Polysaccharides from armillariella tabescens mycelia alleviates 5-fluorouracil-induced chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis via inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway

Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025, 07, v.60 1275-1281+1290     font:big middle small

Fund programs: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81774051);Collaborative Innovation Project of Anhui Province Universities (No. GXXT-2023-078)

Authors:Yuan Mengru; Gui Zhongxuan; Wan Xinru; Zhang Wenna; Chen Yan; Zhang Mei

Keywords:armillariella tabescens mycelia polysaccharides; TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway; chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis; 5-fluorouracil; tight junction protein; intestinal barrier function;

DOI:10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000-1492.2025.07.016

〔Abstract〕 Objective To investigate whether armillariella tabescens polysaccharides (ATPS) alleviates inflamma- tory responses and tissue damage in 5-fluorouracil ( 5-FU ) -induced chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis ( CIM) by inhibiting the TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB signaling pathway.Methods Thirty 8-weeks-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups ( n = 6 per group) : control group,model group ,and ATPS-treated groups (low,medium,high dose : 100,200,400 mg / kg) .Body weight changes were recorded ; Disease activity in- dex (DAI) scores were evaluated ; small intestinal length and histopathology were measured ; HE staining and his- topathological scoring were performed ; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of tight junction pro- teins (ZO-1,Occludin) in the small intestine ; serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit ; Western blot was employed to quantify ZO-1,Occludin,and TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB pathway-related protein TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB p65,IκBα , p-NF-κB p65,p-IκBα protein expression.Results Compared with the control group,mice in the model group exhibited significant reductions in body weight ,elevated DAI scores ,shortened small intestinal length,increased histopathological scores,marked downregulation of ZO-1 and Occludin expression,and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6.Additionally,protein expression levels of TLR4,MyD88,p-NF- κB p65,and p-IκBα were significantly upregulated ( all P <0. 01 ) . In contrast ,mice in ATPS-treated groups showed dose-dependent improvements,attenuated weight loss,reduced DAI scores,restored intestinal length,de- creased histopathological scores,upregulated ZO-1 and Occludin expression,reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels,and downregulated TLR4,MyD88,p-NF-κB p65,and p-IκBα protein expression (all P<0. 01) .Conclusion ATPS alleviates 5-FU-induced CIM by inhibiting the TLR4 /MyD88 /NF-κB signaling pathway.