Jiedu-Yizhi Formula Alleviates Neuroinflammation in AD Rats by Modulating the Gut Microbiota.

BACKGROUND

The Jiedu-Yizhi formula (JDYZF) is a Chinese herbal prescription used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). It was previously confirmed that JDYZF can inhibit the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in the hippocampus of AD rats and inhibit gut inflammation in AD rats. Therefore, it is hypothesized that JDYZF has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota.

METHODS

In this study, an AD rat model was prepared by bilateral hippocampal injection of A and AD rats received high, medium, and low doses of JDYZF orally for 8 weeks. The body weights of the AD rats were observed to assess the effect of JDYZF. The 16S rRNA sequencing technique was used to study the regulation of the gut microbiota by JDYZF in AD rats. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression levels of Caspase-1 and Caspase-11 in the hippocampus.

RESULTS

JDYZF reduced body weight in AD rats, and this effect may be related to JDYZF regulating body-weight-related gut microbes. The 16S rRNA analysis showed that JDYZF increased the diversity of the gut microbiota in AD rats. At the phylum level, JDYZF increased the abundances of and and decreased the abundances of , and . At the genus level, the abundances of , , , , and were increased and the abundances of , , , , , , and were decreased. At the species level, the abundances of , , and were increased and the abundances of and were decreased. Immunohistochemistry showed that JDYZF reduced the levels of Caspase-1- and Caspase-11-positive staining.

CONCLUSION

JDYZF has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota of AD rats, which may represent the basis for the anti-inflammatory effect of JDYZF.