Objective:To evaluate if berberine can act on vitamin D receptors(VDR)and thereby regulate the expression of tight junction proteins(TJPs)in irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea-predominant(IBS-D)rats.Methods:The newborn...Objective:To evaluate if berberine can act on vitamin D receptors(VDR)and thereby regulate the expression of tight junction proteins(TJPs)in irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea-predominant(IBS-D)rats.Methods:The newborn rats were induced into IBS-D rat model via neonatal maternal separation combined with acetic acid chemical stimulation.After modeling,the model was evaluated and rats were divided into the control group and berberine treatment groups(0.85,1.7 and 3.4 mg/kg,once a day for 2 weeks).The distal colon was obtained and colonic epithelial cells(CECs)were isolated and cultured after IBS-D model evaluation.The vitamin D receptor response element(VDRE)reporter gene was determined in the CECs of IBS-D rats to analyze the effect of berberine on the VDRE promoter.VDR overexpression or silencing technology was used to analyze whether VDR plays a role in promoting intestinal barrier repair,and to determine which region of VDR plays a role in berberine-regulated intestinal TJPs.Results:The IBS-D rat model was successfully constructed and the symptoms were improved by berberine in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).The activity of VDRE promoter was also effectively promoted by berberine(P<0.05).Berberine increased the expression of TJPs in IBS-D CECs(P<0.05).VDR expression was significantly increased after transfection of different domains of VDR when compared to normal control and basic plasmid groups(all P<0.05).RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group,expressions of occludin and zonula occludens-1 were significantly higher in VDR containing groups(all P<0.05).Berberine plus pCMV-Myc-VDR-N group exerted the highest expression levels of occludin and zonula occludens-1(P<0.05).Conclusion:Berberine enhances intestinal mucosal barrier function of IBS-D rats by promoting VDR activity,and the main site of action is the N-terminal region of VDR.展开更多
Currently, there are increasing debates on the necessity of health instruments in Chinese medicine（CM） emerging in China. This study aims to reevaluate its status and values. Analyzing the causes, limits, advantages...Currently, there are increasing debates on the necessity of health instruments in Chinese medicine（CM） emerging in China. This study aims to reevaluate its status and values. Analyzing the causes, limits, advantages, and properties characters of health instruments in CM, it is found that weak fundamental research, incomplete self-awareness, and complicated social factors are the primary causes of debates. A comprehensive analysis showed health instruments in CM have health evaluation benefits to people from a dominant Chinese culture, meet the requirements of cultural background, and bring long-term value to Chinese instrument researches. However, its values and status should be treated differently depending on various subtypes. Although little theoretical and practical evidences proved that patients-reported health instruments in CM should be proposed independently, the doctors- and nurses-reported questionnaires are necessary. With this in mind, the study group proposes the ＇Chinese cultural instruments（CCIs）＇ and ＇health-related CCIs＇. The latter one aims to evaluate the health status of people in a dominant Chinese culture. The CCIs theory represents Chinese instrument researches on a larger regional and higher level, and resolves the debates on instruments between CM and Western medicine in China. Health instruments in CM bring more scientific and social benefits for Chinese instrument researches. However, it does not include cultural demands, and lacks scientific significance. CCIs have all its virtues, and add solutions to the latter＇s theory bottleneck and scientific debates, thus bringing increased benefits to clinical assessment in complementary and alternative medicine researches.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(No.82174303,82004387)。
文摘Objective:To evaluate if berberine can act on vitamin D receptors(VDR)and thereby regulate the expression of tight junction proteins(TJPs)in irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea-predominant(IBS-D)rats.Methods:The newborn rats were induced into IBS-D rat model via neonatal maternal separation combined with acetic acid chemical stimulation.After modeling,the model was evaluated and rats were divided into the control group and berberine treatment groups(0.85,1.7 and 3.4 mg/kg,once a day for 2 weeks).The distal colon was obtained and colonic epithelial cells(CECs)were isolated and cultured after IBS-D model evaluation.The vitamin D receptor response element(VDRE)reporter gene was determined in the CECs of IBS-D rats to analyze the effect of berberine on the VDRE promoter.VDR overexpression or silencing technology was used to analyze whether VDR plays a role in promoting intestinal barrier repair,and to determine which region of VDR plays a role in berberine-regulated intestinal TJPs.Results:The IBS-D rat model was successfully constructed and the symptoms were improved by berberine in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).The activity of VDRE promoter was also effectively promoted by berberine(P<0.05).Berberine increased the expression of TJPs in IBS-D CECs(P<0.05).VDR expression was significantly increased after transfection of different domains of VDR when compared to normal control and basic plasmid groups(all P<0.05).RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group,expressions of occludin and zonula occludens-1 were significantly higher in VDR containing groups(all P<0.05).Berberine plus pCMV-Myc-VDR-N group exerted the highest expression levels of occludin and zonula occludens-1(P<0.05).Conclusion:Berberine enhances intestinal mucosal barrier function of IBS-D rats by promoting VDR activity,and the main site of action is the N-terminal region of VDR.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81303148 and 81373786)Scientific Research Program of Administrative Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province,China(No.20132177)
文摘Currently, there are increasing debates on the necessity of health instruments in Chinese medicine（CM） emerging in China. This study aims to reevaluate its status and values. Analyzing the causes, limits, advantages, and properties characters of health instruments in CM, it is found that weak fundamental research, incomplete self-awareness, and complicated social factors are the primary causes of debates. A comprehensive analysis showed health instruments in CM have health evaluation benefits to people from a dominant Chinese culture, meet the requirements of cultural background, and bring long-term value to Chinese instrument researches. However, its values and status should be treated differently depending on various subtypes. Although little theoretical and practical evidences proved that patients-reported health instruments in CM should be proposed independently, the doctors- and nurses-reported questionnaires are necessary. With this in mind, the study group proposes the ＇Chinese cultural instruments（CCIs）＇ and ＇health-related CCIs＇. The latter one aims to evaluate the health status of people in a dominant Chinese culture. The CCIs theory represents Chinese instrument researches on a larger regional and higher level, and resolves the debates on instruments between CM and Western medicine in China. Health instruments in CM bring more scientific and social benefits for Chinese instrument researches. However, it does not include cultural demands, and lacks scientific significance. CCIs have all its virtues, and add solutions to the latter＇s theory bottleneck and scientific debates, thus bringing increased benefits to clinical assessment in complementary and alternative medicine researches.
