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Effect of berberine on macrophage phenotypes of intestinal polyps using FAP animal models

PIAO Mei-yu1, CAO Hai-long1, HE Na-na1, XU Meng-que1, YAN Fang1, ZHOU Bing2, WANG Bang-mao1   

  1. 1.Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China； 2.Department of Gastroenterology, Tanggu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Binhai， Tianjin 300451, China
  • Online:2015-03-28 Published:2015-03-26
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 81070283,81300272; the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, 20121202110018; Tianjin Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology, 13JCQNJC10600; Science and Technology Project of Tianjin Binhai Health Bureau, 2013BWKL003

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Abstract:

Objective To observe the effect of berberine on the phenotype of macrophages in the intestinal polyp tissue of Apc(Min/+) mice of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) animal model and explore the mechanism of treating FAP. Methods Twenty 4-week-old SPF Apc(Min/+) mice were randomly divided into the control group and berberine group (administrated with berberine of 0.1% in drinking water). Mice were sacrificed after being continuously administrated for 12 weeks. Expressions of macrophage marker F4/80, M1 macrophage marker inducible nitric oxide synthase-2 (iNOS), and M2 macrophage marker macrophage mannose receptor (MR) in the polyp tissue were detected by the immunohistochemistry method. The mRNA expressions of iNOS, MR, and IL-10 were detected by the real-time PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the total number of intestinal polyps of the berberine group was significantly smaller (t=16.727, P=0.001); the expression of F4/80 in stroma of intestinal polyps significantly decreased (t=5.327, P=0.043); the expression of iNOS significantly increased (t=7.335, P=0.004); the expression of MR significantly decreased (t=5.634, P=0.016); the mRNA expression of iNOS significantly increased (t=7.827, P=0.035); and the mRNA expressions of MR and IL-10 significantly decreased (t=6.923, P=0.039; t=8.135, P=0.026). Conclusion Berberine can inhibit the growth of intestinal polyps of Apc(Min/+) mice by altering the phenotype of macrophages in the intestinal polyp tissue.

Key words: berberine, Apc(Min/+) mouse, tumor-associated macrophage, macrophage phenotypes