Effects of Zaozhu Yinchen Decoction on a Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis via Regulation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells.

IF 2.5 Q2 GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY

Hepatic Medicine : Evidence and Research Pub Date : 2026-04-24 eCollection Date: 2026-01-01 DOI:10.2147/HMER.S605761

Wenyang Zhang, Yujie Wang, Yaoyu Liu, Xiaoting Zheng, Tianxiang Wang, Xinyi Kwan, Ruobing Liu, Qi Liu, Hongli Zhuang, Huiqing Liang, Shaodong Chen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Zaozhu Yinchen Decoction (ZZYC) on rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and explore its mechanism of action related to myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).

Methods: A NASH rat model was established by feeding a high-fat diet for 16 weeks, and drug intervention was initiated from the 9th week of modeling, lasting for 8 weeks. The general status of rats was observed. Biochemical methods were used to detect the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the triglyceride (TG) content in liver tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Oil Red O staining were performed to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression level of MDSCs in peripheral blood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the protein expression levels of arginase 1 (ARG-1) and the pro-inflammatory factor S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) in liver tissue.

Results: Compared with the normal group, rats in the model group exhibited typical histological features of NASH. After treatment with ZZYC decoction, hepatocellular steatosis and inflammatory infiltration were significantly alleviated. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed a significant increase in liver weight, serum ALT and AST activities, liver TG and free fatty acid (FFA) content, peripheral blood MDSC level, and the expression of ARG-1 and S100A9 in liver tissue (all P<0.01). These indicators were significantly reduced after ZZYC decoction treatment (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: ZZYC decoction exerts a significant pharmacological effect on improving hepatocellular steatosis, ballooning degeneration, and inflammation in NASH rats. Meanwhile, it can markedly reduce the level of peripheral blood MDSCs and the expression of ARG-1 and S100A9 in liver tissue. These findings suggest that the therapeutic mechanism of ZZYC decoction for NASH is closely associated with the regulation of MDSCs.

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枣竹阴辰汤通过调节髓源性抑制细胞对非酒精性脂肪性肝炎大鼠模型的影响。

目的：观察枣竹阴辰汤（ZZYC）对非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）大鼠的治疗作用，并探讨其与髓源性抑制细胞（MDSCs）相关的作用机制。方法：采用高脂饮食法建立NASH大鼠模型16周，从造模第9周开始进行药物干预，持续8周。观察大鼠一般情况。采用生化法检测血清丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性及肝组织甘油三酯（TG）含量。采用苏木精-伊红（HE）染色和油红O染色观察大鼠肝组织的病理变化。流式细胞术检测外周血中MDSCs的表达水平。采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测大鼠肝组织精氨酸酶1 （ARG-1）和促炎因子S100钙结合蛋白A9 （S100A9）的蛋白表达水平。结果：与正常组比较，模型组大鼠表现出典型的NASH组织学特征。经枳实汤治疗后，肝细胞脂肪变性和炎症浸润均明显减轻。与正常组比较，模型组大鼠肝脏重量、血清ALT和AST活性、肝脏TG和游离脂肪酸（FFA）含量、外周血MDSC水平、肝组织ARG-1和S100A9表达均显著升高（均p）。结论：ZZYC汤对改善NASH大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性、球囊变性和炎症具有显著的药理作用。同时显著降低外周血MDSCs水平及肝组织中ARG-1、S100A9的表达。这些发现提示，ZZYC汤对NASH的治疗机制与调节MDSCs密切相关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Hepatic Medicine : Evidence and Research GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY-

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审稿时长

16 weeks

期刊介绍： Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research is an international, peer-reviewed, open access, online journal. Publishing original research, reports, editorials, reviews and commentaries on all aspects of adult and pediatric hepatology in the clinic and laboratory including the following topics: Pathology, pathophysiology of hepatic disease Investigation and treatment of hepatic disease Pharmacology of drugs used for the treatment of hepatic disease Although the main focus of the journal is to publish research and clinical results in humans; preclinical, animal and in vitro studies will be published where they will shed light on disease processes and potential new therapies. Issues of patient safety and quality of care will also be considered. As of 1st April 2019, Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research will no longer consider meta-analyses for publication.