Muscovite Reverses Gastric Gland Atrophy and Intestinal Metaplasia by Promoting Cell Proliferation in Rats with Atrophic Gastritis

Abstract

Objective: To detect whether muscovite exerts its protective role in the progression of atrophic gastritis (AG) and evaluate the possible mechanism. Methods: AG rats were established and then randomly divided into groups administrated with different doses of muscovite for 8 weeks. Histological changes in gastric antrum and the number of parietal cells, chief cells, and G/D cells were observed. Serum gastrin and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), C-erbB-2, p21, p53, p16 and bcl-2 in gastric tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β secreted by THP-1 cells were detected when incubated with different doses of muscovite. Results: The grade of inflammation in muscovite groups was lower (p < 0.05), while the thickness and number of gastric glands were significantly elevated in muscovite groups (p < 0.01). The expression height of PCNA in the muscovite group was higher than in the AG group (p < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry results showed a positive expression rate of EGFR; p16 in muscovite-treated AG rats was increased (p < 0.05), while C-erbB-2 and p21 were decreased (p < 0.05). Serum gastrin and PGE₂ were significantly elevated in the high-dose muscovite-treated rats (p < 0.05). In vitro studies showed that muscovite had a dose-dependent adsorption of TNF-α and IL-1β. Conclusion: Muscovite could reverse gastric gland atrophy and intestinal metaplasia by promoting cell proliferation and revitalization in gastric mucosa in AG rats.