2. Academic Validation
  3. The modified Zuojin formula (SQQT) associates ILC2-linked JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc cascade and gastric metaplasia regression

The modified Zuojin formula (SQQT) associates ILC2-linked JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc cascade and gastric metaplasia regression

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2026 May 10:362:121345. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2026.121345.
Xuefei Yang 1,  Yuedan Wang 2,  Shan Liu 3,  Haijie Ji 4,  Jiaqi Zhang 5,  Lin Lv 6,  Mengxiong Lu 7,  Ping Wang 8,  Fengyun Wang 9,  Xudong Tang 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China; Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2 Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4 Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Shanxi Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Taiyuan, 030012, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 7 Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 8 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 9 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 10 Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41663001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2026.121345
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The modified Zuojin formula (SQQT) has been clinically prescribed for gastric metaplasia (GM) for several decades in China. The therapeutic efficacy of SQQT and potential mechanisms have been demonstrated in our previous studies. This research will further investigate its mechanism in the immune microenvironment.

Aim of the study: We aimed to determine the influence of SQQT on the ILC2-mediated JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc pathway during GM.

Methods: The mechanism of GM in patients was measured through single-cell RNA Sequencing. The constituents of SQQT have been examined before. The role of SQQT targets JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc pathway was verified by network pharmacology and molecular docking. The model of GM was induced by tamoxifen (5 mg/20 g), CD90.2 protein (200 μg) or SQQT (1.69, 3.38, 6.76 g/kg) was given to treat GM mice. The SQQT mechanism was confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Histological analysis, serum cytokines, and protein levels were assessed.

Results: Single-cell RNA Sequencing analysis indicated that ILC2 increased in the GM patients, the goblet cells in GM were probably transferred from endocrine cells. Compounds in SQQT are related to cell proliferation and can bind to the JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc pathway proteins. The main components of SQQT, can spontaneously bind to the JAK-2 protein in 9 sites. Tamoxifen caused body weight decrease, spleen weight increase, stomach injury, ILC2 increase, and cytokines increase in the GM group. After examining the cytokines, IL-5 was the only one significantly increased in the GM group. CD90.2 and SQQT can alleviate histological changes of the stomach corpus, inflammation cytokines, and Other GM-related indicators. Moreover, cell proliferation and JAK-2 pathway markers were depressed in GM mice. Besides, SQQT protects GES-1 cells from IL-5 injury related to upregulating JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc proteins in 24h, 48h and 72h.

Conclusion: The mechanism of SQQT protected the stomach from metaplasia associated to ILC2 activation and the subsequent cell proliferation through IL-5/JAK-2/STAT5/c-Myc pathway.

Keywords

Cell proliferation; Gastric metaplasia; Herbal medicine; ILC2; Single cell sequencing.

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