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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
Paeoniflorin regulates macrophage polarization and protects the intestinal barrier through SOCS1/JAK1/STAT1 pathway
Siyu Liu1, Guijuan Cui1, Tongtong Luo1
1Chinese Medicine Germplasm Resources Innovation and Effective Uses Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
Abstract:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic intestinal inflammatory disease, and its onset is closely related to immune disorders and intestinal barrier defects. Paeoniflorin (PF) is a natural component with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. This study aims to explore whether PF can alleviate UC by regulating macrophage polarization and protecting intestinal barrier homeostasis. The results demonstrated that PF significantly improved colitis in mice induced by DSS, manifested as a reduction in disease activity index score, alleviation of colonic edema, restoration of colonic length, inhibition of spleen enlargement, maintenance of intestinal tissue structure integrity, and protection of intestinal barrier function. In vitro, PF not only inhibited apoptosis following DSS-induced injury, but also upregulated the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1, mucin MUC2, and epithelial adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Moreover, PF could inhibit the polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages to the M1 phenotype and promote their transformation to the M2. Mechanism studies further revealed that PF could inhibit JAK1/STAT1 phosphorylation and upregulate SOCS1 protein expression. In conclusion, this study suggests that PF may exert therapeutic effects on UC by regulating macrophage polarization and enhancing intestinal barrier function through modulation of the JAK1/STAT1/SOCS1 pathway.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...