2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (32): 5091-5096

Skin administration of Wentong Huoxue Cream can relieve inflammation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats

Ye Ting, Li Jing, Xu Lijuan, Ma Li   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wentong Huoxue Cream can improve oxidative stress, reduce blood viscosity, restore microcirculation, relieve diabetic peripheral nerve injury, and inhibit sensory conduction and pain formation, but its regulatory mechanism remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Wentong Huoxue Cream on JNK signaling pathway proteins and inflammatory factors in diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats.
METHODS: A rat model of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was established in adult Wistar rats. Forty diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=8 per group): model group, low-, middle- and high-dose Wentong Huoxue Cream groups (given 2 mL of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 g/mL Wentong Huoxue Cream to the lower limbs of rats, respectively) and Western medicine group (given 2 mL of control cream). Skin treatment in each group was performed twice a day for 28 days. Additionally, six rats were taken as normal group. After the last administration, nerve conduction tests were performed and the expressions of interleukin-6, interleukin-18, tumor necrosis factor α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and myelin basic protein in serum were detected by ELISA. The expression of JNK and P-JNK protein in sciatic ganglia was detected by western blot and the expression of JNK mRNA was determined by RT-PCR.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The velocity of sensory nerve conduction and motor nerve conduction was significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the sensory nerve conduction velocity increased significantly after intervention with different doses of Wentong Huoxue Cream (P < 0.05), especially in the high-dose Wentong Huoxue Cream group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the motor nerve conduction velocity was significantly increased in the high-dose Wentong Huoxue Cream group and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, the serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and myelin basic protein were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the serum level of interleukin-18 was significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-18, tumor necrosis factor α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and myelin basic protein were significantly decreased in all the treatment groups (P < 0.05), especially in the high-dose Wentong Huoxue Cream group and Western medicine group. Compared with the normal group, p-JNK protein and JNK mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, p-JNK protein and JNK mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in the middle- and high-dose Wentong Huoxue Cream groups and Western medicine group (P < 0.05). Therefore, Wentong Huoxue Cream can inhibit the abnormal activation of JNK signal transduction pathway, reduce inflammatory reactions, and protect the peripheral nerve function of diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats.
Key words: Wentong Huoxue Cream, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, rat, JNK signal transduction pathway, inflammatory factor