Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (4): 676-685.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.04.001

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Efficacy of Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) on gut mircobiota in mice with autoimmune encephalomyelitis

ZHOU Jun1, WANG Junhua2, LI Xiaobing2, WAN Chenyi2, LI Fangjun2, Lü Yanni3, CHEN Hao2(), SUN Meiying2()   

  1. 1 Department of Chinese Medicine, Gaoxin Branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China
    2 Department of Neurology, Gaoxin branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China
    3 Department of Pharmacy, Gaoxin branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China
  • Received:2022-10-22 Accepted:2023-03-04 Online:2023-08-15 Published:2023-07-03
  • Contact: CHEN Hao, Department of Neurology, Gaoxin branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China. 15179132576@163.com. Telephone: +86-15113826448
    SUN Meiying, Department of Neurology, Gaoxin branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, China. smy19871227@163.com.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China: Role and Mechanism of Akkermansia-Mediated Activation of Microglia NLRP3 Inflammasome in Multiple Sclerosis(82101419);Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation: the Role and Mechanism of p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway Induced by Intestinal Flora Change in EAE Mice(20212BAB216024);Jiangxi Science and Technology Project of Chinese Medicine: Study on the Role and Mechanism of CGAS-STING Signaling Pathway in Microglia Mediated by Rhodiola Sachalinensis in Multiple Sclerosis(2021B660);Jiangxi Science and Technology Project of Chinese Medicine: Study on the Role and Mechanism of CGAS-STING Signaling Pathway in Microglia Mediated by Rhodiola Sachalinensis in Multiple Sclerosis(2022B1007);Jiangxi Science and Technology Program of Health Commission: the Role and Mechanism of Intestinal Flora Changes in Mediating the Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Microglia in Multiple Sclerosis(202210392);Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Education: Study on the Role and Mechanism of p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway Induced by Intestinal Flora Changes in EAE Mice(GJJ200215);Scientific Research and Development Project of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University: Effects of Exercise Training on Intestinal Flora of Multiple Sclerosis Model Rats and Its Mechanism(YFYPY202021)

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To learn the mechanisms between gut microbiome and the autoimmunity benefits on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in central nervous system (CNS), we investigated the neuro-protection effects and gut mircobiota changes of Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) on experimental autoimmune encepha-lomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into four groups: EAE mice (control phosphate-buffered saline group), 50 mg·kg-1·d-1 Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori)-treated EAE mice, 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori)-treated EAE mice, and 200 mg·kg-1·d-1 Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori)-treated EAE mice. The spinal cords were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and luxol fast blue for evaluating inflammatory infiltration and demyelination. The percentages of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)+CD4+, interleukin 17 (IL-17)+CD4+, Foxp3 CD4+, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)+CD4+ T cells in the inguinal lymph nodes (LNs) and brain were determined by flow cytometry analysis. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to analyze the changes in gut microbiota.

RESULTS: We found that Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) alleviated the disease severity and neuropathology of EAE as evaluated by clinical and histopathologyical scores. Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) increased the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota, and decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio). Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) also decreased the concentrations of IL-10, and IL-21 and increase the levels of GM-CSF, IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 in serum of EAE mice. Moreover, Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) modulated the T cell responses by inhibiting Th17 cells and restoring Treg cells in the small intestine lymphoid tissues and inguinal lymph nodes. Microbiota-depleted mice receiving Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori)-treated fecal microbiota trans-plantation had lower disease severity, neuropathology scores and alleviation of Th17/Treg imbalance compared to ad libitum group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that the vital neuro-protection role of Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) (TCM) in immunomodulation effects partly by regulations of gut microbiome.

Key words: gastrointestinal microbiome, encephalomyelitis, autoimmune, experimental, Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori), T cell response

Cite this article

ZHOU Jun, WANG Junhua, LI Xiaobing, WAN Chenyi, LI Fangjun, Lü Yanni, CHEN Hao, SUN Meiying. Efficacy of Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori) on gut mircobiota in mice with autoimmune encephalomyelitis[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023, 43(4): 676-685.