舌苔形成的调控机制及研究新思路

Regulatory Mechanism and New Research Ideas on Tongue Coating Formation

舌苔是舌背黏膜表面的一层苔状物,观察其颜色和性质变化是中医舌诊的重要内容。越来越多的证据显示,舌苔图像及其成分对系统性疾病具有重要的诊断价值,为中医察舌苔辅助临床辨证论治、遣方用药的科学内涵提供了现代科学证据。然而,关于舌苔形成的细胞与分子生物学机制依然缺乏系统深入研究。笔者分析了免疫-神经-内分泌系统、生物毒素、物理因素对舌苔形成的调控作用,为探索舌苔微环境(微生物、免疫、内分泌、机械拉伸、温度等)调控舌苔形成的生物学机制提供了新的研究思路和技术体系,有助于推动舌诊原理的现代科学内涵和临床应用研究。

Tongue coating(TC)is a layer of coating on the surface of the tongue dorsal mucosa,and observing its variable color and property is an important content of tongue diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).A large amount of existing evidence has showed that TC images and its material composition have important diagnostic value for systemic diseases,which constructs the modern scientific foundation for the scientific connotation of observing TC to assist clinical syndrome differentiation,prescription,and medication.However,it is still wanting in-depth exploration on the cellular and molecular biological mechanisms underlying TC formation.The current review systematically summarizes the main research literatures,proposes the potential regulatory mechanism of the immuno-neuro-endocrine system,biological toxins,and physical factors in the development of tongue coating,and draws upon innovative approach to exploring the biological mechanism of TC microenvironment including microorganisms,immunity,endocrine,mechanical stretching,temperature,etc.These advances provide valuable research ideas and technical platform for in-depth exploration on the biological mechanisms of TC variety,and promote the scientific research and clinical application of tongue diagnosis.