Exploration of the Effect of Weiling Decoction on Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats with Diarrhea-Type Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on MLCK/MLC2 Signaling Pathway
ZHANG Yanyan, YAN Bo, GUO Husheng, et al
The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Anhui Hefei 230011, China
Abstract：Objective: To observe the effect of Weiling Decoction (WLD) on intestinal barrier function in rats with diarrhea-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) and to explore its possible mechanism based on the MLCK/MLC2 signaling pathway. Methods: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (CON group), a model group (IBS-D group), a pinaverium bromide group (PB group, 0.13mg/kg), a low-dose Weiling Decoction group (WLD-L group, 5.31g/kg), and a high-dose Weiling Decoction group (WLD-H group, 10.62g/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The IBS-D rat model was established using acetic acid enema combined with chronic restraint stress. After successful modeling, the rats in each drug group were administered the corresponding drug by gavage once daily for 14 consecutive days. After the drug administration, the diarrhea index and abdominal wall withdrawal reflex score of rats in each group were detected. Intestinal permeability was assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FITC-dextran). Histopathological changes in colonic tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in colonic tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1) and MLCK/MLC2 signaling pathway-related proteins (MLCK, MLC2, p-MLC2) in colonic tissue. Results: Compared with the IBS-D group, the diarrhea index, abdominal wall withdrawal reflex score, intestinal permeability, and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly reduced in the PB, WLD-L, and WLD-H groups (P<0.05). The degree of intestinal villus damage in colonic tissue was significantly alleviated, and the expression levels of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Additionally, the expression levels of MLCK/MLC2 signaling pathway-related proteins MLCK and p-MLC2/MLC2 were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results of the above indicators in the PB and WLD-H groups were superior to those in the WLD-L group (P<0.05). Conclusion: WLD can improve intestinal barrier function in IBS-D rats by inhibiting the MLCK/MLC2 signaling pathway, downregulating the expression of inflammatory factors, and upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins in the intestine.
张燕燕, 严波, 郭虎生, 周胜利. 基于MLCK/MLC2信号通路探讨胃苓汤对腹泻型肠易激综合征大鼠肠道屏障功能的影响[J]. 河北医学, 2025, 31(4): 577-582.
ZHANG Yanyan, YAN Bo, GUO Husheng, et al. Exploration of the Effect of Weiling Decoction on Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats with Diarrhea-Type Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on MLCK/MLC2 Signaling Pathway. HeBei Med, 2025, 31(4): 577-582.
2025, Vol. 31 
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