Berberine ameliorates non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-induced intestinal injury by the repair of enteric nervous system

Berberine decreases S100B generation to regulate gut vascular barrier permeability in mice with burn injury

Context: Berberine (BBR) can regulate enteric glial cells (EGCs) and the gut vascular barrier (GVB).Objective: To explore whether BBR regulates GVB permeability via the S100B pathway.Materials and methods: GVB hyperpermeability in C57BL/6J mice was induced by burns or S100B enema. BBR (25 or 50 mg/kg/d, 3 d) was gavaged preburn. S100B monoclonal antibody (S100BmAb) was i.v. injected postburn. Mouse intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (MIMECs) were treated with S100B, S100B plus BBR, or Z-IETD-FMK. GVB permeability was assayed by FITC-dextran, S100B by ELISA, caspase-8, β-catenin, occludin and PV-1 by immunoblot.Results: Burns elevated S100B in serum and in colonic mucosa to a peak (147.00 ± 4.95 ng/mL and 160.30 ± 8.50 ng/mg, respectively) at 36 h postburn, but BBR decreased burns-induced S100B in serum (126.20 ± 6.30 or 90.60 ± 3.78 ng/mL) and in mucosa (125.80 ± 12.40 or 91.20 ± 8.54 ng/mg). Burns raised GVB permeability (serum FITC-dextran 111.40 ± 8.56 pg/mL) at 48 h postburn, but BBR reduced GVB permeability (serum FITC-dextran 89.20 ± 6.98 or 68.60 ± 5.50 ng/mL). S100B enema (1 μM) aggravated burns-raised GVB permeability (142.80 ± 8.07 pg/mL) and PV-1, but the effect of S100B was antagonized by BBR. Z-IETD-FMK (5 μM) increased S100B-induced permeability to FITC-dextran (205.80 ± 9.70 to 263.80 ± 11.04 AUs) while reducing β-catenin in MIMECs. BBR (5 μM) reduced S100B-induced permeability (104.20 ± 9.65 AUs) and increased caspase-8, β-catenin and occludin.Discussion and conclusion: BBR decreases burns-induced GVB hyperpermeability via modulating S100B/caspase-8/β-catenin pathway and may involve EGCs.

Berberine mitigates diclofenac-induced intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier dysfunction through the restoration of autophagy by inhibiting exosome-mediated lncRNA H19

Small intestine damage caused by diclofenac is called diclofenac enteropathy. Berberine (BBR), a class of isoquinoline alkaloids derived from Berberis vulgaris and Phellodendron amurense, is widely used in intestinal diseases. The present study evaluated the protective effect of BBR on the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier in diclofenac enteropathy and its possible action mechanism. The in vitro animal experiment revealed that BBR downregulated the expression of long non-coding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) in the small intestine and exosomes. In the co-culture experiment involving exosomes and intestinal epithelial cell-6 (IEC-6) cells, the results of qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that the elevated expression of lncRNA H19 in the small intestine, conveyed via exosomes derived from the diclofenac group, suppressed the expression levels of autophagy-associated protein 5 (Atg 5) and light chain 3 (LC 3), as well as and the tight junction (TJ) proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, and occluding, relative to the control group. BBR treatment attenuated exosomal lncRNA H19 levels, upregulated the expression of Atg5 and LC3 expression, enhanced TJ protein expression, and increased the light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I ratio. These findings significantly elucidated that BBR promoted the restoration of autophagy in IECs by inhibiting exosomal lncRNA H19, thereby mitigating the impairment of the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier function in diclofenac enteropathy. The process involving exosomal lncRNA H19 regulating autophagy, thereby affecting the intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier, offers a novel perspective for the application of BBR in the treatment of diclofenac enteropathy.

Intestinal mucosal barrier: a potential target for traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious public health problem, and among non-communicable diseases, CVD is now the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. CVD involves multiple organs throughout the body, especially the intestinal tract is the first to be involved. The impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier is considered a significant pathological alteration in CVD and also contributes to the accelerated progression of the disease, thereby offering novel insights for CVD prevention and treatment. The treatment of Chinese medicine is characterized by multi-metabolites, multi-pathways, and multi-targets. In recent years, the studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating CVD by repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier have gradually increased, showing great therapeutic potential. This review summarizes the studies related to the treatment of CVD by TCM (metabolites of Chinese botanical drugs, TCM formulas, and Chinese patent medicine) targeting the repair of the intestinal mucosal barrier, as well as the potential mechanisms. We have observed that TCM exerts regulatory effects on the structure and metabolites of gut microbiota, enhances intestinal tight junctions, improves intestinal dyskinesia, repairs intestinal tissue morphology, and preserves the integrity of the intestinal vascular barrier through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. These multifaceted attributes position TCM as a pivotal modulator of inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophy, and promoting vascular repairment. Moreover, there exists a close association between cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus with CVD. We also explore the mechanisms through which Chinese botanical drugs impact the intestinal mucosal barrier and regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Consequently, these findings present novel insights and methodologies for treating CVD.

Efficacy of complementary medicine for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small intestinal injuries: A narrative review

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small bowel injuries (NSIs) have been largely ignored for decades due to the focus on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy. With the visualization of the small intestines enabled by video capsule endoscopy, the frequency and severity of NSIs have become more evident. NSIs have a complex pathophysiology, and no effective preventive or treatment options have been proven. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used to treat disorders of the small intestine, and more research on its effectiveness for NSIs has been conducted.We reviewed the current evidence and mechanisms of action of CAMs on NSI. Clinical and experimental studies on the effect of CAMs on NSIs were performed using 10 databases.Twenty-two studies (3 clinical and 19 in vivo experimental studies) were included in the final analysis involving 10 kinds of CAMs: bovine colostrum, Orengedokuto (coptis), muscovite, licorice, grape seed, wheat, brown seaweed, Ganoderma lucidum fungus mycelia, Chaenomeles speciosa (sweet) Nakai (muguasantie), and Jinghua Weikang capsule. The mechanisms of CAM include an increase in prostaglandin E2, reparation of the enteric nervous system, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduction of intestinal permeability and enteric bacterial numbers, decrease in oxidative stress, and modulation of small intestinal motility.CAM may be a novel alternative option for treating and preventing NSI, and further studies on human and animal models with relevant comorbidities are warranted.

Berberine ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by decreasing the liver lipid content via reversing the abnormal expression of MTTP and LDLR

The global incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing. The present study explored the effect and mechanism of berberine (BBR) on NAFLD in rats. Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control and NAFLD groups, which were fed a normal diet or high-fat diet, respectively, for 8 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on liver tissues and establishment of the NAFLD model was confirmed by microscopy. NAFLD rats were subsequently randomly subdivided and treated with saline or BBR for 8 weeks. The liver wet weight of rats in each group was measured, the liver tissue structure was observed by microscopy, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were detected using a semi-automatic biochemical detector. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP), apolipoprotein B and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Compared with the control group, the liver wet weight of the NAFLD rats was higher; the liver showed obvious fatty degeneration and liver TG levels increased significantly, as did serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, FBG, HDL and LDL, while expression of MTTP and LDLR significantly decreased. Compared with the saline-treated NAFLD rats, the BBR-treated rats had reduced liver wet weight, improved liver steatosis and a significant decrease in liver TG levels, while ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL serum levels significantly decreased and MTTP levels were significantly upregulated. In conclusion, BBR treatment ameliorated the fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Furthermore, BBR reversed the abnormal expression of MTTP and LDLR in rats with high-fat diet induced-NAFLD. The present findings suggest that fatty liver could be improved by BBR administration, via reversing the abnormal expression of MTTP and LDLR and inhibiting lipid synthesis.

Gene expression analysis in NSAID-induced rat small intestinal disease model with the intervention of berberine by the liquid chip technology

Objective

Investigate the effect and mechanism of berberine on the small intestinal mucosa of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) related small intestinal injury.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and intervention group. The model group and intervention group were treated with diclofenac (7.5 mg/kg·d, 2/d), a total of 4 days tube feeding, and the intervention group was treated with 50 mg/kg·d intragastric administration of berberine after 2 days. The control group was treated with 7.5 mg/kg·d, 2/d 0.9% saline tube feeding. Then we screened differential expression of colonic mucosal gene by the liquid chip technology.

Results

Compared with the control group, macroscopic and histology score of the model group increased significantly (P < 0.05), HTR4, HTR1a, F2RL3, CALCA, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, P2RX3, TPH1, HMOX1, TRPV1, VIP, F2RL1, SLC6A4, TFF2, AQP8 content were significantly increased (P < 0.05), NOS1 content decreased significantly (P < 0.05); Compared with the model group, macroscopic and histology score of the intervention group improved significantly (P < 0.05), and HTR4, F2RL3, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, VIP, AQP8 content were significantly lower (P < 0.05), NOS1 content increased significantly (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Berberine has a protective effect on NSAID-associated small intestinal injury, the mechanism may be that berberine decreases the expression of intestinal mucosa HTR4, F2RL3, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, VIP, AQP8, and increases the expression of NOS1, that to reduce intestinal permeability and protect intestinal mucosal barrier.