BACKGROUND Given the complex pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), the conventional therapeutic methods are not fully curative. As a sort of systematic complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese me...BACKGROUND Given the complex pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), the conventional therapeutic methods are not fully curative. As a sort of systematic complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides new options for the standard therapy. Nevertheless, there are still numerous problems with the promotion of TCM attributed to its complexity, and consequently, new research approaches are urgently needed. Thus, we explored the protective effects of Jian-Pi Qing-Chang (JPQC) decoction on UC based on systems pharmacology approach, which might fill the current innovation gap in drug discovery and clinical practice pertaining to TCM. AIM To investigate the protective mechanisms of JPQC decoction on UC based on systems pharmacology approach. METHODS We performed systems pharmacology to predict the active ingredients, the matched targets, and the potential pharmacological mechanism of JPQC on UC. In vivo, we explored the effects of JPQC in a colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium. In vitro, we adopted the bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) as well as BMDMs co-cultured with Caco2 cells to verify the underlying mechanisms and effects of JPQC on UC under TNF-α stimulation. RESULTS Systems pharmacology revealed 170 targets for the 107 active ingredients of JPQC and 112 candidate targets of UC. Protein-protein interaction networks were established to identify the underlying therapeutic targets of JPQC on UC. Based on enrichment analyses, we proposed our hypothesis that JPQC might have a protective effect on UC via the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway. Subsequent experimental validation revealed that treatment with TNFα activated the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway in BMDMs, thereby damaging the epithelial barrier permeability in co-cultured Caco2 cells, while JPQC rescued this situation. The findings were also confirmed in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model. CONCLUSION JPQC could improve the mucosal inflammatory response and intestinal epithelial barrier function via the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway, which provides new perspectives on the pharmaceutical development and clinical practice of TCM.展开更多
The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enh...The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.PD-1 inhibitor therapy showed the significant anti-tumor effect in patients with mismatch repairdeficient/microsatellite instability-high(dMMR/MSI-H)colorectal cancer(CRC),rather than those with mismatch repairproficient/microsatellite stable(pMMR/MSS)CRC.Hence,immunofluorescence double-label staining was utilized to explore the difference in the TIME between dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS CRC patients.Flow cytometry was used to analyze T-lymphocytes in tumors from mice.Western blot was used to measure the expression of PD-L1 protein in mouse tumors.The intestinal mucosal barrier of mice was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.16S rRNA-gene sequencing was used to examine the structure of the gut microbiota in mice.Subsequently,Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the gut microbiota and tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes.The results showed that dMMR/MSI-H CRC patients had more CD8+T cells and higher expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins.In vivo,CWQ enhanced the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody and increased the infiltration of CD8+and PD-1+CD8+T cells in tumors.Additionally,the combination of CWQ with anti-PD-1 antibody resulted in lower inflammation in the intestinal mucosa than that induced by anti-PD-1 antibody alone.CWQ and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment upregulated PD-L1 protein and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides in the gut microbiota but increased the abundance of Akkermansia,Firmicutes,and Actinobacteria.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrated CD8+PD-1+,CD8+,and CD3+T cells were found to be positively correlated with the abundance of Akkermansia.Accordingly,CWQ may modulate the TIME by modifying the gut microbiota and consequently enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Funds of China,No.81573892,No.81873253,and No.81704009
文摘BACKGROUND Given the complex pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), the conventional therapeutic methods are not fully curative. As a sort of systematic complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides new options for the standard therapy. Nevertheless, there are still numerous problems with the promotion of TCM attributed to its complexity, and consequently, new research approaches are urgently needed. Thus, we explored the protective effects of Jian-Pi Qing-Chang (JPQC) decoction on UC based on systems pharmacology approach, which might fill the current innovation gap in drug discovery and clinical practice pertaining to TCM. AIM To investigate the protective mechanisms of JPQC decoction on UC based on systems pharmacology approach. METHODS We performed systems pharmacology to predict the active ingredients, the matched targets, and the potential pharmacological mechanism of JPQC on UC. In vivo, we explored the effects of JPQC in a colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium. In vitro, we adopted the bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) as well as BMDMs co-cultured with Caco2 cells to verify the underlying mechanisms and effects of JPQC on UC under TNF-α stimulation. RESULTS Systems pharmacology revealed 170 targets for the 107 active ingredients of JPQC and 112 candidate targets of UC. Protein-protein interaction networks were established to identify the underlying therapeutic targets of JPQC on UC. Based on enrichment analyses, we proposed our hypothesis that JPQC might have a protective effect on UC via the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway. Subsequent experimental validation revealed that treatment with TNFα activated the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway in BMDMs, thereby damaging the epithelial barrier permeability in co-cultured Caco2 cells, while JPQC rescued this situation. The findings were also confirmed in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model. CONCLUSION JPQC could improve the mucosal inflammatory response and intestinal epithelial barrier function via the NF-κB/HIF-1α signalling pathway, which provides new perspectives on the pharmaceutical development and clinical practice of TCM.
基金the Health System Innovation Project of Shanghai Putuo Science and Technology Commission(No.ptkwws202002)the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project of Shanghai Putuo District(No.ptzyzk2101)the Clinical Specialized Discipline of Health System of Putuo District in Shanghai(No.2021tszk01).
文摘The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.PD-1 inhibitor therapy showed the significant anti-tumor effect in patients with mismatch repairdeficient/microsatellite instability-high(dMMR/MSI-H)colorectal cancer(CRC),rather than those with mismatch repairproficient/microsatellite stable(pMMR/MSS)CRC.Hence,immunofluorescence double-label staining was utilized to explore the difference in the TIME between dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS CRC patients.Flow cytometry was used to analyze T-lymphocytes in tumors from mice.Western blot was used to measure the expression of PD-L1 protein in mouse tumors.The intestinal mucosal barrier of mice was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.16S rRNA-gene sequencing was used to examine the structure of the gut microbiota in mice.Subsequently,Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the gut microbiota and tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes.The results showed that dMMR/MSI-H CRC patients had more CD8+T cells and higher expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins.In vivo,CWQ enhanced the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody and increased the infiltration of CD8+and PD-1+CD8+T cells in tumors.Additionally,the combination of CWQ with anti-PD-1 antibody resulted in lower inflammation in the intestinal mucosa than that induced by anti-PD-1 antibody alone.CWQ and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment upregulated PD-L1 protein and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides in the gut microbiota but increased the abundance of Akkermansia,Firmicutes,and Actinobacteria.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrated CD8+PD-1+,CD8+,and CD3+T cells were found to be positively correlated with the abundance of Akkermansia.Accordingly,CWQ may modulate the TIME by modifying the gut microbiota and consequently enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.
