Clinical and experimental study of therapeutic effect of Weixibaonizhuan pills on gastric precancerous lesions

Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Coptidis Rhizoma in gastric precancerous lesions: a network pharmacology approach

BACKGROUND

Gastric precancerous lesions are a critical stage in the development of gastric cancer or gastric adenocarcinoma, and their outcome plays an important role in the malignant progression of gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma has a good effect on Gastric precancerous lesions. However, the specific mechanisms of its action remain incompletely elucidated.

METHODS

Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating gastric precancerous lesions. The active compounds of Coptidis Rhizoma and their potential gastric precancerous lesions related targets were obtained from TCMSP, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. An interaction network based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) was constructed to visualize the interactions between hub genes. Analysis of GO enrichment and KEGG pathway were conducted using the DAVID database. An investigation of interactions between active compounds and potential targets was carried out by molecular docking. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the effect and mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating precancerous lesions of gastric cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 11 active compounds and 95 anti-gastric precancerous lesions targets of Coptidis Rhizoma were screened for analysis. GO enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma acting on gastric precancerous lesions involves gene expression regulation and apoptosis regulation. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that Coptidis Rhizoma against gastric precancerous lesions involving the AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathway. Molecular docking simulations indicated potential interactions between these compounds and core targets involved in anti-gastric precancerous lesions activity. In addition, it was confirmed in vivo that Berberine and Coptidis Rhizoma may reverse atrophy and potential intestinal metaplasia by inhibiting the expression of p-AKT, HIFA, and VEGF.

CONCLUSION

Bioactive compounds in Coptidis Rhizoma have the potential to prevent atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. These compounds function by regulating the proteins implicated in AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathways that are crucial in gastric epithelial cell differentiation, proliferation and maturation.

A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms Underlying Treatment of Gastric Precancerous Lesions by Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) are an essential precursor in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer, known to be one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a positive prospect for the prevention and therapy of GPL owing to several advantages including a definite curative effect, fewer side effects compared to other treatments, multiple components, and holistic regulation. Despite these characteristic advantages, the mechanisms of TCM in treating GPL have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge with respect to herbal formulations and the therapeutic mechanisms of TCM active ingredients for GPL. This paper elaborates on the mechanisms of TCM underlying the prevention and treatment of GPL, specifically those that are linked to anti-H. pylori, anti-inflammation, antiproliferation, proapoptotic, antioxidation, antiglycolytic, and antiangiogenesis effects.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibody responses and the value of clinical presentations in diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with precancerous lesions

AIM: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, the serum anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibody responses, and the value of clinical presentations in diagnosis of H. pylori infection in patients with gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia.

METHODS: H. pylori infection was detected by histology in 209 patients with mild chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG, n = 76), severe CAG (n = 22), mild intestinal metaplasia (IM, n = 22), severe IM (n = 58), or dysplasia (DYS, n = 31). Serum anti-H. pylori IgG and IgA were double sampled and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assays. 35 clinical presentations were observed and their relationship with H. pylori infection was analyzed by the k-means cluster method.

RESULTS: Both IgG and IgA levels in H. pylori positive patients were significantly higher than those negative for H. pylori (P < 0.001-0.01). The prevalence of H. pylori was highest in severe IM (84.5%), and lowest in mild CAG (51.3%) (P < 0.01). They were similar in severe CAG (68.2%), mild IM (72.7%), and DYS (67.7%). In H. pylori positive patients, the IgG levels in severe CAG were significantly higher than those in mild CAG (P < 0.01). In H. pylori negative patients, both IgG and IgA levels increased remarkably in severe IM, compared to those in mild IM (P < 0.01-0.05). H. pylori infection exhibited no association with patient’s gender (62.1% in males; 71.7% in females) and age (r = 0.0814, P = 0.241). The diagnostic accuracy based on 35 clinical presentations was 65.7%. It could be improved by 5.7% when only the assemblage of digestive symptoms were engaged, or by 8.6% when the pathogenic factors, general status and grossoscopy were combined. The diagnostic accuracy could be decreased when only the general symptoms were engaged, or when the pathogenic factors were accompanied with some common digestive symptoms.

CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection is a major risk factor for the process from atrophy, IM to DYS of gastric mucosa. Serum IgG and IgA are good indicators to evaluate this progress with a certain arrearage. Investigation on the effective assemblages of clinical presentations may provide a better understanding in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment for H. pylori infection.

Significance of changes of gastrointestinal peptides in blood and ileum of experimental spleen deficiency rats

AIM: To explore the mechanism of spleen deficiency (SD) by studying the relationship of gastro-intestinal peptides level and ileal electro-mechanical activity of SD rats and cold restrain rats.

METHODS: (1) spleen deficiency (SD) model was established by feeding Houpou:Zhishi: Dahuang in the ratio of 3:3:2, 3 ml/time, for 42 days. (2) The cold restrain stress model: Animals were restrained on grille and placed in a cool water at 18 °C for 3 h. (3) Substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in all layers of initial part of ileum and blood in rats were measured by radioimmunoassays (RIA) while changes of electric activity and motility in ileum of rats were recorded with electrode and strain gauge.

RESULTS: SP levels in ileum and blood of experimental SD rats were significantly higher than that of the control groups (9.89 ± 5.65 vs 1.22 ± 1.18, P < 0.005, in ileum; 22.7 ± 3.95 vs 6.60 ± 1.47, P < 0.001, in blood) while the VIP levels of the SD rats were significantly lower than that of the controls (3.50 ± 2.01 vs 9.10 ± 4.91, P < 0.05, in ileum; 229.8 ± 62.4 vs 560.4 ± 151.3, P < 0.001, in blood). As compared with the controls, the average frequency of slow electric waves (21.3 ± 0.96 vs 18.2 ± 2.28, P < 0.05) and motility (21.5 ± 0.58 vs 18 ± 2.65, P < 0.005) of SD rats increased obviously and the frequency of fast waves of SD rat also increased. In spontaneous recovery cases, SP levels recovered significantly (compared with the SD groups, 2.99 ± 0.62 vs 9.89 ± 5.65, P < 0.001, in ileum; 14.4 ± 4.22 vs 22.7 ± 3.95, P < 0.001, in blood) but did not drop to normal. After the SD rats treated with Chinese herbs (Jiawei Sijun zi Tang), SP improved (compared with SD cases, 2.20 ± 1.25 vs 9.89 ± 5.65, (P < 0.001), in ileum; 10.7 ± 1.88 vs 22.7 ± 3.95, (P < 0.001), in blood) and VIP in blood also improved (compared with SD rats, 485.7 ± 229.0 vs 229.8 ± 62.4, P < 0.01) while the amplitude of motility decreased apparently (compared with the SD rats, 0.64 ± 0.096 vs 0.89 ± 0.15, P < 0.01). The ileal SP levels of cool stress didn’t change while the ileal VIP levels of cool stress became significantly lower than that of the control groups (2.87 ± 0.87 vs 9.10 ± 4.91, P < 0.01). The blood SP levels of cool stress were significantly higher (15.60 ± 1.83 vs 6.60 ± 1.47, P < 0.001) whereas the blood VIP levels of cool stress were significantly lower than that of the control group (153.4 ± 70.46 vs 560.4 ± 151.30, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Changes of SP and VIP levels in initial part of ileum and blood of SD rats and cool stress rats may be closely related to the gastrointestinal motility disorders presented in SD and cool stress rats. the Chinese herbs (Jiawei Sijun zi Tang) currently used have partially therapeutic effect.

Distribution of nitric oxide synthase in stomach myenteric plexus of rats

AIM: To study the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rat stomach myenteric plexus.

METHODS: The distribution of NOS in gastric wall was studied in quantity and location by the NADPH-diaphorase (NDP) histochemical staining method and whole mount preparation technique.

RESULTS: NOS was distributed in whole stomach wall, most of them were located in myenteric plexus, and distributed in submucosal plexus. The shape of NOS positive neurons was basically similar, most of them being round and oval in shape. But their density, size and staining intensity varied greatly in the different parts of stomach. The density was 62 ± 38 cells/mm² (antrum), 43 ± 32 cells/mm² (body), and 32 ± 28 cells/mm² (fundus), respectively. The size and staining intensity of NOS positive neurons in the fundus were basically the same, the neurons being large and dark stained, while they were obviously different in antrum. In the body of the stomach, the NOS positive neurons were in an intermediate state from fundus to antrum. There were some beadlike structures which were strung together by NOS positive varicosities in nerve fibers, some were closely adherent to the outer walls of blood vessels.

CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide might be involved in the modulation of motility, secretion and blood circulation of the stomach, and the significant difference of NOS positive neurons in different parts of stomach myenteric plexus may be related to the physiologic function of stomach.

Mechanism of exogenous nucleic acids and their precursors improving the repair of intestinal epithelium after gamma-irradiation in mice

AIM:To clone expressed genes associated with repair of irradiation-damaged mice intestinal gland cells treated by small intestinal RNA, and to explore the molecular mechanism of exogenous nucleic acids improving repair of intestinal crypt.METHODS:The animal mode of test group and control group was established, forty-five mice being irradiated by gamma ray were treated with small intestinal RNA as test group, forty mice being irradiated by gamma ray were treated with physiological saline as control group,five mice without irradiation were used as normal control, their jejunal specimens were collected respectively at 6h, 12h,24h, 4d and 8d after irradiation. Then by using LD-PCR based on subtractive hybridization, these gene fragments differentially expressed between test group and control group were obtained, and then were cloned into T vectors as well as being sequenced. Obtained sequences were screened against. GeneBank, if being new sequences, they were submitted to GeneBank.RESULTS:Ninety clones were associated with repair of irradiation-damaged intestinal gland cells treated by intestinal RNA. These clones from test group of 6h, 12h, 24h, 4d and 8d were respectively 18, 22, 25, 13, 12. By screening against GeneBank, 18 of which were new sequences, the others were dramatically similar to the known sequences, mainly similar to hsp, Nmi,Dutt1, alkaline phosphatase, homeobox, anti-CEA ScFv antibody, arginine/serine kinase and BMP-4,repA. Eighteen gene fragments were new sequences,their accept numbers in GeneBank were respectively AF240164-AF240181.CONCLUSION:Ninety clones were obtained to be associated with repair of irradiation damaged mice intestinal gland cells treated by small intestinal RNA, which may be related to abnormal expression of genes and matched proteins of hsp, Nmi, Dutt1, Na, K-ATPase,alkalineph-osphatase, glkA, single stranded replicative centromeric gene as well as 18 new sequences.