Androgen receptor modulation: lessons learned from beyond the prostate.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main factor of low back pain (LBP), and Bushen Huoxue prescription (BSHX) can treat the pain caused by IDD. We discussed the potential mechanism of BSHX in improving chronic inflammation caused by IDD, as well as its influence on gut microbiota. We established the rat model of IDD using the annulus fibrosus needle puncture method. Using the Morris water maze test to evaluate the motor function. Analyzing their average swimming speed and total distance, and also measuring the circumference of the right gastrocnemius. ELISA quantified serum levels of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota. BSHX treatment significantly improved the motor function of rats in the IDD model and mitigated the reduction in gastrocnemius circumference, with a better therapeutic effect than the AD group. BSHX and AD intervention effectively reduced the levels of inflammatory factors (NF-κB, TNF-α) in IDD rats and reduced cGMP. BSHX significantly reshaped the composition of the gut microbiota. BSHX can increase Clostridium and Lactobacillus, reduce Prophyromonas, and adjust the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota, thereby restoring the balance of the microbiota. Additionally, cGMP showed a significant negative correlation with Lysinibacillus (p<0.05), while NF-κB and TNF-α showed a significant negative correlation with Porphyromonas (p<0.05), and TNF-α showed a significant positive correlation with Hungatella (p<0.05). BSHX demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect in improving motor function and mitigating the decrease in gastrocnemius circumference. Both BSHX and AD intervention effectively reduced the levels of inflammatory factors (NF-κB, TNF-α) in IDD rats and decreased cGMP. BSHX mitigates IDD by modulating gut microbiota and reducing the secretion of proinflammatory factors.