溃疡性结肠炎（UC）已被世界卫生组织列为现代难治病之一，防治本病具有非常重要的意义。免疫调节紊乱已被确定为UC发病的主导因素，而炎症介质的过量释放是导致免疫调节紊乱的关键环节，NOD样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）炎症体相关信号通路对炎症介质又起着重要的调控作用。项目组最新研究发现，白芍七物颗粒能抑制UC大鼠NLRP3炎症体相关信号通路各组分的基因及蛋白表达从而起到治疗UC的作用。在前期研究的基础上，本项目采用专利方白芍七物颗粒，以UC大鼠作为受试对象，运用荧光定量逆转录-聚合酶链反应、蛋白质印迹、酶联免疫吸附测定和鲁米诺化学发光法等多种生物技术手段，通过多阶段实验，逐层深入观察白芍七物颗粒对UC大鼠NLRP3炎症体的上游激活通路P2X7受体、CTSB和ROS的影响以及对NLRP3基因敲除UC大鼠的影响，阐明白芍七物颗粒调节UC免疫紊乱的机制，为UC发病机制与防治思路的研究提供了新的策略。

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been recognized as one of refractory diseases by World Health Organization and the prevention and treatment of UC is significant. Immune dysfunction has been demonstrated to be the leading cause of UC pathogenesis. The excessive release of inflammatory mediators is the key process leading to immune dysfunction. The activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome related signal pathway plays an crucial role in the regulation of the inflammatory mediators. Our recent study found that BAISHAOQIWU granules exhibits considerable curative effects on UC through inhibiting the gene and protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and related signal pathways. This project will elucidate the mechanism of BAISHAOQIWU granules in regulating the immune function in UC animal models using a patent prescription. Briefly, the influences of BAISHAOQIWU granules on NLRP3 inflammasome's upstream activation molecules, such as P2X7 receptor, CTSB and ROS, will be investigated in both the NLRP3-knockout and wild-type rats using the immunohistochemical staining, Western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR. This study will provide a new strategy for the pathogenesis study and prevention of UC.