柠檬苦素对葡聚糖硫酸钠诱导的小鼠结肠炎的治疗作用及机制

探讨柠檬苦素(limonin)对葡聚糖硫酸钠(dextran sulfate sodium salt,DSS)致实验性小鼠溃疡性结肠炎(ulcerative colitis,UC)模型的治疗作用及其机制。将20只8周龄雌性C57BL/6J小鼠,随机分为正常对照组、模型组、柠檬苦素组和5-氨基水杨酸组,每组5只。正常的小鼠每日给予蒸馏水饮用,其余各组小鼠给予30 g/L DSS连续饮用7 d后,继续饮用正常水3 d,诱导小鼠急性UC模型。药物治疗组小鼠分别灌胃给予柠檬苦素和5-氨基水杨酸的剂量为50和50 mg/(kg·d),每日1次,连续灌胃治疗10 d。实验终点时,分析实验动物的体质量变化、结肠长度、结肠组织病理学变化及细胞核转录因子kappa B (NF-κB)的蛋白表达。结果发现:与模型组比较,柠檬苦素可显著改善DSS诱导的小鼠急性结肠炎症状,包括体质量降低、结肠长度缩短、稀便和血便等,减轻小鼠急性结肠炎结肠组织的病理损伤,抑制炎症细胞的浸润和肠黏膜坏死。此外,柠檬苦素亦可以降低结肠炎小鼠结肠组织细胞核内NF-κB p65蛋白表达,抑制NF-κB p65的激活。柠檬苦素通过抑制NF-κB p65的激活,缓解DSS诱导的小鼠结肠炎症,发挥治疗作用。     

口服活性AdipoRon对2型糖尿病小鼠肝脏氧化应激的干预作用

目的：研究口服活性AdipoRon对2型糖尿病小鼠肝脏氧化应激是否有干预作用,为临床应用提供基础资料。方法：将健康雄性C57BL/6小鼠分为正常组（n=8）,糖尿病组（n=8）,AdipoRon高剂量治疗组（n=8）,Adi-poRon低剂量治疗组（n=8）,以高脂饲料喂养6周后腹腔注射40 mg/kg链脲佐菌素（STZ）诱导2型糖尿病模型,用高、低剂量的口服活性AdipoRon分别对治疗组灌胃治疗10 d后,检测相关生化指标,Western-blot法检测肝脏组织中IRS-1蛋白的表达;实时荧光定量PCR检测胰腺组织中PDX-1 mRNA的表达。结果：DM组小鼠血糖值明显高于NC组（P < 0.05）,DM+L组和DM+H组小鼠血糖值显著低于DM组。DM组小鼠肝脏组织中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性显著低于NC组（P < 0.05）,丙二醛（MDA）及一氧化氮合酶（NOS）活性显著高于NC组（P <0.05）;DM+L组和DM+H组SOD、CAT活性明显高于DM组（P < 0.05）,MDA及NOS活性显著低于DM组（P <0.05）。肝脏组织中IRS-1的蛋白表达及胰腺PDX-1 mRNA表达显著升高,存在统计学意义（P < 0.05）。结论：口服活性AdipoRon对糖尿病小鼠肝脏组织氧化应激有一定的干预作用,能降低小鼠的血糖水平。     

吲哚丙酸对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道巨噬细胞及肠道菌群的调节作用CSCD

目的 研究吲哚丙酸(IPA)对溃疡性结肠炎(UC)小鼠肠道巨噬细胞和肠道菌群的调节作用。方法 将SPF级6~8周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠按随机数表法分为对照组、葡聚糖硫酸钠组(DSS模型组,饮用3%DSS7 d)及IPA组(在DSS给药前2 d行IPA灌胃),每组12只。每日观察小鼠体质量变化;DSS给药第7天处死小鼠,测量结肠长度及评定病理学评分,采用流式细胞术检测肠道巨噬细胞M1/M2比例,并用16S r RNA基因测序技术检测肠道菌群的变化。结果 与对照组比较,DSS模型组小鼠体质量显著下降,结肠组织病理学评分、肠道巨噬细胞M1/M2比值显著升高,结肠长度显著缩短(均P<0.05);与DSS模型组比较,IPA组小鼠体质量下降程度降低,结肠长度增加,结肠组织病理学评分、肠道巨噬细胞M1/M2比值均降低(均P<0.05);增加了肠道菌群丰度及多样性,显著增加了普雷沃菌属丰度,减少了拟杆菌属和肠球菌属的丰度。结论 IPA可以通过调节肠道巨噬细胞M1/M2的比例和增加肠道菌群多样性缓解UC小鼠的症状。     

CD11b在小鼠急性结肠炎模型中的表达及鼠李糖乳杆菌的调节作用

目的研究CD11b在炎症性肠病模型小鼠结肠组织中的表达及定位,探讨鼠李糖乳杆菌(LGG)对CD11b的调节作用。方法将28只SPF级小鼠随机分为3组:Ctrl组8只、DSS组10只、DSS+LGG组10只,给予3%DSS自由饮用建立急性结肠炎模型,DSS+LGG组小鼠提前1周管饲LGG共14 d;模型建立期间观察小鼠一般状态变化、粪便性状改变并记录每日体质量;于DSS饮用第8天处死小鼠留取腹主动脉血液及结肠标本,检测外周血荧光素异硫氰酸酯-葡聚糖(FITC-dextran)浓度以评估肠道通透性,光镜下观察结肠病理变化,并通过免疫组化染色及Western Blot明确CD11b表达情况。结果 DSS组小鼠较Ctrl组体质量下降及便血情况明显,疾病活动指数(DAI)明显升高;DSS+LGG组小鼠症状缓解,与DSS组相比体质量下降不明显(t=3.894,P=0.001 3),DAI评分明显下降(t=2.390,P=0.029 5),外周血FITC-dextran浓度下降(t=2.406,P=0.028 6),光镜下结肠组织病理评分明显下降(t=3.450,P=0.003 3);应用免疫组化染色发现CD11b在正常结肠组织中几乎不表达,DSS模型中表达在黏膜下中性粒细胞聚集处,受损的黏膜表层也有少量表达;DSS+LGG组阳性表达细胞较少;应用Western Blot半定量检测发现LGG干预后CD11b表达减少(t=3.039,P=0.012 5)。结论 CD11b在急性结肠炎小鼠结肠组织中表达明显增加,LGG干预可降低小鼠疾病活动度,改善肠通透性,抑制结肠组织CD11b的表达,说明LGG可能通过抑制中性粒细胞产生趋化因子来发挥炎症抑制作用。     

AdipoRon对2型糖尿病小鼠肾脏损伤的干预作用

目的：研究脂联素受体激动剂（AdipoRon）对2型糖尿病小鼠肾脏损伤的干预作用。方法：将40只SPF级雄性C57/BL6小鼠随机分为正常对照组（n=10）和实验组（n=30）：实验组给予高糖、高脂饲料喂养,联合腹腔注射小剂量链脲佐菌素（STZ）建立2型糖尿病（T2DM）小鼠模型,再随机分为3组（n=10）：模型对照（DM）组、低剂量AdipoRon治疗（DM+L）组及高剂量AdipoRon治疗（DM+H）组。检测血清中葡萄糖含量的变化;采用酶联免疫法检测小鼠血清中胰岛素受体（INSR）、胰岛素受体底物-1（IRS-1）以及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的蛋白质含量;HE染色镜下观察肾组织形态学变化;实时荧光定量PCR法检测肾组织胰岛素促进因子-1（PDX-1）和胰岛素（insulin）mRNA的表达;Western blot检测肾组织内磷酸化胰岛素受体底物-1（p-IRS-1）蛋白质;ELISA试剂盒检测小鼠血胰岛素含量。结果：病理学检查表明,AdipoRon可减轻2型糖尿病所致小鼠肾脏损伤。与DM组小鼠比较,DM+H组和DM+L组小鼠血糖、TNF-α水平均显著降低（P<0.05）,INSR、IRS-1和p-IRS-1表达显著上升,PDX-1和insulin mRNA表达显著上升（P<0.05,P<0.01）。结论：给予AdipoRon治疗的小鼠血糖和血清TNF-α水平显著降低,INSR,IRS-1和p-IRS-1蛋白质含量,PDX-1和insulin mRNA表达均显著上升,表明AdipoRon对2型糖尿病小鼠肾脏损伤有一定的干预作用。     

不同浓度葡聚糖硫酸钠对小鼠炎症性肠病模型建立及其致病相关免疫因子表达的影响

目的探讨饮用不同浓度的葡聚糖硫酸钠(dextran sulfate sodium,DSS)对于建立小鼠炎症性肠病(inflammatory bowel disease,IBD)模型及其致病相关免疫因子表达的影响。方法雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为对照组和不同浓度的DSS饮用组(3%、5%、7%)。观察小鼠的大便性状,体重和生存时间。饮用后的第6天处死各组小鼠,观察结肠大体形态并评分;取病变处进行石蜡包埋病理切片,苏木素伊红染色并进行病理组织学评分;定量PCR检测各组脾细胞免疫因子表达情况。结果饮用3%、5%、7%浓度DSS的小鼠在第6天均有不同程度溃疡形成,成模率随着DSS浓度提升而增加,但是小鼠死亡率也相应增加。定量PCR结果表明促炎因子(TNF-α、IFN-γ和IL-17A)的表达水平与DSS浓度成正相关,而抑炎因子(IL-4和IL-10)以及调节性T细胞相关的转录因子Foxp3的表达水平与DSS浓度成负相关关系。结论给予小鼠5%浓度的DSS溶液饮用有助于高效经济地建立小鼠IBD模型,为进一步研究IBD的发病机理、生物学特性、干预因素等打下了重要基础。     

Pim-1在炎症性肠病小鼠结肠组织中的表达研究

目的:观察Pim-1在炎症性肠病发病过程中的动态表达,并观察其与炎症程度的相关性.方法:BALB/c小鼠饮用5％葡聚糖硫酸钠溶液建立急性炎症性肠病模型,分别在第0、1、4、7天取结肠标本,利用real time PCR、免疫组化动态观察Pim-1表达,分析Pim-l的表达和疾病活动指数、组织学炎症评分的相关性.结果:饮用5％葡聚糖硫酸钠7天后成功建立小鼠急性炎症性肠病动物模型;Real time PCR、免疫组化结果显示在饮用5％DSS第4、7天后Pim-1表达较正常组及第1天均明显升高,P＜0.05,而且Pim-1蛋白主要在淋巴细胞、中性粒细胞等炎症细胞表达;Pearson相关分析表明,结肠组织中Pim-1蛋白与疾病活动指数呈正相关(R=0.868,P＜0.01),与组织病理学评分亦呈正相关(R=0.851,P＜0.01).结论:在炎症性肠病起病过程中Pim-1的表达与肠道炎症程度呈正相关,提示Pim-1信号参与肠道炎症反应.     

scFv17改善12月龄三转基因小鼠步态的作用

目的：观察PS1M146V/APPswe/tauP301L三转基因阿尔茨海默病（AD）（3xTg-AD）模型小鼠的步态改变以及探究scFv17对其的改善作用。方法：本实验首先选用6月龄3xTg-AD小鼠（n=18）和C57BL/6野生型（WT）小鼠（n=24）,观察记录它们的步态行为,在12月龄时发现3xTg-AD小鼠的步态严重受损后,将上述两种小鼠随机分为野生型对照组（WT+PBS）（n=12）、野生型给药组（WT+scFv17）（n=12）、3xTg-AD对照组（3xTg-AD+PBS）（n=9）以及3xTg-AD小鼠给药组（3xTg-AD+scFv17）（n=9）四组。采用鼻饲方法,每次给予每只小鼠20 μl的scFv17（1.5 mg/kg）或者等体积的PBS （0.01 mol/L）,每周两次,连续给药12周后进行步态行为测试及小脑病理学检测。结果：与同月龄野生型小鼠比较,12月龄3xTg-AD小鼠后爪步幅宽度增大（P<0.01）,摇摆时间百分比减小（P< 0.01）,站立时间百分比增大（P<0.01）,运动协调和平衡能力严重受损;scFv17可改善12月龄3xTg-AD小鼠运动协调和平衡能力（P<0.01）,改善3xTg-AD小鼠小脑浦肯野细胞的形态结构,增多3xTg-AD小鼠小脑浦肯野细胞的尼氏小体（P<0.01）,减少3xTg-AD小鼠小脑皮层内淀粉样β蛋白（Aβ）斑块和浦肯野细胞胞内神经原纤维缠结（NFT）（P<0.01）。结论：3xTg-AD小鼠在12月龄时的运动协调和平衡能力明显受损,给予scFv17可明显改善12月龄3xTg-AD小鼠的步态紊乱,其作用机制可能与改善小脑浦肯野细胞结构与蛋白功能,减少Aβ斑块和NFT有关。     

中药缓溃乐对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠HPA轴和5-HT信号通路相关分子的影响

目的：探讨中药缓溃乐（HKL）对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴以及5-羟色胺（5-HT）信号通路相关关键分子的影响。方法：C57BL/6小鼠（38只）随机分成HKL干预组（HKL组）、5-氨基水杨酸干预组（5-ASA组）、溃疡性结肠炎模型组（UC组）和正常组。前三组小鼠用2%葡聚糖硫酸钠（Dextran sodium sulfate,DSS）干预7天,构建小鼠UC模型,同时分别用HKL、5-ASA和蒸馏水灌胃干预14天。每天观察动物一般状态、粪便性状。在干预结束后采集血清和结肠组织,采用HE染色法评价各组小鼠结肠组织完整性、损伤或愈合程度。酶联免疫吸附法测定血清中促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）、促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、皮质醇（CORT）、5-羟色胺(5-HT)、犬尿氨酸（KYN）和色氨酸（TRP）的含量;RT-qPCR法检测结肠组织中5-羟色胺转运蛋白（SERT）和色氨酸羟化酶I(TPH1)的m RNA水平。结果：HKL和5-ASA组小鼠结肠组织损伤部分恢复。UC小鼠血清ACTH、KYN、TRP和5-HT含量显著高于正常组（P<0.05或P<0.01）,而...     

溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道通透性改变与TNF-α及NF-κB P65的关系

目的：采用2.5%葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）定量灌胃诱导小鼠溃疡性结肠炎（UC）,观察小鼠结肠通透性改变与肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）及NF-κB p65的关系。方法：48只ICR小鼠随机分为2组（n=24）：对照组和模型组。模型组小鼠给予2.5% DSS定量灌胃诱发小鼠急性UC,对照组小鼠予同体积的蒸馏水灌胃代替。记录两组小鼠疾病活动指数（DAI）,9 d后测定两组小鼠结肠组织病理学评分、结肠通透性、TNF-α及NF-κB p65。统计分析DAI、结肠通透性、TNF-α与NF-κB p65之间的相关性。结果：与对照组比较,模型组小鼠DAI、结肠病理学评分、结肠通透性、TNF-α、NF-κB p65均显著增高（P均<0.01）。小鼠DAI增高与结肠通透性密切相关（P均<0.01）,结肠通透性增高与TNF-α、NF-κB p65密切相关（P均<0.01）。结论：与对照组小鼠相比,DSS造模小鼠的结肠通透性显著增高,并与TNF-α、NF-κB p65增高呈正相关。TNF-α、NF-κB p65增高导致结肠通透性增高,进而导致炎症免疫反应过度增强,可能是UC发病的重要环节。     

Pretreatment with alanyl-glutamine suppresses T-helper-cell-associated cytokine expression and reduces inflammatory responses in mice with acute DSS-induced colitis

T-helper (Th) cells play a major role in initiating and shaping the pathologic response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Glutamine (GLN) is a nutrient with immune-modulating effects. This study investigated the effect of GLN on cytokine expressions and inflammatory responses of three subsets of Th cells in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD. There were one normal control (NC) and two DSS groups. Mice in the DSS groups drank distilled water containing 3% DSS for 5 days, whereas the NC group received distilled water. Mice in the G-DSS group were given intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 g GLN/kg/d for 3 days before receiving DSS water. The other DSS group (C-DSS) received an identical amount of amino acid solution without GLN. After induction of IBD, the mice were allowed to recover for 3 days and then were sacrificed. Blood and colon samples were collected for further analysis. The C-DSS group had higher percentages of blood interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, IL-4 and interferon-γ than the NC group. The G-DSS group had lower Th1/Th17/Th2 cytokine expressions, which showed no differences from the NC group. Plasma haptoglobin, colon immunoglobin G and chemokine levels and myeloperoxidase activities were higher in the DSS groups than the NC group. These parameters were significantly lower in the G-DSS than the C-DSS group. These results suggest that pretreatment with GLN suppressed Th-associated cytokine expressions and may consequently reduce inflammatory mediator production and leukocyte infiltration into tissues, thus ameliorating the severity of acute DSS-induced colitis.     

Westernized high-fat diet accelerates weight loss in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice,which is further aggravated by supplementation of heme

The Western diet, rich in fat and red meat, predisposes for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, little is known about mechanisms involved. Red meat contains high levels of heme, a well-known inducer of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Pharmacological induction of HO-1 ameliorates experimental colitis. We analyzed the effect of a westernized high-fat (HF) diet supplemented with heme on intestinal HO-1 expression and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.Mice were fed chow or HF diets for 2 weeks. In the second week, the HF diet was supplemented with or without 0.5 μmol/g heme. Subsequently, the 3 diet groups were given drinking water with or without 4% DSS to induce colitis.Significant body weight reduction was first observed after 4 days in the chow/DSS mice (?5±3%), whereas this was evident already after 2 days (?6±2%) in HF/DSS mice, showing increased weight loss compared to chow/DSS mice in the following days. Heme supplementation further aggravated DSS-induced weight loss in HF mice (?18±4% vs. ?7±5% for HF+heme/DSS vs. HF/DSS, P<.01). Heme increased HO-1 expression in the colon epithelium but decreased villin messenger RNA levels, indicating epithelial damage. In contrast, heme did not affect DSS-induced colon shortening and histological scores of epithelial damage and inflammation.A westernized diet accelerates DSS-induced weight loss in mice, which is further aggravated by heme, despite the induction of HO-1 in the colon epithelium. Our data warrant a detailed analysis of the association of (red) meat-containing diets and the development of IBD.     

Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitor C75 Ameliorates Experimental Colitis

Abnormalities of lipid metabolism through overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), which catalyzes the formation of long-chain fatty acids, are associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). C75 is a synthetic α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone compound that inhibits FASN activity. We hypothesized that C75 treatment could effectively reduce the severity of experimental colitis. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed 4% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) for 7 d. C75 (5 mg/kg body weight) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (vehicle) was administered intraperitoneally from d 2 to 6. Clinical parameters were monitored daily. Mice were euthanized on d 8 for histological evaluation and measurements of colon length, chemokine, cytokine and inflammatory mediator expression. C75 significantly reduced body weight loss from 23% to 15% on d 8, compared with the vehicle group. The fecal bleeding, diarrhea and colon histological damage scores in the C75-treated group were significantly lower than scores in the vehicle animals. Colon shortening was significantly improved after C75 treatment. C75 protected colon tissues from DSS-induced apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3 activity. Macrophage inflammatory protein 2, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, myeloperoxidase activity and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-6) in the colon were significantly downregulated in the C75-treated group, compared with the vehicle group. Treatment with C75 in colitis mice inhibited the elevation of FASN, cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression as well as IκB degradation in colon tissues. C75 administration alleviates the severity of colon damage and inhibits the activation of inflammatory pathways in DSS-induced colitis. Thus, inhibition of FASN may represent an attractive therapeutic potential for treating IBD.     

Novel role of the vitamin D receptor in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier

Emerging evidence supports a pathological link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To explore the mechanism we used the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model to investigate the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mucosal barrier homeostasis. While VDR(+/+) mice were mostly resistant to 2.5% DSS, VDR(-/-) mice developed severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and marked body weight loss, leading to death in 2 wk. Histological examination revealed extensive ulceration and impaired wound healing in the colonic epithelium of DSS-treated VDR(-/-) mice. Severe ulceration in VDR(-/-) mice was preceded by a greater loss of intestinal transepithelial electric resistance (TER) compared with VDR(+/+) mice. Confocal and electron microscopy (EM) revealed severe disruption in epithelial junctions in VDR(-/-) mice after 3-day DSS treatment. Therefore, VDR(-/-) mice were much more susceptible to DSS-induced mucosal injury than VDR(+/+) mice. In cell cultures, 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] markedly enhanced tight junctions formed by Caco-2 monolayers by increasing junction protein expression and TER and preserved the structural integrity of tight junctions in the presence of DSS. VDR knockdown with small interfering (si)RNA reduced the junction proteins and TER in Caco-2 monolayers. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) can also stimulate epithelial cell migration in vitro. These observations suggest that VDR plays a critical role in mucosal barrier homeostasis by preserving the integrity of junction complexes and the healing capacity of the colonic epithelium. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency may compromise the mucosal barrier, leading to increased susceptibility to mucosal damage and increased risk of IBD.     

Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 does not promote DSS-induced acute colitis

Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in mice leads to chronic inflammation of the skin and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis, while also increasing plasma inflammatory markers. A recent report suggested that SCD1 deficiency also increases disease severity in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease, induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). However, SCD1-deficient mice are known to consume increased amounts of water, which would also be expected to increase the intake of DSS-treated water. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SCD1 deficiency on DSS-induced acute colitis with DSS dosing adjusted to account for genotype differences in fluid consumption. Wild-type controls were treated with 3.5% DSS for 5 days to induce moderately severe colitis, while the concentration of DSS given to SCD1-deficient mice was lowered to 2.5% to control for increased fluid consumption. Colonic inflammation was assessed by clinical and histological scoring. Although SCD1-deficient mice consumed a total intake of DSS that was greater than that of wild-type controls, colonic inflammation, colon length and fecal blood were not altered by SCD1-deficiency in DSS-induced colitis, while diarrhea and total weight loss were modestly improved. Despite SCD1 deficiency leading to chronic inflammation of the skin and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis, it does not accelerate inflammation in the DSS-induced model of acute colitis when DSS intake is controlled. These observations suggest that SCD1 deficiency does not play a significant role in colonic inflammation in this model.     

Effects of germinated barley foodstuff on microflora and short chain fatty acid production in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats

Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) administration has been previously reported to suppress dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. In this study, we investigated the roles of the intestinal microflora and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) following administration of GBF in DSS-induced rat colitis. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 3% (w/w of diet) DSS in GBF-diets for 5 days. The control rats were fed 3% DSS in cellulose-diets for 5 days. The administration of GBF effectively prevented bloody diarrhea and mucosal damage as compared to control rats. GBF significantly elevated fecal acetic acid and n-butyric acid levels. GBF tended to increase the number of eubacteria and that of bifidobacteria as compared to control rats. In addition, the number of enterobacteriaceae, the total number of aerobes and bacteroidaseae, were significantly lower in rats fed GBF than in the control group. It is suggested that the therapeutic effects of GBF for DSS-induced colitis depend mainly on increased SCFAs, which are accompanied by changes of composition of intestinal bacteria.     

Inhibition of myeloid differentiation 1 specifically in colon with antisense oligonucleotide exacerbates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis

Myeloid differentiation 1 (MD-1), also known as lymphocyte antigen 86 (Ly86), is a soluble protein homologous to MD-2 and forms a complex with radioprotective 105 (RP105). RP105/MD-1 complex negatively regulates toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling and is involved in several immune disorders. However, the precise role of MD-1 in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) remains poorly understood. To further investigate the involvement of MD-1 in IBD, we inhibited MD-1 in colon with antisense oligonucleotide (AS-ODN) and assessed the effect of MD-1 inhibition on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. We discovered that MD-1 protein expression was remarkably decreased in both patients with ulcerative colitis and mice with DSS-induced colitis. For the first time, we showed that oral administration of MD-1 AS-ODN to mice significantly suppressed the MD-1 protein levels in colon rather than systemic tissues. Subsequently, we found that MD-1 AS-ODN treated mice were more susceptible to DSS-induced colitis based on loss of body weight, colon length, histological scores, and disease activity index. MD-1 inhibition also significantly enhanced inflammatory cytokines production such as IL-6 and IL-1β in colons. Finally, mice treated with MD-1 AS-ODN exhibited increased messenger RNA levels of TLR4 and MyD88 after DSS exposure and showed enhanced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation compared with the control. Taken together, specifically suppression of MD-1 in colon tissues with AS-ODN exacerbates DSS-induced experimental colitis in mice, which is possibly related to activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling.     

Methyl deficient diet aggravates experimental colitis in rats

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) result from complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Low blood levels of vitamin B12 and folate and genetic variants of related target enzymes are associated with IBD risk, in population studies. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we evaluated the effects of a methyl-deficient diet (MDD, folate, vitamin B12 and choline) in an experimental model of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS), in rat pups from dams subjected to the MDD during gestation and lactation. Four groups were considered (n = 12-16 per group): C DSS(-) (control/DSS(-)), D DSS(-) (deficient/DSS(-)), C DSS(+) (control/DSS(+)) and D DSS(+) (deficient/DSS(+)). Changes in apoptosis, oxidant stress and pro-inflammatory pathways were studied within colonic mucosa. In rat pups, the MDD produced a decreased plasma concentration of vitamin B12 and folate and an increased homocysteine (7.8 ± 0.9 versus 22.6 ± 1.2 μmol/l, P < 0.001). The DSS-induced colitis was dramatically more severe in the D DSS(+) group compared with each other group, with no change in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity, but decreased expression of caspase-3 and Bax, and increased Bcl-2 levels. The mRNA levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and protein levels of p38, cytosolic phospolipase A2 and cyclooxygenase 2 were significantly increased in the D DSS(+) pups and were accompanied by a decrease in the protein level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)3, a negative regulator of TNF-α. MDD may cause an overexpression of pro-inflammatory pathways, indicating an aggravating effect of folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency in experimental IBD. These findings suggest paying attention to vitamin B12 and folate deficits, frequently reported in IBD patients.