寒性与热性中药对小鼠棕色脂肪组织中产热调节蛋白UCP1基因和蛋白表达的影响

Regulatory function of cold and hot Chinese materia medica on heat production protein-UCP1 expression in brown adipose tissue of mice

目的:观察寒性与热性中药对机体产热的关键节点解偶联蛋白-1(UCP1)的调节作用,寻找寒热药性的共性的生物学规律。方法:分别采用Real-time RCR和Western blot的方法研究寒性中药(黄连、黄芩、黄柏)和热性中药(白芷、肉桂、胡椒)对小鼠棕色脂肪组织中UCP1 mRNA和蛋白表达的影响。结果:寒性中药对UCP1 mRNA和蛋白表达均有显著下调作用(P<0.01,P<0.05);热性中药除胡椒外对UCP1 mRNA和蛋白表达均有上调作用(P<0.01)。结论:在基因和蛋白层面调节UCP1表达的生物效应可能是寒性与热性中药的共性特征之一,与中药药性的寒热性表征相关。

Objective:To further reveal the regulatory action of Chinese herbs with hot or cold nature on the key heat production player-uncoupling protein 1(UCP1),and seek for common biological rules between the hot and cold nature.Methods:The effects of the cold Chinese materia medica(Coptis chinensis,Scutellaria baicalensis,Phellodendron chinensis)and hot Chinese materia medica(angelica root,cinnamon,pepper)on the expression of UCP1 in brown adipose tissue(BAT)were assayed by the methods of Real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.Results:The cold-herbs down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of UCP1 to some extent(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the hot-herbs,except the Piper nigrum,up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of UCP1 to some degree(P<0.01).Conclusion:The biological effects of UCP1 expression might be shared by the cold and hot natures of the herbs,and thus associated with the characteristics in terms of cold-hot natures.