Enhancement of platelet 12-HETE production in the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during calcium ionophore stimulation.

This study investigates the effect of platelet/neutrophil interactions on eicosanoid production. Human platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were stimulated alone and in combination, with calcium ionophore A23187 and the resulting eicosanoids 12S-hydroxy-(5Z,8Z,10E,14Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), 12S-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT), 5S,12R-dihydroxy-(6Z,8E,10E,14Z)-eicosatetraenoi c acid (LTB4) and 5S-hydroxy-(6E,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) were measured by HPLC. The addition of PMNs to platelet suspensions caused a 104% increase in 12-HETE, a product of 12-lipoxygenase activity, but had only a modest effect on the cyclooxygenase product HHT (increase of 18%). By using PMNs labelled with [14C]arachidonic acid it was shown that the increases in these platelet eicosanoids could be accounted for by translocation of released arachidonic acid from PMNs to platelets and its subsequent metabolism. The observation that 12-lipoxygenase was about five times more efficient than cyclooxygenase at utilising exogenous arachidonic acid during the platelet/PMN interactions was confirmed in experiments in which platelets were stimulated with A23187 in the presence of [14C]arachidonic acid. Stimulations of platelets with thrombin in the presence of PMNs resulted in a decrease in 12-HETE and HHT levels of 40% and 26%, respectively. The presence of platelets caused a small increase in neutrophil LTB4 output but resulted in a decrease in 5-HETE production of 43% during stimulation with A23187. This study demonstrates complex biochemical interactions between platelets and PMNs during eicosanoid production and provides evidence of a mechanism to explain the large enhancement in 12-HETE production.     

Effect of supplementing fava bean (Vicia faba L.) on ulcerative colitis and colonic mucosal DNA content in rats fed a high-sucrose diet

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with high morbidity. Acetic acid-induced damage of colonic mucosa in rats is a commonly used experimental animal model of UC. This research aimed to explore for the first time the ameliorative effect of dietary supplementation with fava bean on the incidence of UC in rats fed with sucrose containing diet. Rats were divided into five groups as follows: G1, control healthy rats; G2, colitic rats; G3, colitic rats fed diets containing 30% sucrose, G4, healthy rats fed diets containing 30% sucrose and G5, colitic rats fed diets containing 30% sucrose supplemented with dried ground fava bean. Colonic injury and inflammation were evaluated through a disturbance of oxidative biomarkers, a significant increase in inflammatory biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines, and histological abnormalities in colonic tissues accompanied by colonic mucosal DNA damage. Colitic rats fed on sucrose containing diet demonstrated additional histological, biochemical, and DNA alterations in colonic mucosa of rats. Dietary supplementation with dried ground fava bean significantly corrected the impaired oxidative and inflammatory biomarker levels and modulated histological features and DNA alterations. Finally, fava bean attenuated the oxidative damage and colonic injury induced by acetic acid, which confirmed its high anti-oxidant and anti-incendiary properties.     

Effect of cyclooxygenase genotype and dietary fish oil on colonic eicosanoids in mice

Dietary ω3 fatty acids can modulate substrate availability for cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases, thus modulating downstream eicosanoid formation. This could be an alternative approach to using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other COX inhibitors for limiting Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis in colon cancer prevention. The aims of this study were to evaluate to what extent COX- and lipoxygenase-derived products could be modulated by dietary fish oil in normal colonic mucosa and to evaluate the role of COX-1 and COX-2 in the formation of these products. Mice (wild-type, COX-1 null or COX-2 null) were fed a diet supplying a broad mixture of fatty acids present in European/American diets, supplemented with either olive oil (oleate control diet) or menhaden (fish) oil ad libitum for 9-11 weeks. Colonic eicosanoid levels were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS), and proliferation was assessed by Ki67 immunohistochemistry. For the dietary alteration of colonic arachidonic acid: eicosapentaenoic ratios resulted in large shifts in formation of COX and lipoxygenase metabolites. COX-1 knockout virtually abolished PGE(2) formation, but interestingly, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (12-HETE) acid and 15-HETE formation was increased. The large changes in eicosanoid profiles were accompanied by relatively small changes in colonic crypt proliferation, but such changes in eicosanoid formation might have greater biological impact upon carcinogen challenge. These results indicate that in normal colon, inhibition of COX-2 would have little effect on reducing PGE(2) levels.     

The stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets by hydrodynamic stresses

Even though shear-induced platelet activation and aggregation have been studied for about 20 years, there remains some controversy concerning the arachidonic acid metabolites formed during stress activation and the role of thromboxane A2 in shear-induced platelet aggregation. In this study, platelets were labelled with [1-14C]arachidonic acid to follow the metabolism of arachidonic acid in stimulated platelets using HPLC and scintillation counting. Platelets activated by thrombin formed principally thromboxane A2, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE). In contrast, for platelets activated by shear--though arachidonic acid metabolism was stimulated--only 12-HETE was formed and essentially no cyclooxygenase metabolites were detected. This indicates that physical forces may initiate a different pathway for eicosanoid metabolism than most commonly used chemical stimuli and perhaps also implies that regulation of the cyclooxygenase activity may be a secondary level of regulation in eicosanoid metabolism.     

Effect of royal jelly on experimental colitis Induced by acetic acid and alteration of mast cell distribution in the colon of rats

This study investigated the effects of royal jelly (RJ) on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Twenty adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into four treatment groups of 5 animals each, including a control group (Group I); Group II was treated orally with RJ (150 mg kg(-1) body weight); Group III had acetic acid-induced colitis; and Group IV had acetic acid-induced colitis treated orally with RJ (150 mg kg(-1) body weight) for 4 weeks. Colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 4% acetic acid; the control group received physiological saline (10 mL kg(-1)). Colon samples were obtained under deep anaesthesia from animals in all groups. Tissues were fixed in 10% formalin neutral buffer solution for 24 h and embedded in paraffin. Six-micrometre-thick sections were stained with Mallory’s triple stain and toluidine blue in 1% aqueous solution at pH 1.0 for 5 min (for Mast Cells). RJ was shown to protect the colonic mucosa against the injurious effect of acetic acid. Colitis (colonic damage) was confirmed histomorphometrically as significant increases in the number of mast cells (MC) and colonic erosions in rats with acetic acid-induced colitis. The RJ treatment significantly decreased the number of MC and reduced the area of colonic erosion in the colon of RJ-treated rats compared with rats with untreated colitis. The results suggest that oral treatment with RJ could be used to treat colitis.     

Fish oil-enriched diet is mucosal protective against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

Products of arachidonic acid metabolism are elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and this elevation is correlated with disease activity. Eicosapentaenoic acid competes with arachidonic acid and alters eicosanoid biosynthesis. In this experiment, the possibility that eicosapentaenoic acid could be used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease was investigated by determining the effect of 6 weeks of a fish oil-supplemented diet, enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid, on colonic and ileal morphology, histology, and in vivo fluid absorption in rats with 4% acetic acid-induced colitis. The results of an eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched diet were compared with results of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched diets. In rats with misoprostol pretreated acetic acid-induced colitis, an eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched diet reversed net colonic fluid secretion to absorption and prevented macroscopic and histologic injury, compared with saturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acid-enriched diets, which did not. The fish oil mucosal protective effect occurred in the presence of a 30-fold enhancement of PGE2 synthesis. In rats with non-misoprostol pretreated acetic acid-induced colitis, an eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched diet returned ileal fluid absorption to control levels, as compared with saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched diets, which did not. In conclusion, a fish oil (eicosapentaenoic acid)-enriched diet, but not a saturated- or a polyunsaturated-enriched diet, protected colonic and ileal net fluid absorption in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease.     

Dietary Resistant Starch Alters the Characteristics of Colonic Mucosa and Exerts a Protective Effect on Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-induced Colitis in Rats

The protective effect of a dietary high-amylose cornstarch (HAS) against trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis was examined in rats. Rats were fed a HAS-free basal diet or, a 15% or 30% HAS supplemented diet for 10 d, and then received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis and fed the respective diets for a further 8 d. HAS ingestion significantly protected colonic injuries as evidenced by lower colonic myeloperoxidase activity. Rats fed the HAS diet showed greater cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production than those fed the basal diet. Further, just before TNBS administration, HAS ingestion dose-dependently increased fecal and cecal mucin contents, and protein and nucleic acid contents in the colonic mucosa. HAS ingestion also reduced colonic permeability. The protective effect of HAS ingestion on TNBS-induced colitis is perhaps exerted through alterations in colonic mucosa, possibly due to cecal SCFA production.     

Dietary resistant starch alters the characteristics of colonic mucosa and exerts a protective effect on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats

The protective effect of a dietary high-amylose cornstarch (HAS) against trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis was examined in rats. Rats were fed a HAS-free basal diet or, a 15% or 30% HAS supplemented diet for 10 d, and then received intracolonic TNBS to induce colitis and fed the respective diets for a further 8 d. HAS ingestion significantly protected colonic injuries as evidenced by lower colonic myeloperoxidase activity. Rats fed the HAS diet showed greater cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production than those fed the basal diet. Further, just before TNBS administration, HAS ingestion dose-dependently increased fecal and cecal mucin contents, and protein and nucleic acid contents in the colonic mucosa. HAS ingestion also reduced colonic permeability. The protective effect of HAS ingestion on TNBS-induced colitis is perhaps exerted through alterations in colonic mucosa, possibly due to cecal SCFA production.     

LED照射对溃疡性结肠炎大鼠结肠粘膜组织的修复作用

研究发光二极管（1ight-emittingdiode,Um）直肠内照射对大鼠实验性溃疡性结肠炎（ulcerative colitis,UC）的抗过氧化损伤以及促进结肠粘膜组织的修复作用。34只大鼠随机分成3组：正常对照组10只、病理模型组12只与病理模型＋LED照射治疗组12只．研究中采用乙酸局部刺激复制大鼠UC模型,其中LED治疗组应用LED结肠内照射,1日1次,共10d。其后观察各组的病理变化,血清过氧化损伤水平。结果显示,LED结肠内照射能够促使实验性溃疡性结肠炎的组织修复;显著降低溃疡性结肠炎大鼠血清MDA水平、升高SOD活性。实验表明LED结肠内照射实验性溃疡性结肠炎大鼠具有抗过氧化损伤作用以及促进结肠粘膜组织的修复作用。     

The effect of adrenalectomy on the aggregation of rat blood platelets and the endogenous formation of thromboxane B2 and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid

Rat platelets were isolated and labelled with [1-14C] arachidonic acid. After aggregation thromboxane B2, 12-hydroxy 5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) were the main metabolites formed. A comparison was made between several properties of the platelets of adrenalectomized and sham operated rats. There was no difference in collagen-induced aggregation. The amount of 12-HETE and the sum of TxB2 and 12-HETE formed from endogenous arachidonic acid after aggregation was higher in the first group.     

The effects of malotilate on hepatic drug metabolizing systems in different strains of rats

1. In Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated for 7 days with malotilate (MAL:250 mg/kg, p.o.), cytochrome P-450 and b5 contents, aminopyrine N-demethylase and heme oxygenase activities were significantly increased. In Wistar rats, cytochrome b5 content and heme oxygenase and delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activities were found to be significantly increased. 2. Among the antipyrine metabolites excreted in urine during the 24 hr after antipyrine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) administration, norantipyrine increased significantly in Sprague-Dawley rats, while a significant increase of 4-hydroxyantipyrine was observed in Wistar rats. 3. The serum dimethadione/trimethadione ratio was only found to be significantly increased in Sprague-Dawley rats. 4. These results indicate that malotilate may have inducible effects on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes, and that it affects the various cytochrome P-450 isozymes from different strains of rat in different ways.     

Esterification of monohydroxyfatty acids into the lipids of a macrophage cell line

Cells of a mouse macrophage-like tumor cell line, J774.2, were incubated with 0.6μM radiolabeled mono- and di-hydroxyfatty acids. Monohydroxyfatty acid products of the neutrophil and platelet lipoxygenase pathways (5-HETE, 15-HETE, and 12-HETE) were rapidly taken up (42–64% of the counts cell associated at 1 min) and esterified into triglycerides and phospholipids. 5-HETE and 12-HETE were found in triglycerides and distributed among phospholipid classes while 50% of added 15-HETE was esterified into phosphatidyl inositol. Treatment of phospholipids from cells incubated with 5-HETE, 12-HETE, and 15-HETE with phospholipase A₂ resulted in release of the respective monohydroxyfatty acid. HHT, a monohydroxyfatty acid product of the cyclooxygenase pathway, was taken up and esterified more slowly than the lipoxygenase products. In addition, HHT was not released when the phospholipids from cells incubated with HHT were treated with phospholipase A₂. LTB₄, a dihydroxyfatty acid product of neutrophil lipoxyegnase, was not taken up by J774.2 cells. The unique patterns of uptake and intracellular distribution of the different monohydroxyfatty acids suggests that the enzymes involved in the esterification of these compounds have substrate specificity and may also relate to the specific biologic effects of the compounds.     

Effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide on cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in rabbit platelets

The effect of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) on the formation of thromboxane (TX) B2, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in washed rabbit platelets was examined. t-BOOH enhanced TXB2 and HHT formation at concentrations of 8 microM and below, and at 50 microM it inhibited the formation, suggesting that platelet cyclooxygenase activity can be enhanced or inhibited by t-BOOH depending on the concentration. t-BOOH inhibited 12-HETE production in a dose-dependent manner. When the platelets were incubated with 12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE) instead of AA, t-BOOH failed to inhibit the conversion of 12-HPETE to 12-HETE, indicating that the inhibition of 12-HETE formation by t-BOOH occurs at the lipoxygenase step. Studies utilizing indomethacin (a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and desferrioxamine (an iron-chelating agent) revealed that the inhibitory effect of t-BOOH on the lipoxygenase is not mediated through the activation of the cyclooxygenase and that this effect of t-BOOH is due to the hydroperoxy moiety. These results suggest that hydroperoxides play an important role in the control of platelet cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities.     

Effects of histamine H1 antagonist dithiaden on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

To assess the possible involvement of mast cells and/or their mediators in inflammatory bowel diseases, the effect of the histamine H1 antagonist Dithiaden was studied on a model of acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Dithiaden pretreatment by intracolonic administration was found to reduce the extent of acute inflammatory colonic injury. This was manifested by a decrease in the score of gross mucosal injury, by lowered colonic wet weight and by diminished myeloperoxidase activity reflecting reduced leukocyte infiltration. Vascular permeability and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, elevated by acetic acid exposure, were decreased after Dithiaden pretreatment. The results indicate that locally administered Dithiaden may protect the colonic mucosa against an acute inflammatory attack by interfering with the action of the major mast cell mediator histamine.     

In vitro effect of trichosanic acid, a major component of Trichosanthes japonica on platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets

The in vitro effect of trichosanic acid (TCA; C18:3, omega-5), a major component of Trichosanthes japonica, on platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in human platelets was studied. TCA dose-dependently suppressed platelet aggregation of platelet rich plasma and washed platelets. TCA decreased collagen (50 micrograms/ml)-stimulated production of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 12-hydroxyhepta-decatrienoic acid (HHT) in a dose-dependent manner, while that of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) was rather enhanced. The conversion of exogenously added [14C]AA to [14C]TXB2 and [14C]HHT in washed platelets was dose-dependently reduced by the addition of TCA, while that to [14C]12-HETE was increased. Similar observations were obtained when linolenic acid (LNA; C18:3, omega-3) was used. These results suggest that TCA may decrease TXA2 formation in platelets, probably due to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase pathway, and thereby reduce platelet aggregation.     

Glomeruli cooperate with macrophages in converting arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids

The interaction of proliferating macrophages with the glomerulus may play an important role in certain forms of glomerulonephritis. This interaction could involve metabolites of arachidonic acid (C20:4) such as prostaglandins (PG) and lipoxygenase products. We therefore investigated the conversion of exogenous |³H| C20:4 into hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and PG by isolated glomeruli and macrophages from rats, alone and in combination. As demonstrated by HPLC, glomeruli converted C20:4 predominantly to lipoxygenase products -mainly 12-HETE- and, to a lesser extent, to PG. Resident macrophages converted C20:4 to equivalent amounts of HETE and PG, mainly 12-HETE and 6 keto-PGF_1α. When macrophages and glomeruli were studied in combination, a striking interaction was detected in both pathways of C20:4 metabolism. Production of 6 keto-PGF_1α was stimulated and considerable amounts of TXB₂, PGD₂ and hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) were also produced Total 12-HETE production was unchanged. When a lipid extract of glomeruli, containing oxygenated metabolites of C20:4, was added to macrophages, stimulation of 12-HETE occurred without any change in HHT or PG formation. When, on the contrary, a lipid extract from macrophages was added to glomeruli, 12-HETE production by the glomeruli was nearly completely abolished. Thus the unchanged total 12-HETE production by coincubated glomeruli and macrophages resulted from its increased production by macrophages and its decreased production by glomeruli. These data suggest that interaction between glomeruli and macrophages results in activation of C20:4 metabolism by macrophages followed by inhibition of C20:4 metabolism by glomeruli. Such a regulatory process could play a role in the inflammatory response to immunological injuries during macrophage-dependent human and experimental glomerulonephritis.     

Indomethacin worsens and a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor accelerates mucosal healing in rat colitis.

The implication of leukotrienes as mediators of inflammation and recent evidence that prostaglandin analogues provide a beneficial effect during experimental colitis led to the speculation that (i) leukotrienes may be injurious and (ii) prostaglandins may be protective to colonic mucosa. Using a 2% acetic acid induced rat colitis model, we administered specific cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) and leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors (MK-886) to examine the effect of endogenous prostaglandins and leukotrienes on colonic macroscopic injury, mucosal inflammation as measured by myeloperoxidase activity, net in vivo intestinal fluid absorption, and colonic PGE2 and LTB4 levels as measured by in vivo rectal dialysis. Indomethacin treatment prior to induction of colitis reduced endogenous mucosal PGE2 levels and exacerbated macroscopic ulceration and net fluid absorption. Addition of the exogenous PGE1 analogue misoprostol to the indomethacin-exacerbated colitis completely healed colonic macroscopic ulceration and inflammation but only partially improved fluid absorptive injury. The specific leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor MK-886 administered prior to induction of colitis healed macroscopic ulceration and inflammation but not fluid absorptive injury. This mucosal reparative effect of MK-886 occurred at a dose that reduced colonic LTB4 synthesis while concomitantly enhancing PGE2 levels. Combining MK-886 with misoprostol treatment improved not only macroscopic ulceration and inflammation but also provided a synergistic effect that maintained net colonic fluid absorption at noncolitic control levels. These studies suggest that, during the induction of experimental colitis, endogenous prostaglandins play a pivotal role in providing a mucosal healing effect, and that leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor may manifest part of its beneficial effect by shifting arachidonic acid metabolism towards production of prostaglandins.     

Effects of stilbene derivatives on arachidonate metabolism in leukocytes

The effects of various alpha-phenylcinnamic acid derivatives (i.e., alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)cinnamic acid, alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxycinnamic acid, alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3, 4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) synthesized from 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid and hydroxy-benzaldehyde, and 3,3',4-trihydroxystilbene obtained by decarboxylation of alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxycinnamic acid on rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocyte lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase activities were studied. 3,3',4-Trihydroxystilbene was found to inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase product, 5-hydroperoxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), and cyclooxygenase products, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and thromboxane B2; its concentrations for 50% inhibition (IC50) were 0.885 +/- 0.016 microM for the leukocyte lipoxygenase product, 5-HETE, 7.70 +/- 0.104 microM for the formations of HHT and 7.96 +/- 0.143 microM for the formation of thromboxane B2. Alpha-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)cinnamic acid, alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxycinnamic acid and alpha-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid also inhibited the formations of 5-HETE, HHT and thromboxane B2, although less strongly. Their IC50 values were, respectively, 91.3 +/- 3.62 microM, 947.5 +/- 28.7 microM, 453.3 +/- 229.3 microM and 148.8 +/- 50.6 microM for the formation of 5-HETE, 894.0 +/- 5.57 microM, 792.5 +/- 15.9 microM, greater than 1000 microM and 925.0 +/- 7.64 microM for the formation of HHT and 941.0 +/- 18.0 microM, 825 +/- 14.4 microM, greater than 1000 microM and 932.7 +/- 3.93 microM for the formation of thromboxane B2.     

Differential effect of external calcium on the oxygenated metabolism of endogenous and exogenous arachidonic acid in platelets

The oxygenation of arachidonic acid into thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic (HHT) and 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic (12-HETE) acids has been examined in human platelets in the absence or presence of 1mM calcium. From endogenous arachidonic acid, external calcium did not affect the formation of cyclo-oxygenase products (TXB2 and HHT) but enhanced that of 12-HETE when thrombin at high concentrations was the agonist. Dose-response curves performed with thrombin and collagen revealed that increased stimulation resulted in higher ratios of 12-HETE/HHT. On the other hand external calcium did not alter significantly the synthesis of either products from exogenous arachidonic acid and the total conversion of the substrate was unchanged. We conclude that extracellular calcium may facilitate the liberation of arachidonic acid from platelet phospholipids when induced by high thrombin concentrations. The excess of arachidonic acid liberated would then be diverted towards the lipoxygenase pathway.     

Zinc L-carnosine protects colonic mucosal injury through induction of heat shock protein 72 and suppression of NF-kappaB activation

In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc L-carnosine, an anti-ulcer drug, on acetic acid-induced colonic mucosal injury and the correlation of these effects with expression of 72-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP72) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in rat colonic mucosa in vivo. After intrarectal administration of zinc L-carnosine, the rats received intrarectal infusion of 5% acetic acid (1 ml). The colonic mucosal damage was evaluated by macroscopic assessments 24 h after the intrarectal infusion of acetic acid. Expression of HSP72 in rat colonic mucosa was evaluated by Western blot analysis before and after zinc L-carnosine administration. NF-kappaB activation was evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Zinc L-carnosine inhibited visible damage in rat colonic mucosa by acetic acid. Expression of HSP72 was significantly increased at 6 h after zinc L-carnosine administration. Furthermore, NF-kappaB activation in colonic mucosa was suppressed 6 h after zinc L-carnosine treatment. These results suggested that zinc L-carnosine protects the colonic mucosa against acetic acid by induction of HSP72 and suppression of NF-kappaB activation and zinc L-carnosine may be a novel therapeutic agent for the therapy of inflammatory bowel disease.