Gene expression analysis in NSAID-induced rat small intestinal disease model with the intervention of berberine by the liquid chip technology

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effect and mechanism of berberine on the small intestinal mucosa of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) related small intestinal injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and intervention group. The model group and intervention group were treated with diclofenac (7.5 mg/kg·d, 2/d), a total of 4 days tube feeding, and the intervention group was treated with 50 mg/kg·d intragastric administration of berberine after 2 days. The control group was treated with 7.5 mg/kg·d, 2/d 0.9% saline tube feeding. Then we screened differential expression of colonic mucosal gene by the liquid chip technology. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, macroscopic and histology score of the model group increased significantly (P < 0.05), HTR4, HTR1a, F2RL3, CALCA, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, P2RX3, TPH1, HMOX1, TRPV1, VIP, F2RL1, SLC6A4, TFF2, AQP8 content were significantly increased (P < 0.05), NOS1 content decreased significantly (P < 0.05); Compared with the model group, macroscopic and histology score of the intervention group improved significantly (P < 0.05), and HTR4, F2RL3, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, VIP, AQP8 content were significantly lower (P < 0.05), NOS1 content increased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Berberine has a protective effect on NSAID-associated small intestinal injury, the mechanism may be that berberine decreases the expression of intestinal mucosa HTR4, F2RL3, NPY, CRHR2, IL1b, VIP, AQP8, and increases the expression of NOS1, that to reduce intestinal permeability and protect intestinal mucosal barrier.