Jianpi Huoxue Decoction Ameliorates Alcoholic Liver Disease By Protecting Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats

Abstract

\n Background: Jianpi huoxue decoction (JHD), a Chinese herbal formula, is commonly applied in clinical practice for treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in China. Involvement of intestinal barrier function is increasingly recognized in the pathogenesis and progression of ALD. The aim of this study was to explore whether JHD on potentially protects intestinal barrier function in ALD rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Model (alcohol-fed) and JHD groups were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets while rats in the control group were fed isocaloric maltose dextrin for six weeks. In the last three weeks of the respective diets, rats were intragastrically administrated JHD. Each rat received a gavage administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) before sacrifice. Gut leakage was evaluated by measuring LPS in the portal blood. Pathological changes in ileum tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Ultrastructural changes of the intestinal tract were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tight junction (TJ) proteins ZO-1 and occludin were assessed by western blot and immunofluorescence. Myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, a key regulator of TJs, was also assessed by western blot.Results: JHD administration attenuated Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Alcohol feeding increased portal vein plasma LPS levels in the model group. This deleterious effect was decreased in the JHD-treated group. Moreover, ileum tissue H&E staining demonstrated that JHD diminished intestinal inflammation. In addition, TEM indicated that JHD improved focal loosely packed microvilli. Furthermore, expression of ZO-1 and occludin decreased in the ileum tract of model rats. Finally, an increased level of p-MLC in the model group was also observed. JHD treatment reversed phosphorylation of MLC in the ileum.Conclusions: The above results suggest that JHD has potential value in the prevention and treatment of ALD in rats; its mechanism of action may be closely related to its effect on improving intestinal barrier function and attenuating gut leakiness.