Effects Of Acupuncture On Mice With Ulcerative Colitis And Its Mechanism

Objective: To investigate the effects and the possible mechanism of Apoatichopus Japonicus on ulcerative colitis model induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS) in mice.Marerials and Methods: Ulcerative colitis in mice was induced by colonic administration with TNBS. Sixty-two male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group(n=10), TNBS control group(n=13), dried Apoatichopus Japonicus group,(n=13), instant Apoatichopus Japonicus group(n=13), enzymatic Apoatichopus Japonicus group(n=13). Mice in TNBS control group, dried Apoatichopus Japonicus group, instant Apoatichopus Japonicus group and enzymatic Apoatichopus Japonicus group were given TNBS/ethanol by colonic administration to induce ulcerative colitis. Apoatichopus Japonicus groups were respectively given suspension of Apoatichopus Japonicus with relevant processing mode by gavage. Normal control group and TNBS control group were received the same amount of normal saline by gavage. All treatment were continued for 10 days continuously. During the process of the experiment,the general condition and weight of these mice was observed and noted every day to evaluate the disease activity index(DAI). After the experiment, all of these mice were sacrificed. Colonic segments were used for histopathological examination to evaluate condition of inflammation. The length of colon and histological score were also measured. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) was used to examine the m RNA expression levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in the colon tissue from these mice. β-actin was used as the housekeeping gene in q RT-PCR.Results: After treatment of TNBS, it was observed mice appeared performance of colitis,including hematochezia, diarrhea, loss of weight. Mice treated with Apostichopus Japonicus showed an obvious improvement of colitis compared with mice treated with TNBS alone. DAI of normal control group was approximate stationary compared with those groups administrated with TNBS. And DAIs of Apostichopus Japonicus groups were almost, which suggested that colitis was not deteriorating after accepted Apostichopus Japonicus. The macroscopic observation of colon mucosa of mice from Apostichopus Japonicus groups were better than that from TNBS control group. And the inflammation and histological scores of mice from Apostichopus Japonicus groups were lower than those from TNBS control group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference of inflammation and histological scores of mice between any two Apostichopus Japonicus groups. The levels of IL-6 m RNA of clon tissues from Apostichopus Japonicus groups were lower than it of TNBS control group, and there was no statistical difference between Apostichopus Japonicus groups and TNBS control group. The levels of IL-10 m RNA of colon tissues from Apostichopus Japonicus groups were higher than it of TNBS control group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between any two Apostichopus Japonicus groups.Conclusion: Apostichopus Japonicus can alleviate TNBS-induced colitis in mice and its favorable mechanism may be associated with down-regulation of IL-6 and up-regulation of IL-10 production. Apostichopus Japonicus has the potential to be an anti-ulcerative colitis agent in the future.