; NFATC Transcription Factors - genetics; NFATC Transcription Factors - metabolism; NFATc4; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Rats, Wistar; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; TNF-α; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.07.250

[Display omitted] •Astragalus membranaceus has been shown to protect against experimental colitis.•The active component of Astragalus membranaceus for this effect is not known.•Astragalus polysaccharides improved experimental TNBS-induced colitis.•Astragalus polysaccharides modulated expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4.•Astragalus polysaccharides is the active component for improving colitis. Astragalus membranaceus is a Chinese medicinal herb and has been shown to improve hapten-induced experimental colitis. One of its major components is polysaccharides. We investigated the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 in a rat model of experimental colitis. The experimental colitis model was induced by TNBS. Forty five rats were divided into five groups (n=9): Normal control group, receiving ethanol vehicle with no TNBS during induction and IP saline injection during treatment; TNBS colitis model group (TNBS+IP saline), receiving only IP saline vehicle treatment; APS low dose group (TNBS+L-APS), receiving APS 100mg/kg; APS high dose group (TNBS+H-APS), receiving APS 200mg/kg; and positive control group (TNBS+Dexm), receiving dexamethasone 0.3mg/kg. The clinical features, macroscopic and microscopic scores were assessed. The expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Compared to normal control rats, TNBS+IP saline had significant weight loss, increased macroscopic and microscopic scores, higher disease activity index (DAI) up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 mRNA expression and up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β protein expression. Compared to TNBS+IP saline, treatment with APS or dexamethasone significantly reduced DAI, partially but significantly prevented TNBS colitis-induced weight loss and improved both macroscopic and microscopic scores; high dose APS or dexamethasone significantly down-regulated TNF-α and IL-1β expressions (both mRNA and protein) and up-regulated NFATc4 mRNA and protein expression. The effect of high dose APS and dexamethasone is comparable. APS significantly improved experimental TNBS-induced colitis in rats through regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 expression.