Inulin-type fructan CP-A,a predominant polysaccharide in Codonopsis pilosula,demonstrates regulatory effects on immune activity and anti-inflammation.The efficacy of CP-A in treating ulcerative colitis(UC)is,however,n...Inulin-type fructan CP-A,a predominant polysaccharide in Codonopsis pilosula,demonstrates regulatory effects on immune activity and anti-inflammation.The efficacy of CP-A in treating ulcerative colitis(UC)is,however,not well-established.This study employed an in vitro lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced colonic epithelial cell model(NCM460)and an in vivo dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis mouse model to explore CP-A’s protective effects against experimental colitis and its underlying mechanisms.We monitored the clinical symptoms in mice using various parameters:body weight,disease activity index(DAI),colon length,spleen weight,and histopathological scores.Additionally,molecular markers were assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),immunofluorescence(IF),immunohistochemistry(IHC),and Western blotting assays.Results showed that CP-A significantly reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),and interleukins(IL-6,IL-1β,IL-18)in LPS-induced cells while increasing IL-4 and IL-10 levels and enhancing the expression of Claudin-1,ZO-1,and occludin proteins in NCM460 cells.Correspondingly,in vivo findings revealed that CPA administration markedly improved DAI,reduced colon shortening,and decreased the production of myeloperoxidase(MPO),malondialdehyde(MDA),ROS,IL-1β,IL-18,and NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome-associated genes/proteins in UC mice.CP-A treatment also elevated glutathione(GSH)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels,stimulated autophagy(LC3B,P62,Beclin-1,and ATG5),and reinforced Claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression,thereby aiding in intestinal epithelial barrier repair in colitis mice.Notably,the inhibition of autophagy via chloroquine(CQ)diminished CP-A’s protective impact against colitis in vivo.These findings elucidate that CP-A’s therapeutic effect on experimental colitis possibly involves mitigating intestinal inflammation through autophagymediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation.Consequently,inulin-type fructan CP-A emerges as a promising drug candidate for UC treatment.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81904031)National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2019YFC1710800)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province(No.201901D211325)the Science Research Start-up Fund for Doctor of Shanxi Medical University(No.XD1802).
文摘Inulin-type fructan CP-A,a predominant polysaccharide in Codonopsis pilosula,demonstrates regulatory effects on immune activity and anti-inflammation.The efficacy of CP-A in treating ulcerative colitis(UC)is,however,not well-established.This study employed an in vitro lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced colonic epithelial cell model(NCM460)and an in vivo dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis mouse model to explore CP-A’s protective effects against experimental colitis and its underlying mechanisms.We monitored the clinical symptoms in mice using various parameters:body weight,disease activity index(DAI),colon length,spleen weight,and histopathological scores.Additionally,molecular markers were assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),immunofluorescence(IF),immunohistochemistry(IHC),and Western blotting assays.Results showed that CP-A significantly reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),and interleukins(IL-6,IL-1β,IL-18)in LPS-induced cells while increasing IL-4 and IL-10 levels and enhancing the expression of Claudin-1,ZO-1,and occludin proteins in NCM460 cells.Correspondingly,in vivo findings revealed that CPA administration markedly improved DAI,reduced colon shortening,and decreased the production of myeloperoxidase(MPO),malondialdehyde(MDA),ROS,IL-1β,IL-18,and NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome-associated genes/proteins in UC mice.CP-A treatment also elevated glutathione(GSH)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels,stimulated autophagy(LC3B,P62,Beclin-1,and ATG5),and reinforced Claudin-1 and ZO-1 expression,thereby aiding in intestinal epithelial barrier repair in colitis mice.Notably,the inhibition of autophagy via chloroquine(CQ)diminished CP-A’s protective impact against colitis in vivo.These findings elucidate that CP-A’s therapeutic effect on experimental colitis possibly involves mitigating intestinal inflammation through autophagymediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation.Consequently,inulin-type fructan CP-A emerges as a promising drug candidate for UC treatment.