Advanced Search

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2022 , Vol. 42 >Issue 3: 353 - 363

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220408.002

Research Article

Correlation between slow transit constipation and spleen Qi deficiency, and gut microbiota: a pilot study

  • Zeyue YU ,
  • Liyu HAO ,
  • Zongyuan LI ,
  • Jianhui SUN ,
  • Hongying CHEN ,
  • Hairu HUO ,
  • Xiaoqin LI ,
  • Zhongchao SHAN ,
  • Hongmei LI
Expand
  • 1 Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100007, China
    2 Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
    3 Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650504, China
    4 Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning 330004, China
Pro. LI Hongmei, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100007, China. lihm2006@sina.cn

Received date: 2021-09-12

  Accepted date: 2021-11-17

  Online published: 2022-04-08

Supported by

Fundamental Scientific Research Business Fees of Central Public Welfare Scientific Research Institutes of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences(Z2021022);National Natural Science Foundation Project: Study on the Authenticity of Traditional Chinese Medicine(81891010);Science and Technology Innovation Project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: Efficacy Evaluation and Mechanism Exploration of Huashi Baidu Granule based on "multi-link and multi-target" in the Prevention and Treatment of Influenza Virus Infection(CI2021A04605);Basic Scientific Research Business Fee Project of Central Public Welfare Scientific Research Institutes of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences: Study on the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Mech-anism of Yiqi Zeng Fang and Huashi Baidu Granules(ZZ15-WT-04)

Fold

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of slow transit constipation (STC) and spleen Qi deficiency on gut microbiota, and the mechanism underlying the action that the positive drug Maren Runchang (MR) alleviates STC.

METHODS: STC was induced, using the cathartic method of Senna and the hunger-fullness disorder method, in ICR mice; one group of model mice was treated with MR (6.24 g/kg). The changes in the general condition, fecal parameters, D-xylose content in the serum, intestinal propulsion rate, and histopathology of the colon were assessed after STC induction in the control, model, and MR groups. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed from STC mice into pseudo germ-free mice. Changes in the contents of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and gut microbiota in STC mice and pseudo germ-free mice were assessed after FMT.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model mice showed the following results: the time of the first black stool was significantly longer (P < 0.01), the number and weight of black stools were significantly reduced within 6 h (P < 0.05), the D-xylose content in the serum was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), the intestinal propulsion rate decreased (P < 0.01), the content of VIP in colon tissue significantly increased (P < 0.05), and SP content in the colon tissue significantly decreased (P < 0.01); moreover, the colon showed significant inflame-mation and injury. Furthermore, the abundance of Firmicutes was increased, the abundance of Bacteroides decreased, and the abundance of Alistipes, unclassified_ o__Bacteroidales, Alloprevotella, Bilophila, and Anaero-truncus decreased, while the abundance of the conditional pathogenic bacteria Escherichia and Klebsiella increased. However, after treatment with MR, the time of the first black stool decreased (P < 0.01), the number of black stools within 6 h increased, and the intestinal propulsion rate increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the content of D-xylose in the serum and the content of VIP in colon tissue significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the content of SP in colon tissue significantly increased (P < 0.01), and colon inflammation significantly improved. Additionally, the abundance of Firmicutes decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroides increased. The abundance of unclassified_o__Bacteroidales and Bilophila increased, and the abundance of Klebsiella decreased. In the model + FMT group, compared with control + FMT group, the content of VIP in colon tissue decreased (P < 0.05), the content of SP in colon tissue significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the abundance of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Akkermansia, decreased. In the MR + FMT group, compared with the model + FMT group, the content of VIP in colon tissue increased, the content of SP in colon tissue significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the abundance of probiotics increased.

CONCLUSIONS: STC mice with spleen Qi deficiency show a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Alistipes, unclassified_o__Bacteroidales, Allopr-evotella, Bilophila, and Anaerotruncus, and an increased abundance of the conditional pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Klebsiella. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of MR in treating STC may involve the regulation of intestinal movement, reduction of intestinal inflammation, elevation of intestinal absorption, and regulation of gut microbiota.

Key words： spleen Qi deficiency; gastrointestinal microbiome; probiotics; fecal microbiota transplantation; substance P; vasoactive intestinal peptide; slow transit constipation; Maren Runchang pills

Cite this article

Zeyue YU , Liyu HAO , Zongyuan LI , Jianhui SUN , Hongying CHEN , Hairu HUO , Xiaoqin LI , Zhongchao SHAN , Hongmei LI . Correlation between slow transit constipation and spleen Qi deficiency, and gut microbiota: a pilot study[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022 , 42(3) : 353 -363 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220408.002

References

1 Wang WS, Xia XT, Liu FL, et al. Effects of Zhizhu pills on intestinal motility and PLC-γ_1/PLC-γ_2 signal pathway in mice with slow transit constipation of spleen deficiency syndrome. Zhong Guo Shi Yan Fang Ji Xue Za Zhi 2019; 25:8-14.
2 Eor J Y, Tan P L, Lim S M, et al. Laxative effect of lotte probiotic chocolat on loperamide-induced constipation in rats. Food Res Int 2018; 116:1173-82.
3 Black CJ, Ford AC. Chronic idiopathic constipation in adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical management. Med J Aust 2018; 209:86-91.
4 Jiang H, Dong J, Jiang S, et al. Effect of durio zibethinus rind polysaccharide on functional constipation and intestinal microbiota in rats. Food Res Int 2020; 136:109316.
5 Dinning P G, Lorenzo C D. Colonic dysmotility in constipation. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2011; 25:89-101.
6 Wu MH, Wang XY. Zhong Yi Nei Ke Xue. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2012; 237-8.
7 Zhang JY (Ming dynasty). Jing Yue Quan Shu. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2007: 540.
8 Li DY (Yuan dynasty). Pi Wei Lun. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2005: 92.
9 Tan ZR, Tan L, Huang X, et al. Changes of interstitial cells of Cajal in the colon of rats with slow transit constipation. Shi Yong Yi Xue Za Zhi 2011; 27:3290-2.
10 Boeckxstaens G, Camilleri M, Sifrim D, et al. Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology: physiology/motility-sensation. Gastroenterology 2016; 150:1292-304.
11 Obata Y, Pachnis V. The Effect of microbiota and the immune system on the development and organization of the enteric nervous system. Gastroenterology 2016; 151:836-44.
12 Zhao Y, Yu YB. Intestinal microbiota and chronic constipation. Springerplus 2016; 5:1130.
13 Zhu LX, Liu WS, Alkhouri R, et al. Structural changes in the gut microbiome of constipated patients. Physiol Genomics 2014; 46:679-86.
14 Choi C H, Chang S K. Alteration of gut microbiota and efficacy of probiotics in functional constipation. JNM 2015; 21:4-7.
15 Parthasarathy G, Chen J, Chen XF, et al. Relationship between microbiota of the colonic mucosa vs feces and symptoms, colonic transit, and methane production in female patients with chronic constipation. Gastroenterology 2016; 150:367-79.
16 Nunes N S, Kim S, Sundby M, et al. Temporal clinical, proteomic, histological and cellular immune responses of dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute colitis. WJG 2018; 24:4341-55.
17 Wei YL, Chen YQ, Gong H, et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation ameliorates experimentally induced colitis in mice by upregulating AhR. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:19-21.
18 Magoc T, Salzberg S L. FLASH: fast length adjustment of short reads to improve genome assemblies. Bioinformatics 2011; 27:2957-63.
19 Edgar R C. UPARSE: highly accurate OTU sequences from microbial amplicon reads. Nat Methods 2013; 10: 996-8.
20 Wang Q, Garrity G M, Tiedje J M, Cole J R. Naive bayesian classifier for rapid assignment of rRNA sequences into the new bacterial taxonomy. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73: 5261-7.
21 Tian JX, Lai QK, Ma ZC, et al. The effect of Fuxiekang on immunity, digestion and absorption in rats with spleen deficiency and diarrhea syndrome. Zhong Guo Lin Chuang Kang Fu 2006; 10:92-4.
22 Zhu SD, Li BP, Qiao Q. Effect of Yunmu powder on amylase and xylose in rats with spleen deficiency and diarrhea. Zhe Jiang Zhong Yi Yao Da Xue Xue Bao 2002; 26:46-7.
23 Pang X, Liu YQ, Liu XD. The effect of different parts of atractylodes japonicus with bran on spleen deficiency in rats. Xian Dai Yao Wu Yu Lin Chuang 2015; 30:763-7.
24 Sun XZ, Ma ZQ, Ma XQ. A preliminary study on the relationship between VIP, substance P and constipation. Shi Jie Zui Xin Yi Xue Xin Xi Wen Zhai 2019; 19:113-4.
25 Long LL, Wang JN, Chen NN, et al. Curcumin ameliorates reserpine-induced gastrointestinal mucosal lesions through inhibiting IκB-α/NF-κB pathway and regulating expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin in rats. J Med Food 2016; 19:528-34.
26 Zhu F, Xu S, Zhang Y, et al. Total glucosides of paeony promote intestinal motility in slow transit constipation rats through amelioration of interstitial cells of Cajal. Plos One 2016; 11.
27 Chen R, Zhou BY, Zhou L. Effects of atractylodes macrocephala on enteric neurotransmitter and ICC in mice with slow transit constipation. Chong Qing Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2022; 47:1-8.
28 Ley RE, Turnbaugh PJ, Klein S, et al. Microbial ecology: human gut microbes associated with obesity. Nature 2006; 444:1022-3.
29 Turnbaugh P J, Hamady M, Yatsunenko T, et al. A core gut microbiome in obese and lean twins. Nature 2009; 457:480-4.
30 Dong KZ, Fu SW, Sheng L, et al. The effect of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on serum VIP and SP in mice with intestinal microflora disorders. Jie Fang Jun Yi Xue Za Zhi 2014; 11:873-6.
31 Salinas C J, Cavazzuti A, et al. Therapeutic efficacy of stable analogues of vasoactive intestinal peptide against pathogens. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:14583-99.
32 Cong LM, Dong WW, Jie A, et al. Probiotics combined with dietary fiber to improve constipation. Zhong Guo Wei Sheng Tai Xue Za Zhi 2016; 06:632-8.
33 Radka CD, Frank MW, Rock CO, et al. Fatty acid activation and utilization by Alistipes finegoldii, a representative Bacteroidetes resident of the human gut microbiome. Mol Microbiol 2020; 113:807-25.
34 Eckburg PB, Bik EM, Bernstein CN, et al. Diversity of the human intestinal microbial flora. Science 2005; 308, 1635-8.
35 Chen Q, Wu JP, Dong X, et al. Gut flora-targeted photobiomodulation therapy improves senile dementia in an A-induced Alzheimer's disease animal model. J Photochem Photobiol B 2021; 112152.
36 Kojima A, Nakano K, Wada K, et al. Infection of specific strains of streptococcus mutans, oral bacteria, confers a risk of ulcerative colitis. Sci Rep 2012; 2:332.
37 Liu J, Gao Y, Zhou J, et al. Changes in serum inflammatory cytokine levels and intestinal flora in a self-healing dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis murine model. Life Sci 2020; 263:118587.
38 Wu GD, Chen J, et al. Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes. Science 2011; 334:105-8.
39 Kang D W, Park J G, Ilhan Z E, et al. Reduced incidence of Prevotella and other fermenters in intestinal microflora of autistic children. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68322.
40 Backhed F, Ding H, Wang T, et al. The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004; 101.44:15718-23.
41 Feng CN, Zeng LZ, Wang SJ. Analysis of micro-inflammation and gut microbial diversity in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Zhong Guo Wei Sheng Tai Xue Za Zhi 2020; 32:1273-78.
42 Chen YF, Yang FL, Lu HF, et al. Characterization of fecal microbial communities in patients with liver cirrhosis. Hepatology 2011; 54:562-72.
43 Manuel CR, Latuga MS, Ashby CR, et al. Immune tolerance attenuates gut dysbiosis, dysregulated uterine gene expression and high-fat diet potentiated preterm birth in mice. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 220, 596.e1-28.
44 Peck SC, Denger K, Burrichter A, et al. A glycyl radical enzyme enables hydrogen sulfide production by the human intestinal bacterium bilophila wadsworthia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2019; 116:3171-6.
45 Herridge WP, Shibu P, et al. Bacteriophages of klebsiella spp., their diversity and potential therapeutic uses. J Med Microbiol 2020; 69:176-94.
46 Liu Q, Cai BY, Zhu LX, et al. Liraglutide modulates gut microbiome and attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver in db/db mice. Life Sci 2020; 261:118457.
47 Koh A, Vadder DF, Datchary KP, et al. From dietary fiber to host physiology: short-chain fatty acids as key bacterial metabolites. Cell 2016; 165:1332-45.
48 Dong CR, Yu JQ, Yang YN, et al. Berberine, a potential prebiotic to indirectly promote Akkermansia growth through stimulating gut mucin secretion. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 139:111595.
Options
Outlines

/

〈 〉