Confirming the Effects of Qinghuayin against Chronic Atrophic Gastritis and a Preliminary Observation of the Involved Inflammatory Signaling Pathways: An In Vivo Study

Figure 4

The protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, and COX-2 in different groups. (a) Representative images of western-blot analyses. (b) The protein expression of the TLR4 signaling pathway. The protein expression of TLR4 in the model group (M) was significantly higher than those in the other groups. Treatment with low-dose QHY (M + LT) significantly downregulated the enhancement of the protein expression of TLR4 (p < 0.05); in contrast, treatment with high-dose QHY (M + HT) achieved significantly more downregulation (p < 0.001). The difference between the effects of high-dose and-low dose QHY was significant (p < 0.05). (c) The protein expression of the MyD88 signaling pathway. The protein expression of MyD88 in the model group (M) was significantly higher than that of those in the other groups. Treatment with low-dose QHY (M + LT) significantly reduced the enhancement of MyD88 protein expression (p < 0.001); however, treatment with high-dose QHY (M + HT) achieved a more significant reduction (p < 0.001). The difference between the effect of high-dose and low-dose was significant (p < 0.05). (d) The protein expression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The protein expression of NF-κB in the model group (M) was significantly higher than that of those in the other groups. Treatment with low-dose QHY (M + LT) and high-dose QHY (M + HT) caused a significant downregulation in the enhancement of the protein expression of NF-κB (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the effects of high-dose and low-dose treatment. (e) The protein expression of the COX-2 signaling pathway. The protein expression of COX-2 in the model group (M) was significantly higher than those in the other groups. Treatment with low-dose QHY (M + LT) and high-dose QHY (M + HT) significantly downregulated the enhancement COX-2 protein expression (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the effects of high-dose and low-dose treatment. All the values represent mean ± standard deviation (SD); β-actin was used as the internal control. means P < 0.05, means P < 0.01, and means P < 0.001. HT = high-dose QHY treatment, LT = low-dose QHY treatment, and M = model mice without treatment.

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