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Baicalin attenuates TNBS-induced colitis in rats by modulating the Th17/Treg paradigm

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Abstract

Baicalin, a flavonoid, has a wide range of pharmacological properties, including immunomodulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of baicalin on the balance of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in a colitis model. The rat colitis model was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Baicalin (10 ml/kg, each) or mesalazine (positive control) was then administered orally for 7 days. Inflammatory and immunological responses were evaluated by pathology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. Our study showed that baicalin not only significantly attenuated TNBS-induced colitis by reducing the disease activity index as well as macroscopic and microscopic scores, but it also improved the weight loss and shortening of the colon. Baicalin treatment also induced a significant decrease in the levels of inflammatory mediators, including the myeloperoxidase activity, the levels of tumor necrosis factor α, IL-1β, and Th1-related cytokines IL-12 and IFN-γ. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of baicalin seem to be associated with regulation of the Th17 and Treg paradigm. We found that administration of baicalin significantly downregulated the number of Th17 cells and the levels of Th17-related cytokines (IL-17 and IL-6) and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt. In contrast, there was an increase in Treg cells numbers, Treg-related cytokines transforming growth factor-β and IL-10, and forkhead box P3. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of baicalin may be linked to modulation of the balance between Th17 and Treg cells in TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, No. 81173240) and the PhD Start-up Fund of Guangdong Medical College (No. B2013005, B2013006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, 523808, China

    Ying Zou, Hong-Gang Chi, Bing Zhao, Wen-Yang Li, Jin-Shan Feng & Xue-Bao Zheng

  2. Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical College, Dongguan, 523808, China

    Ying Zou, Zhi-Wei He, Jian Wang, Cai-Guo Ye, Guo-Liang Huang & Zheng Wan

  3. Department of Emergency, Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China

    Shi-Xue Dai

  4. Department of Chemotherapy, Gao Zhou People’s Hospital of Guang Dong Province, Gaozhou, 525200, China

    Tao Li

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  1. Ying Zou
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Zou, Y., Dai, SX., Chi, HG. et al. Baicalin attenuates TNBS-induced colitis in rats by modulating the Th17/Treg paradigm. Arch. Pharm. Res. 38, 1873–1887 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-014-0486-2

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