# Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the mechanism by which quercetin inhibits reflux esophagitis in rats

## TL;DR

Quercetin reduces esophageal inflammation in rats with reflux esophagitis by affecting inflammatory factors and bile acid metabolism.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific genes and metabolites involved in quercetin's therapeutic effect on reflux esophagitis.

## Key findings

- Quercetin inhibits IL-1β and IL-6 production in reflux esophagitis rats.
- Metabolites like taurine and taurocholic acid are linked to the condition.
- Quercetin reduces expression of Cd38, Sez6l2, and Nos2 genes.

## Abstract

Quercetin relieved symptoms in rats with reflux esophagitis (RE), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Quercetin attenuated esophageal mucosal inflammation in RE rats by inhibiting the production of the inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, through transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis, we found that metabolites related to bile acid metabolism, such as taurine, taurocholic acid, and nicotinamide, were closely associated with RE in rats. Quercetin reduced the expression of bile acid-related genes such as Cd38, seizure related 6 homolog like 2 (Sez6l2), and nitric oxide synthase 2 (Nos2), which may be characteristic genes and therapeutic targets for RE.