Bupi Hewei decoction ameliorates 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal dysbiosis in rats through T helper 17/T regulatory cell signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of the Bupi Hewei (BPHW) decoction on diarrhea and intestinal flora disorder induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and investigate the possible mechanism underlying these actions. METHODS:Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, 5-FU, 5-FU + BPHW decoction (10.5 g/kg for 5 consecutive days), and 5-FU + Bacillus licheniformis capsule groups (0.2 g/kg for 5 consecutive days). Animal models were established via the intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU (30 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days). At the end of the treatment period, diarrhea was assessed, and the change of the intestinal flora was examined using 16S rDNA high- throughput sequencing. Interleukin (IL)-17, IL-21, IL-6, IL-10, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt), and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) expression in the jejunum was detected using immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blotting, and enzyme- linked immuno sorbent assay. RESULTS:In this study, the BPHW decoction effectively lowered the diarrhea score, increased the proportions of Bacteroidetes and Prevotellaceae-Alloprevotella species, and reduced the proportions of Proteobacteria, Escherichia-Shigella, Ruminococcaceae NK4A214, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 species in the rat intestine after 5-FU chemotherapy. In addition, the BPHW decoction significantly suppressed the expression of IL-17, IL-21, IL-6, IL-10, RORγt, and Foxp3 in the jejunum. CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that the BPHW decoction can improve the intestinal immune balance and reduce intestinal inflammation by targeting T helper cell/T regulatory cell-associated factors.

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