Yinchenhao Decoction Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Regulating Bile Acid Metabolism and TGF-β/Smad/ERK Signalling Pathway

Fei-Fei Cai; Rong Wu; Ya-Nan Song; Ai-Zhen Xiong; Xiao-Le Chen; Meng-Die Yang; Li Yang; Yuanjia Hu; Ming-Yu Sun; Shi-Bing Su

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-33669-4

Scientific Reports (Oct 2018)

Yinchenhao Decoction Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Regulating Bile Acid Metabolism and TGF-β/Smad/ERK Signalling Pathway

Fei-Fei Cai,
Rong Wu,
Ya-Nan Song,
Ai-Zhen Xiong,
Xiao-Le Chen,
Meng-Die Yang,
Li Yang,
Yuanjia Hu,
Ming-Yu Sun,
Shi-Bing Su

Affiliations

Fei-Fei Cai: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Rong Wu: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ya-Nan Song: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ai-Zhen Xiong: The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xiao-Le Chen: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Meng-Die Yang: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Li Yang: The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yuanjia Hu: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau
Ming-Yu Sun: Liver disease institute, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Shi-Bing Su: Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33669-4
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD), comprising Yinchenhao (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Dahuang (Radix Rhei et Rhizoma), is widely used for treating various diseases. We aimed to investigate the bile acid metabolic mechanism of YCHD in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis model. Rats received DMN (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for four successive weeks for liver fibrosis induction and were treated with YCHD for the last 2 weeks. Histopathological analysis showed that YCHD prevented DMN-induced histopathological changes in liver tissues. Serum liver function in YCHD group improved. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that YCHD significantly restored both free and conjugated bile acid levels increased by DMN, to normal levels. RT-qPCR results showed that YCHD treatment upregulated the expression of genes related to bile acid synthesis, reabsorption, and excretion. Western blotting analysis showed that YCHD downregulated α-SMA, TGF-β1, p-Smad3, and p-ERK1/2 expression in chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The viability of CDCA-activated HSCs significantly increased after treatment with YCHD and PD98059 (an ERK inhibitor) compared to YCHD treatment alone. Our findings suggest that YCHD alleviated DMN-induced liver fibrosis by regulating enzymes responsible for bile acid metabolism. Additionally, it inhibits CDCA-induced HSC proliferation and activation via TGF-β1/Smad/ERK signalling pathway.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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