2 research outputs found
Global and Targeted Metabolomics Evidence of the Protective Effect of Chinese Patent Medicine <i>Jinkui Shenqi</i> Pill on Adrenal Insufficiency after Acute Glucocorticoid Withdrawal in Rats
Glucocorticoids
are commonly used in anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory
therapies, but glucocorticoid withdrawal can result in life-threatening
risk of adrenal insufficiency. Chinese patented pharmaceutical product <i>Jinkui Shenqi</i> pill (JKSQ) has potent efficacy on clinical
adrenal insufficiency resulting from glucocorticoid withdrawal. However,
the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. We used an animal
model to study JKSQ-induced metabolic changes under adrenal insufficiency
and healthy conditions. Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with
hydrocortisone for 7 days with or without 15 days of JKSQ pretreatment.
Sera were collected after 72 h hydrocortisone withdrawal and used
for global and free fatty acids (FFAs)-targeted metabolomics analyses
using gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultraperformance
liquid chromatography/quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Rats without hydrocortisone treatment were used as controls. JKSQ
pretreatment normalized the significant changes of 13 serum metabolites
in hydrocortisone-withdrawal rats, involving carbohydrates, lipids,
and amino acids. The most prominent effect of JKSQ was on the changes
of FFAs and some [product FFA]/[precursor FFA] ratios, which represent
estimated desaturase and elongase activities. The opposite metabolic
responses of JKSQ in adrenal insufficiency rats and normal rats highlighted
the “<i>Bian Zheng Lun Zhi</i>” (treatment
based on ZHENG differentiation) guideline of TCM and suggested that
altered fatty acid metabolism was associated with adrenal insufficiency
after glucocorticoid withdrawal and the protective effects of JKSQ