Shen-Fu Decoction could ameliorate intestinal permeability by regulating the intestinal expression of tight junction proteins and p-VASP in septic rats.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Shen-Fu Decoction (SFD), a classic Traditional Chinese paired herb formulation, has been widely used for the treatment of sepsis in China. This study was carried out to assess the effects of SFD in sepsis-induced intestinal permeability and intestinal epithelial tight junction damage in rats with sepsis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A rat model of sepsis was created by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Rats in Sham and CLP + vehicle groups received equal distilled water, while rats in SFD group were treated by gavage of SFD (3 mg/kg, twice a day) for 72h. Mortality, sepsis-induced peritoneal inflammation, intestinal and liver histopathology damage, intestinal permeability (serum FITC-dextran and D-lactate), serum LPS, serum inflammation (PCT, TNF-α, and IL-6), and liver function (AST and ALT) were evaluated. The levels of zonula occluden (ZO-1), Occludin, Claudin-1 were analyzed by Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting (WB) respectively. Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and p-VASP in intestinal epithelium were analyzed by WB.

RESULTS:

Our study showed that SFD markedly reduced the mortality rate of CLP rats, prevented intestine and liver damage, relieved sepsis-induced intestinal permeability and inflammation elevation, ameliorated sepsis-induced impaired intestinal permeability by regulating the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1 and p-VASP.

CONCLUSIONS:

The herbal formula SFD may be useful for reducing sepsis-induced organic damage and mortality by ameliorating the condition of sepsis-induced intestinal permeability by regulating tight junction proteins and p-VASP.

• Authors: Fusheng Liu, Jin Liu, Yinuo Liu, Yin Zhang, Xia Ding
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 268 Pg. 113562 (Mar 25 2021) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 33217519 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Microfilament Proteins
• Phosphoproteins
• Shen-Fu
• Tight Junction Proteins
• vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Gene Expression
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Microfilament Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
• Permeability (drug effects)
• Phosphoproteins (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Sepsis (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Tight Junction Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)