Xifeng Huashi Formula Presents Therapeutic Effect On Diarrhea Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Through Regulating Brain-Gut Axis And Scf/C-Kit Signaling Pathway

Diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disease, which correlated with abnormal brain-gut axis, visceral hypersensitivity, unstable psychology and abnormal motility. In recent years, it was demonstrated that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are involved in the pathogenesis of D-IBS including gastrointestinal hormone, visceral hypersensitivity, gastrointestinal motility and 5-HT system. Therapeutic effect of Xifeng Huashi Formula (XHF) on D-IBS was demonstrated. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, D-IBS rats induced by acetic acid were observed for behavior change. Change of ICC in colon was detected by electron microscope. Besides, the expression levels of brain-gut axis related proteins neuropeptide Y1 (NYP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in colon and hypothalamus were measured using Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. In addition, concentration of SCF/C-KIT signaling pathway related proteins stem cell factor (SCF) and tyrosine kinase receptor (C-KIT) were also evaluated. We explored the mechanism of XHF through brain-gut axis and SCF/C-KIT signaling pathway so as to provide experimental basis for rational drug use and novel therapeutic method against D-IBS in clinical.