Network pharmacology and experimental validation reveal Thiamphenicol ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice via inhibition of intestinal senescence and modulation of the NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC), as a prevalent subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the colonic mucosa, impaired intestinal barrier function, and recurrent clinical manifestations such as diarrhea and hematochezia. Recent studies have revealed that cellular senescence plays a pivotal role in UC pathogenesis, wherein senescent cells exacerbate intestinal inflammation through the secretion of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which primarily consists of pro-inflammatory factors. Thiamphenicol (TP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, has exhibited promising anti-inflammatory and senescence-modulating properties beyond its conventional antimicrobial effects.

METHODS

This study aimed to investigate whether TP alleviates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice by mitigating cellular senescence and modulating the NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathway. DSS-induced senescence models in NCM460 cells and DSS-induced murine UC models were established to systematically evaluate the effects of TP on cellular senescence, colonic inflammation, and intestinal barrier function; network pharmacology and in vivo/in vitro experiments were employed to validate its regulatory role in the NF-κB/AMPK pathway.

RESULTS

TP significantly reduced senescent cell accumulation, downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) via NF-κB/AMPK modulation, attenuated DSS-induced colitis, and restored the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1), thereby improving intestinal barrier integrity.

CONCLUSION

TP ameliorates cellular senescence and inflammatory responses through modulation of the NF-κB/AMPK pathway, thereby providing novel insights into and potential therapeutic strategies for UC treatment.