Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Danggui Beimu Kushen pill (DBK) is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It has been used in the modern clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Further research is required to clarify its...

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Main Authors: Shuo Gong, Ran Xu, Yuqing Wang, Shangling Mao, Yi Zhang, Qingru Bu, Ruotong Yang, Tianming Wang, Yue Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/141
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author Shuo Gong
Ran Xu
Yuqing Wang
Shangling Mao
Yi Zhang
Qingru Bu
Ruotong Yang
Tianming Wang
Yue Yang
author_facet Shuo Gong
Ran Xu
Yuqing Wang
Shangling Mao
Yi Zhang
Qingru Bu
Ruotong Yang
Tianming Wang
Yue Yang
author_sort Shuo Gong
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Danggui Beimu Kushen pill (DBK) is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It has been used in the modern clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Further research is required to clarify its underlying mechanisms. <b>Methods</b>: DBK compounds were analyzed using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A mouse model of Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC was used to assess the efficacy of DBK. Network pharmacology identified DBK targets in UC, which were validated by molecular docking simulations. Cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA. Western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. <b>Results</b>: DBK treatment enhanced body weight and colon length in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17A) were notably decreased in both serum and colon tissues. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses identified the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways as crucial for the DBK treatment of UC. Additional validation using WB, IHC, and IF analyses demonstrated that DBK alleviated UC by suppressing the IL-6/STAT3 and IL-17/TRAF6/NF-κB pathways. <b>Conclusions</b>: DBK mitigates intestinal injury in mice with DSS-induced colitis and exerts therapeutic effects on UC by inhibiting the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways to reduce inflammation. These findings provide significant insights into the mechanism of DBK treatment for UC.
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spelling doaj-art-2dfb87b507514af9bec6669646f780bc2025-08-20T02:04:06ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-01-0118214110.3390/ph18020141Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling PathwaysShuo Gong0Ran Xu1Yuqing Wang2Shangling Mao3Yi Zhang4Qingru Bu5Ruotong Yang6Tianming Wang7Yue Yang8School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Chinese Medicine, Bozhou University, 2266 TangwangAve., Bozhou 236800, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, 350 Longzihu Road, Hefei 230012, China<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Danggui Beimu Kushen pill (DBK) is a traditional Chinese medicine renowned for its efficacy in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. It has been used in the modern clinical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Further research is required to clarify its underlying mechanisms. <b>Methods</b>: DBK compounds were analyzed using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A mouse model of Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC was used to assess the efficacy of DBK. Network pharmacology identified DBK targets in UC, which were validated by molecular docking simulations. Cytokine levels were quantified using ELISA. Western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were employed to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. <b>Results</b>: DBK treatment enhanced body weight and colon length in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-17A) were notably decreased in both serum and colon tissues. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses identified the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways as crucial for the DBK treatment of UC. Additional validation using WB, IHC, and IF analyses demonstrated that DBK alleviated UC by suppressing the IL-6/STAT3 and IL-17/TRAF6/NF-κB pathways. <b>Conclusions</b>: DBK mitigates intestinal injury in mice with DSS-induced colitis and exerts therapeutic effects on UC by inhibiting the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling pathways to reduce inflammation. These findings provide significant insights into the mechanism of DBK treatment for UC.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/141Danggui Beimu Kushen pillulcerative colitisinterleukin-6interleukin-17Th17
spellingShingle Shuo Gong
Ran Xu
Yuqing Wang
Shangling Mao
Yi Zhang
Qingru Bu
Ruotong Yang
Tianming Wang
Yue Yang
Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
Pharmaceuticals
Danggui Beimu Kushen pill
ulcerative colitis
interleukin-6
interleukin-17
Th17
title Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
title_full Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
title_fullStr Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
title_full_unstemmed Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
title_short Danggui Beimu Kushen Pill Alleviates Colitis-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Regulating the IL-6/IL-6R and IL-17A/IL-17RA Signaling Pathways
title_sort danggui beimu kushen pill alleviates colitis induced inflammation in mice by regulating the il 6 il 6r and il 17a il 17ra signaling pathways
topic Danggui Beimu Kushen pill
ulcerative colitis
interleukin-6
interleukin-17
Th17
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/2/141
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