Exploring the Mechanism of Chang-An-Kang on Active Ulcerative Colitis Rats Based on NF-κB/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Chang-An-Kang on ulcerative colitis rats.Materials and Methods: The rat model of ulcerative colitis induced by 6% glacial acetic acid was established. The corresponding therapeutic drugs were given 24 h after the model was established. The pathological morphology of colon tissue was observed after 21 days of continuous administration. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-7 (IL-7), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA kit. The expression levels of NF-κB and STAT3 proteins in colon tissue were detected by IHC.Results: The results showed that the changes in the pathological and biochemical indexes of the rat colon tissue indicate that the model was successfully established. Chang-An-Kang could significantly reduce rat colon tissue damage, decrease the content of IL-6, IL-7, and TNF-α, and increase the content of IL-10. The NF-κB and STAT3 protein expression levels were decreased.Conclusion: By increasing the content of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, decreasing the content of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, and inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and STAT3 proteins, Chang-An-Kang can reduce inflammatory infiltration. It has an obvious therapeutic effect on acetic acid ulcerative colitis in rats.

Keywords: Chang-An-Kang; ulcerative colitis; NF-κB; STAT3; immunohistochemistry