Salvia miltiorrhiza inhibits the expressions of transcription factor T-bet (T-bet) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in the experimental colitis in mice

Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) is mainly used for the treatment of coronary heart disease in china and it also represses inflammation, but the mechanism is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SM powder for injection on the expressions of transcription factor T-bet (T-bet) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in the experimental colitis in mice. Mice were grouped and treated with SM powder for injection at the time of colonic instillation of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Expression studies were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and histology studies were performed by hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E). The survival of mice was also monitored. The expressions of TNFα in the colon, T-bet messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and T-bet protein in the spleen decreased in the groups treated with SM powder for injection. The inflamed colonic lesions were relieved and the survival of mice also increased in the treated groups. SM powder for injection repressed the expressions of T-bet and TNFα in the experimental colitis in mice, which could relieve the inflamed colonic lesions and elevate the survival of mice.

Keywords: Salvia miltiorrhiza, T-bet, tumor necrosis factor α, colitis, mice, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis