Rhein Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis via Nrf2 and MAPK Signaling.

BACKGROUND

Chronic atrophic gastritis is a premalignant lesion with a high risk of developing into gastric cancer. Rhein is a key active ingredient of several traditional Chinese medicines with multiple pharmacological effects. Nevertheless, the role of rhein in chronic atrophic gastritis is unclear.

METHODS

Helicobacter pylori infection was used to establish chronic atrophic gastritis in a mouse model. Murine gastric mucosa treated with saline or rhein was used in experiments. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining were utilized for histopathological observation of murine gastric mucosa. The levels of proinflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and oxidative stress-associated markers were detected by commercially available assay kits. Western blotting was used for measuring the levels of nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like bZIP transcription factor 2, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling-related proteins.

RESULTS

Rhein mitigated the gastric mucosal injury and suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress in H. pylori-infected chronic atrophic gastritis mouse models. Rhein inactivated mitogen-activated protein kinase and activated erythroid 2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 signaling in gastric mucosa of mice with chronic atrophic gastritis.

CONCLUSION

Rhein exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in chronic atrophic gastritis via erythroid 2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.