Mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides in repairing gastric mucosal injuries based on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on gastric mucosal injuries. Following one week of continuous intragastric administration, a gastric mucosal injury model was established using intragastric administration of anhydrous ethanol. The area of gastric ulcer was measured, the contents of interleukin- 6 (IL-6), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TFF-1) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expressions of EGFR, TFF-1, IL-6, Raf-2, MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), MEK2, and ERK1 in the gastric tissue were determined utilizing qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Simultaneously, Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides and anhydrous ethanol were added to the gastric mucosal cells (GES1) cultured in vitro, and the protective effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on cell viability was detected using Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8. The addition of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides markedly improved the gastric epithelial defect, inflammatory cell infiltration, and redness and swelling stemmed from gastric mucosal injuries and greatly reduced the area of gastric ulcer. The inhibition rates of gastric ulcer were 48.12 ± 2.98, 42.95 ± 1.52, and 27.96 ± 2.05% in the high, medium, and low concentration Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide groups, respectively. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could increase the expressions of EGFR and TFF-1 and decrease the expressions of IL-6, Raf-2, MEK1, MEK2, and ERK1. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could reduce the level of inflammatory factors and protect gastric mucosa by inhibiting the expression of MAPK pathway genes and proteins.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides
• gastric mucosal injuries
• gastric ulcers
• MAPK
• inflammatory factors

Highlights

• Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could protect the gastric mucosa.

• Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could reduce the level of inflammatory factors.

• Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides inhibit the expressions of MAPK pathway genes and proteins.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program [NO.2019YFC1712500], Guizhou Science and Technology Cooperation talents NO. [2018] 5766-20; Doctoral Research Initiation Project of Guizhou University of Chinese Medicine NO. [2019] 65; Guizhou Province domestic first-class discipline (traditional Chinese medicine) construction project NO. GNYL [2017] 008; Guizhou Science and Technology Program NO.LH [2016] 7112.