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Published on: May 9, 2019
Jiangu granule ameliorated OVX rats bone loss by modulating gut microbiota-SCFAs-Treg/Th17 axis
Pan Sun1, Chutian Zhang2, Yunmei Huang2
1Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China; Longhua Hospital, Institute of Spine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai 200032, China.
Background:
Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a common disease that has decreased bone strength as its main symptom after menopause. Effective treatment for PMOP remains lacking, but traditional Chinese medicine has some advantages in delaying bone loss. Jiangu granule is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription commonly used to treat PMOP. Previous studies have demonstrated its efficacy, but the mechanism of action remains uncharacterized.
Purpose:
This study aims to observe and discuss the mechanism of Jiangu granule to ameliorate bone loss in OVX rats by regulating the gut microbiota (GM)-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)- Treg/Th17 axis.
Methods:
Female SD rats were divided into the sham operation (S), Jiangu granule (J), and model group (M). Bilateral ovaries were surgically removed from the rats in the J and M groups. After 6 and 12 weeks, rats were sacrificed, and femur, tibia, vertebrae, serum, spleen, colon, and feces samples were collected. We detected the strength of bones, gut microbiota structure, and SCFAs in feces, the Treg and Th17 cell levels in the spleen, and cytokine levels in the serum.
Result:
Jiangu granule restored the abundance of gut microbiota, increased the content of SCFAs, reduced the permeability of colon epithelium, increased the proportion of Treg cells in the spleen, changed the osteoimmunomodulation-related cytokines, effectively prevented bone loss, and enhanced bone strength.
Conclusion:
Jiangu granule can effectively improve bone loss in OVX rats, possibly by regulating the "GM-SCFAs-Treg/Th17″ axis.
Insights
Jiangu granule improves bone loss in osteoporosis models by regulating gut microbiota and immune cells. This traditional Chinese medicine enhances bone strength via the gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids-Treg/Th17 axis.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine and bone biology
- Gut microbiome and immunology
- Pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine
Background:
- Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is characterized by decreased bone strength, with limited effective treatments.
- Traditional Chinese medicine, like Jiangu granule, shows promise in delaying bone loss.
- The precise mechanism of Jiangu granule in treating PMOP is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism by which Jiangu granule ameliorates bone loss in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model.
- To investigate the role of the gut microbiota (GM)-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-Treg/Th17 axis in Jiangu granule's effects.
Main Methods:
- OVX rats were treated with Jiangu granule or sham-operated.
- Bone strength, gut microbiota structure, fecal SCFAs, splenic Treg/Th17 cell levels, and serum cytokines were analyzed.
- Samples were collected at 6 and 12 weeks post-surgery.
Main Results:
- Jiangu granule treatment restored gut microbiota abundance and increased SCFAs.
- It reduced colon permeability, enhanced Treg cell proportion, and modulated osteoimmunomodulation cytokines.
- Significant improvements in bone loss prevention and bone strength were observed.
Conclusions:
- Jiangu granule effectively improves bone loss in OVX rats.
- The therapeutic effect is potentially mediated by the regulation of the GM-SCFAs-Treg/Th17 axis.
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