南方医科大学学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (9): 2196-2205.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.09.18

• • 上一篇    

咖啡酸乙酯通过激活Wnt/β-Catenin通路恢复肠上皮紧密连接缓解小鼠结肠炎

张可妮1(), 张龙涛1, 章雨1, 黄菊2, 李晴晴1, 耿志军2, 胡建国1,2, 李静1,2()   

  1. 1.蚌埠医科大学第一附属医院,检验科,安徽 蚌埠 233004
    2.蚌埠医科大学第一附属医院,炎症相关性疾病基础与转化研究安徽省重点实验室,安徽 蚌埠 233004
  • 收稿日期:2026-01-22 出版日期:2026-09-20 发布日期:2026-09-30
  • 通讯作者: 李静 E-mail:kenizhang0906@163.com;lijingbyfy@bbmu.edu.cn
  • 作者简介:张可妮,在读硕士研究生,E-mail: kenizhang0906@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    安徽省临床医学研究转化专项(202427b10020088);炎症相关性疾病基础与转化研究安徽省重点实验室开放课题(YZ2025B04);炎症相关性疾病基础与转化研究安徽省重点实验室开放课题(YZ2025B03);蚌埠医科大学研究生创新计划项目(Byycx25018)

Ethyl caffeate alleviates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice by restoring intestinal epithelial tight junctions via activating the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway

Keni ZHANG1(), Longtao ZHANG1, Yu ZHANG1, Ju HUANG2, Qingqing LI1, Zhijun GENG2, Jianguo HU1,2, Jing LI1,2()   

  1. 1.Department of Clinical Laboratory
    2.Anhui Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Research on Inflammatory Related Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233004, China
  • Received:2026-01-22 Online:2026-09-20 Published:2026-09-30
  • Contact: Jing LI E-mail:kenizhang0906@163.com;lijingbyfy@bbmu.edu.cn

摘要:

目的 探讨咖啡酸乙酯(EC)调控肠屏障对葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导小鼠结肠炎的作用和机制。 方法 将40只SPF级C57BL/6雄性小鼠随机分为对照组、DSS模型组(DSS)及3个不同剂量的EC干预组(5、10、20 mg/kg),共5组,8只/组。通过自由饮用2.5% DSS构建结肠炎模型,造模同时每日灌胃给予相应剂量EC,持续干预7 d。通过体质量变化、疾病活动指数(DAI)、结肠长度及组织病理学评分结果,系统评估结肠炎表型;免疫荧光检测紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Claudin-1的表达与定位;AB-PAS染色评估杯状细胞数量;ELISA、RT-qPCR及免疫组化检测炎症水平;采用网络药理学预测EC调控的关键信号通路并采用Western blotting和信号通路抑制剂分析其作用机制。 结果 EC(10 mg/kg)可显著缓解DSS诱导的结肠炎症状:与DSS组相比,EC组体质量下降减少,DAI评分降低,结肠长度恢复,结肠组织病理损伤减轻(均P<0.05)。进一步检测发现EC显著下调肠黏膜组织中炎症因子TNF-α、IL-6的mRNA及蛋白表达,降低肠黏膜MPO阳性水平(P<0.05);EC对DSS诱导肠屏障损伤亦有显著的改善作用,不仅可恢复杯状细胞数量,还可上调紧密连接蛋白ZO-1/Claudin-1的表达并恢复其细胞膜定位(P<0.05)。网络药理学筛选出350个EC与炎症性肠病(IBD)的交集基因,KEGG富集分析发现Wnt/β-catenin及紧密连接为EC的核心作用通路。Western blotting检测结果显示,EC可激活DSS诱导的肠上皮细胞中Wnt/β-catenin通路,上调WNT3A及β-catenin表达(P<0.05);采用Wnt通路抑制剂IWR-1干预可阻断EC对紧密连接蛋白及Wnt/β-catenin通路的上调和激活作用。 结论 咖啡酸乙酯通过激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路,促进肠上皮紧密连接蛋白的表达,改善肠黏膜屏障功能并缓解DSS诱导的小鼠结肠炎,为炎症性肠病的天然化合物干预提供新的候选药物及作用靶点。

关键词: 咖啡酸乙酯, 炎症性肠病, Wnt/β-catenin通路, 肠上皮紧密连接, 肠黏膜屏障, 杯状细胞

Abstract:

Objective To observe the effect of ethyl caffeate (EC) on intestinal barrier function in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced murine colitis and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into control group, DSS model group, and 3 EC groups treated with EC at 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg. Mouse models of colitis were established bytreatment with 2.5% DSS for 7 days, and EC treatment was administered daily by gavage. Colitis phenotypes were assessed by changes in body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length and histology. Immunofluorescence staining and PAS staining were used to examine the changes in expressions of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and claudin-1 and goblet cells, respectively. The intestinal levels of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA, RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Network pharmacology combined with Western blotting and Wnt inhibitor (IWR-1) was used to verify the mechanism of EC for ameliorating colitis. Results Treatment with EC at 10 mg/kg significantly alleviated DSS-induced colitis in the mouse models, reduced intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines and MPO levels, increased goblet cell counts, and restored ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions and their membrane localization. Network pharmacology identified Wnt/β‑catenin and tight junction pathways as the core targets of EC, which activated the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway by upregulating WNT3A/β‑catenin, and this effect was blocked by treatment with IWR-1. Conclusion EC ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice by activating Wnt/β‑catenin signaling to restore tight junction protein expressions and localization, thereby improving intestinal barrier function, suggesting the value of EC as a novel candidate for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Key words: Ethyl Caffeate, inflammatory bowel disease, Wnt/β-Catenin pathway, intestinal epithelial tight junctions, intestinal mucosal barrier, goblet cells