Qingchang Huashi Fang's Influence on the Tight Junction Claudin-1 of the Colonic Mucosa Epithelial Cells Experimental Ulcerative Colitis Rats

OBJECTIVE To observe possible mechanism of the Qingchang Huashi Fang's therapeutic effect on Ulcerative Colitis(UC)， through observing the expression level of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and claudin-1 of mucosal tissue in the experimental colitis rats. METHODS Rats successfully modeled with TNBS/anhydrous alcohol were divided into blank， model， Qichang Huashi Fang(12.8 g crude drug/kg/d) and Mesalazine group(0.67 g/kg/d). Single administration for 10 days successively， all groups of rats were executed to collect colon tissues cut out for related inspections. Using ELISA method to measure the TNF-α concentration of the colon tissues. The expression of claudin-1 protein in colonic epithelium was checked up with immunohistochemical method and relative expression of claudin-1 mRNA with real-time PCR method.RESULTS The TNF-α(pg/mL) concentration of model group and Qichang Huashi Fang group are respectively 99.40±32.37 and 55.07±12.80(P<0.01)；And claudin-1 gene relative expression levels are respectively 2.18±0.78 and 3.94±0.91(P<0.01)；Qichang Huashi decoction can decrease TNF-ａconcentration and increase claudin-1 mRNA relative expression significantly(P<0.01)， thus reducing claudin-1 protein damage(P<0.05). The curative effect between Qichang Huashi Fang and Mesalazine group has no significant difference. CONCLUSION Qichang Huashi Fang can decrease TNF-α concentration and protect tight junction protein claudin-1. That is the one of the mechanisms of Qichang Huashi Fang to treat UC.