Evaluation of Acetic Acid-Induced Chronic Gastric Ulcer Healing by Propionyl-L-Carnitine Administration

The aim of our study was to investigate the healing effect of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on chronic gastric ulcers and its underlying mechanisms. This study included rats with gastric ulcers induced by applying serosal glacial acetic acid. These rats were then given either saline (vehicle) or PLC at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg, administered orally 3 days after ulcer induction for 14 consecutive days. Our study found that treatment with PLC resulted in a reduction of the gastric ulcer area, a faster rate of ulcer healing, and stimulated mucosal restoration. Additionally, the treatment with PLC reduced the number of Iba-1+ M1 macrophages while increasing the number of galectin-3+ M2 macrophages, as well as desmin+ microvessels, and α-SMA+ myofibroblasts in the gastric ulcer bed. The mRNA expression of COX-2, eNOS, TGF-β1, VEGFA, and EGF in the ulcerated gastric mucosa was greater in the PLC-treated groups compared with the vehicle-treated rats. In conclusion, these findings suggest that PLC treatment may accelerate gastric ulcer healing by stimulating mucosal reconstruction, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and fibroblast proliferation, as well as fibroblast-myofibroblast transition. This process is associated with the upregulation of TGF-β1, VEGFA, and EGF, as well as modulation of the cyclooxygenase/nitric oxide synthase systems.