Ji-Chuan decoction ameliorates slow transit constipation via regulation of intestinal glial cell apoptosis

BACKGROUND Slow transit constipation(STC)is a common intestinal disease with increasing incidence.STC results from various factors,such as the enteric nervous system and metabolic changes.As a classical formula of traditional Chinese medicine,Ji-Chuan decoction(JCD)has been extensively and effectively used in STC treatment,yet its pharmacological mechanism remains unclear.AIM To explore the integrated regulatory pattern of JCD against STC through hyphenated techniques from metabolism,network pharmacology and molecular methods.METHODS STC model mice were generated by intragastric administration of compound diphenoxylate(10 mg/kg/d)for 14 d.The STC mice in the low dose of JCD(3.04 g/kg),middle dose of JCD(6.08 g/kg)and high dose of JCD(12.16 g/kg)groups were orally administered JCD solution once a day for 2 wk.The acetylcholine(ACH)level was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The pathological features of colon tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The differentially expressed metabolites and metabolic pathways were tested by nontargeted metabolomics.The main targets and core ingredients of JCD were identified by network pharmacology,and the expression of AKT was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.Finally,the pathways involved in JCD treatment were predicted using a combination of differentially expressed metabolites and targets,and intestinal glial cell apoptosis was demonstrated by immunofluorescence.RESULTS JCD significantly promoted intestinal motility,increased the levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter ACH and reduced intestinal inflammation in STC mice.Untargeted metabolomics results showed that JCD significantly restored metabolic dysfunction and significantly affected taurine and hypotaurine metabolism.Network pharmacology and molecular experiments showed that JCD regulates AKT protein expression,and the core component is quercetin.Combined analysis demonstrated that apoptosis may be an important mechanism by which JCD relieves constipation.Further experiments showed that JCD reduced enteric glial cell(EGC)apoptosis.CONCLUSION This work demonstrated that reducing EGC apoptosis may be the critical mechanism by which JCD treats STC.These findings call for further molecular research to facilitate the clinical application of JCD.

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factor D from kuruma shrimp exhibits antiviral activity

Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors(ALFs)exhibit a potent antimicrobial activity against a broad range of bacteria,filamentous fungi,and viruses.In previous reports,seven groups of ALFs(groups A–G)were identified in penaeid shrimp.Among them,group D showed negative net charges and weak antimicrobial activity.Whether this group has antiviral function is not clear.In this study,the ALF sequences of penaeid shrimp were analyzed,and eight groups of ALF family(groups A–H)were identified.The four ALFs including MjALF-C2,MjALF-D1,MjALF-D2,and MjALF-E2 from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus were expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli,and the antiviral activity was screened via injection of purified recombinant ALFs into shrimp following white spot syndrome virus(WSSV)infection.Results showed that the expression of Vp28(WSSV envelope protein)decreased significantly in the MjALF-D2-injected shrimp only.Therefore,MjALF-D2 was chosen for further study.Expression pattern analysis showed that MjAlf-D2 was upregulated in shrimp challenged by WSSV.The WSSV replication was detected in RNA,genomic DNA,and protein levels using VP28 and Ie1(immediate-early gene of WSSV)as indicators in MjALF-D2-injected shrimp following WSSV infection.Results showed that WSSV replication was significantly inhibited compared with that in the rTRX-or PBS-injected control groups.After knockdown of MjAlf-D2 in shrimp by RNA interference,the WSSV replication increased significantly in the shrimp.All these results suggested that MjALF-D2 has an antiviral function in shrimp immunity,and the recombinant ALF-D2 has a potential application for viral disease control in shrimp aquaculture.