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Wang XM, Lv LX, Qin YS, Zhang YZ, Yang N, Wu S, Xia XW, Yang H, Xu H, Liu Y, Ding WJ. Ji-Chuan decoction ameliorates slow transit constipation via regulation of intestinal glial cell apoptosis. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:5007-5022. [PMID: 36160643 PMCID: PMC9494937 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i34.5007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Min Wang
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
- Department of Proctology, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Li-Xia Lv
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yue-Si Qin
- Department of Dermatology, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yu-Zhu Zhang
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ni Yang
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Shu Wu
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xiu-Wen Xia
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Proctology, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515063, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei-Jun Ding
- Department of Fundamental Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China
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Li N, Xu J, Gao H, Zhang Y, Li Y, Chang H, Tan S, Li S, Wang Q. Effect of Reactive EGCs on Intestinal Motility and Enteric Neurons During Endotoxemia. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1831-1845. [PMID: 35773377 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02044-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Paralytic ileus is common in patients with septic shock, causing high morbidity and mortality. Enteric neurons and enteric glial cells (EGCs) regulate intestinal motility. However, little is known about their interaction in endotoxemia. This study aimed to investigate whether reactive EGCs had harmful effects on enteric neurons and participated in intestinal motility disorder in mice during endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Fluorocitrate (FC) was administered before LPS injection to inhibit the reactive EGCs. The effects of reactive EGCs on intestinal motility were analyzed by motility assays in vivo and colonic migrating motor complexes ex vivo. The number of enteric neurons was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining of HuCD, nNOS, and ChAT in vivo. In addition, we stimulated EGCs with IL-1β and TNF-α in vitro and cultured the primary enteric neurons in the conditioned medium, detecting the apoptosis and morphology of neurons through staining TUNEL, cleaved caspase-3 protein, and anti-β-III tubulin. Intestinal motility and peristaltic reflex were improved by inhibiting reactive EGCs in vivo. The density of the neuronal population in the colonic myenteric plexus increased significantly, while the reactive EGCs were inhibited, especially the nitrergic neurons. In vitro, the enteric neurons cultured in the conditioned medium of reactive EGCs had a considerably higher apoptotic rate, less dendritic complexity, and fewer primary neurites. Reactive enteric glial cells probably participated in paralytic ileus by damaging enteric neurons during endotoxemia. They might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for intestinal motility disorders during endotoxemia or sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yansong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Haiqing Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuwen Tan
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology & Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
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Tuhin MTH, Liang D, Liu F, Aldawod H, Amin TU, Ho JS, Emara R, Patel AD, Felmlee MA, Park MS, Uchizono JA, Alhamadsheh MM. Peripherally restricted transthyretin-based delivery system for probes and therapeutics avoiding opioid-related side effects. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3590. [PMID: 35739116 PMCID: PMC9226319 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31342-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Several investigations into the sites of action of opioid analgesics have utilized peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs), which have been incorrectly assumed to possess limited permeability across the blood-brain barrier. Unfortunately, the poor pharmacokinetic properties of current PAMORAs have resulted in misunderstandings of the role of central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract in precipitating side effects such as opioid-induced constipation. Here, we develop a drug delivery approach for restricting the passage of small molecules across the blood-brain barrier. This allows us to develop naloxone- and oxycodone-based conjugates that display superior potency, peripheral selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in rats compared to other clinically used PAMORAs. These probes allow us to demonstrate that the mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system have a fundamental role in precipitating opioid-induced constipation. Therefore, our conjugates have immediate use as pharmacological probes and potential therapeutic agents for treating constipation and other opioid-related side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Tariqul Haque Tuhin
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Dengpan Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Hala Aldawod
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Toufiq Ul Amin
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Joshua S Ho
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Rasha Emara
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Arjun D Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Melanie A Felmlee
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Miki S Park
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - James A Uchizono
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US
| | - Mamoun M Alhamadsheh
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, 95211, US.
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Zhu X, Xu Y, Shen Z, Zhang H, Xiao S, Zhu Y, Wu M, Chen Y, Wu Z, Xu Y, He X, Liu B, Liu J, Du J, Sun J, Fang J, Shao X. Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex–Ventrolateral Periaqueductal Gray Circuit Underlies Electroacupuncture to Alleviate Hyperalgesia but Not Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Mice With Spared Nerve Injury. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:757628. [PMID: 35095390 PMCID: PMC8789679 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.757628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a common cause of chronic pain and is often accompanied by negative emotions, making it complex and difficult to treat. However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain unclear. Herein, we present a novel pathway associated with comorbid chronic pain and anxiety. Using chemogenetic methods, we found that activation of glutamatergic projections from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACCGlu) to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) induced both hyperalgesia and anxiety-like behaviors in sham mice. Inhibition of the rACCGlu-vlPAG pathway reduced anxiety-like behaviors and hyperalgesia in the spared nerve injury (SNI) mice model; moreover, electroacupuncture (EA) effectively alleviated these symptoms. Investigation of the related mechanisms revealed that the chemogenetic activation of the rACCGlu-vlPAG circuit effectively blocked the analgesic effect of EA in the SNI mice model but did not affect the chronic pain-induced negative emotions. This study revealed a novel pathway, the rACCGlu-vlPAG pathway, that mediates neuropathic pain and pain-induced anxiety.
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