JiangFuZhiXie pill ameliorates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis mice via modulating intestinal flora and inhibiting IL6/STAT3 signaling to reduce inflammatory response

Background Current treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC) are unsatisfactory. JiangFuZhiXie pill (JFZX) is an in-hospital traditional Chinese medicine widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of UC, with excellent therapeutic effects. Purpose To explore the specific effects and underlying mechanisms of JFZX in the treatment of UC and further search for new therapeutic targets. Methods The UC mice model was established by free access to a 3% dextran sulfate sodium aqueous solution and intervention with JFZX via intragastric administration. Mouse serum was used to detect inflammatory factor levels. Mouse colon tissues were used for pathological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence staining. Mouse colon tissues and intestinal contents were used for transcriptomic analysis and metagenomic testing, respectively. Gene expression was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot. Results The intervention with JFZX significantly increased body weight and colonic tight junctions in UC mice, and decreased disease score, pathological score, and inflammatory level. Metagenomic analysis results showed that JFZX modulates the abundance of key bacterial populations and improves intestinal flora disorders in UC mice. The transcriptomic and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the key pathway regulated by JFZX in the treatment of UC is the IL6/STAT3 pathway. JFZX intervention significantly downregulated the expression of key targets, including Stat3, Il6, Lif, Il10, Il19, and Csf3. Conclusion JFZX has therapeutic effects in UC and effectively inhibits intestinal inflammation. Its mechanism of action involves rebalancing the intestinal flora and inhibiting the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway, thus reducing intestinal inflammation damage.