Resolution of Crohn's disease

Oral colon-targeted responsive chitosan/pectin-based nanoparticles propels the application of tofacitinib in colitis therapy

Tofacitinib (Tof), a commercially available pan-Janus kinases inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. However, its clinical application is limited due to dose-dependent systemic side effects. The present study aims to develop an efficient oral colon-targeted drug delivery systems using prebiotic pectin (Pcn) and chitosan (Csn) polysaccharides as a shell, with Tof loaded into a Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) core, and improving it with chondroitin sulfate (Chs), thus constructing Tof@BSA-Chs-CP nanoparticles (NPs). Our results suggest that the pH-sensitive characteristics of the Pcn/Csn shell contribute to its capacity for attenuating absorption and systemic diffusion in the gastrointestinal tract, and exhibiting targeted localization at inflamed colonic sites in mice. Additionally, the gut microbiota-secreted polysaccharide-degrading enzyme acts as the triggering agent for Pcn/Csn shell degradation. In mice colitis models, we demonstrated that oral administration of Tof@BSA-Chs-CP NPs effectively ameliorated colitis and expedited its resolution by modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune regulatory factors. Collectively, our synthetic NPs demonstrate the promising potential of Tof for the therapy of UC.

Research progress of natural plant polysaccharides inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways and regulating intestinal flora and metabolism to protect inflammatory bowel disease

Natural plant polysaccharides are macromolecular substances with a wide range of biological activities. They have a wide range of biological activities, especially play an important role in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The molecular weight of polysaccharides, the composition of monosaccharides and the connection of glycosidic bonds will affect the therapeutic effect on inflammatory bowel disease. Traditional Chinese medicine plant polysaccharides and various types of plant polysaccharides reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17, increase the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, regulate NF-κB signaling pathway, and NLRP3 inflammasome to relieve colitis. At the same time, they can play a protective role by regulating the balance of intestinal flora in mice with colitis and increasing the abundance of probiotics to promote the metabolism of polysaccharide metabolites SCFAs. This review summarizes the research on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by many natural plant polysaccharides, and provides a theoretical basis for the later treatment of polysaccharides on inflammatory bowel disease.

Oral pectin/oligochitosan microspheres for colon-specific controlled release of quercetin to treat inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, life quality-reducing disease with no cures available yet. To develop an effective medication suitable for long-term use is an urgent but unmet need. Quercetin (QT) is a natural dietary flavonoid with good safety and multifaceted pharmacological activities against inflammation. However, orally administrated quercetin yields unproductive outcomes for IBD treatment because of its poor solubility and extensive metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract. In this work, a colon-targeted QT delivery system (termed COS-CaP-QT) was developed, of which the pectin (PEC)/Ca²⁺ microspheres were prepared and then crosslinked by oligochitosan (COS). The drug release profile of COS-CaP-QT was pH-dependent and colon microenvironment-responsive, and COS-CaP-QT showed preferential distribution in the colon. The mechanism study showed that QT triggered the Notch pathway to regulate the proliferation of T helper 2 (Th2) cells and group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) and the inflammatory microenvironment was remodeled. The in vivo therapeutic results revealed that COS-CaP-QT could relieve the colitis symptoms and maintain the colon length and intestinal barrier integrity.

Sophorolipids produced by Yarrowia lipolytica grown on Moringa oleifera oil cake protect against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats: impact on TLR-4/p-JNK/NFκB-p65 pathway

OBJECTIVES

Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) activation plays a major role in triggering oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Due to sophorolipids (SLs) antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they are interestingly becoming more valued for their potential effectiveness in treating a variety of diseases. This study was designed to explore the effect of SLs produced by microbial conversion of Moringa oleifera oil cake using isolated yeast Yarrowia lipolytica against UC induced by acetic acid (AA) in rats.

METHODS

The produced SLs were identified by FTIR, 1H NMR and LC-MS/MS spectra, and administered orally for 7 days (200 mg/kg/day) before AA (2 ml, 4% v/v) to induce UC intrarectally on day eight. Biochemically, the levels of TLR-4, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), nuclear factor kappa B-p65 (NFκB-p65), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), malondialdehyd, glutathione, Bax/Bcl2 ratio and the immunohistochemical evaluation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-3 were assayed.

KEY FINDINGS

SLs significantly reduced OS, inflammatory and apoptotic markers in AA-treated rats, almost like the reference sulfasalazine.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided a novel impact for SLs produced by microbial conversion of M. oleifera oil cake against AA-induced UC in rats through hampering the TLR-4/p-JNK/NFκB-p65 signalling pathway.

Untargeted serum metabolomics reveals specific metabolite abnormalities in patients with Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by skip intestinal lesions that can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, the diagnosis of CD is based on clinical history, physical examination and complementary diagnostic tests. It is challenging for physicians to make a definitive diagnosis. This study aimed to analyze the variation in metabolites in CD serum and identify potential predictive biomarkers of CD diagnosis. We collected serum samples from 316 subjects, including patients with CD and healthy controls (HCs). Serum metabolomics was conducted using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Potential biomarkers were screened and evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. A panel of two metabolites (deoxycholic acid and palmitic amide) was identified as a specific biomarker of CD. Receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) showed that the panel had a sensitivity of 80.25% with a specificity of 95.54% in discriminating CD patients from healthy controls. The biomarkers identified are increased in CD compared with healthy controls. Our approach successfully identified serum biomarkers associated with CD patients. The potential biomarkers indicated that CD metabolic disturbance might be associated with bile acid biosynthesis, fatty acids and energy metabolism.

Fibrin(ogen) Is Constitutively Expressed by Differentiated Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Mediates Wound Healing

Fibrinogen is a large molecule synthesized in the liver and released in the blood. Circulating levels of fibrinogen are upregulated after bleeding or clotting events and support wound healing. In the context of an injury, thrombin activation drives conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin deposition contains tissue damage, stops blood loss, and prevents microbial infection. In most circumstances, fibrin needs to be removed to allow the resolution of inflammation and tissue repair, whereas failure of this may lead to the development of various disorders. However, the contribution of fibrinogen to tissue inflammation and repair is likely to be context-dependent. In this study, the concept that fibrin needs to be removed to allow tissue repair and to reduce inflammation is challenged by our observations that, in the intestine, fibrinogen is constitutively produced by a subset of intestinal epithelial cells and deposited at the basement membrane as fibrin where it serves as a substrate for wound healing under physiological conditions such as epithelial shedding at the tip of the small intestinal villus and surface epithelium of the colon as well as under pathological conditions that require rapid epithelial repair. The functional integrity of the intestine is ensured by the constant renewal of its simple epithelium. Superficial denuding of the epithelial cell layer occurs regularly and is rapidly corrected by a process called restitution that can be influenced by various soluble and insoluble factors. Epithelial cell interaction with the extracellular matrix greatly influences the healing process by acting on cell morphology, adhesion, and migration. The functional contribution of a fibrin(ogen) matrix in the intestine was studied under physiological and pathological contexts. Our results (immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and quantitative PCR) show that fibrin(ogen) is a novel component of the basement membrane associated with the differentiated epithelial cell population in both the small intestine and colon. Fibrin(ogen) alone is a weak ligand for epithelial cells and behaves as an anti-adhesive molecule in the presence of type I collagen. Furthermore, the presence of fibrin(ogen) significantly shortens the time required to achieve closure of wounded epithelial cell monolayers and co-cultures in a PI3K-dependent manner. In human specimens with Crohn’s disease, we observed a major accumulation of fibrin(ogen) throughout the tissue and at denuded sites. In mice in which fibrin formation was inhibited with dabigatran treatment, dextran sulfate sodium administration provoked a significant increase in the disease activity index and pathological features such as mucosal ulceration and crypt abscess formation. Taken together, these results suggest that fibrin(ogen) contributes to epithelial healing under both normal and pathological conditions.

IL-23 Blockade in Anti-TNF Refractory IBD: From Mechanisms to Clinical Reality

Increasing insights into the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] have led to the advent of targeted therapies that inhibit crucial mediators of the inflammatory process, thereby widening our available therapeutic armamentarium. Anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents are still a mainstay of our therapeutic endeavours and the introduction of corresponding biosimilars has further widened their use. Nevertheless, only a subgroup of treated patients benefit from the initiated treatment and there is secondary non-response in the course of therapy. Initiation of subsequent therapy often poses a challenge to the treating physician, as non-response to primary anti-TNF treatment generally characterizes a patient group that is more treatment-resistant, which may be due to the immunological impregnation by prior anti-TNF exposure. At present, there is currently no guidance for the most appropriate second-line therapy after anti-TNF failure. Here, we review the efficacy of secondary biological therapy in anti-TNF-treated patients. We focus on and assess available clinical trial data of the emerging substance class of IL-23p19 inhibitors, which have demonstrated remarkable efficacy not only in anti-TNF-naïve but also refractory patients. We present molecular mechanisms that drive IL-23-mediated resistance to ongoing anti-TNF therapy and discuss the dynamic fluidity of the mucosal cytokine network in the course of therapy that perpetuates the mucosal inflammatory reaction. Translation of these findings into clinical practice might finally lead to initiation of the most appropriate therapy at the right time of the individual disease course, which would have important implications for the patient's probability of response to treatment.

Advance toward isolation, extraction, metabolism and health benefits of kaempferol, a major dietary flavonoid with future perspectives

As a major ubiquitous secondary metabolite, flavonoids are widely distributed in planta. Among flavonoids, kaempferol is a typical natural flavonol in diets and medicinal plants with myriad bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer activity, antioxidant activity, and anti-diabetic activity. However, the natural sources, absorption and metabolism as well as the bioactivities of kaempferol have not been reviewed comprehensively and systematically. This review highlights the latest research progress and the effect of kaempferol in the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases, as well as its protective health effects, and provides a theoretical basis for future research to be used in nutraceuticals. Further, comparison of the different extraction and analytical methods are presented to highlight the most optimum for PG recovery and its detection in plasma and body fluids. Such review aims at improving the value-added applications of this unique dietary bioactive flavonoids at commercial scale and to provide a reference for its needed further development.

Expression of inflammatory mediators in biofilm samples and clinical association in inflammatory bowel disease patients-a preliminary study

OBJECTIVES

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has multiple impacts on soft and hard tissues in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of cytokines in biofilm samples from patients suffering from IBD and compare them to healthy patients. It was hypothesized that different cytokine expression levels and clinical associations might be drawn.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 56 biofilm samples from three different patient cohorts (group 0 = healthy, HC n = 30; group 1 = Crohn's disease, CD, n = 19; group 2 = ulcerative colitis, UC, n = 7) were examined for the expression levels of the cytokine interleukins IL-2, -6, and -10; matrix metalloproteinases 7 and 9; and surface antigens CD90/CD11a by quantitative real-time PCR and according to clinical parameters (plaque index, BOP, PD, DMFT, CAL). Relative gene expression was determined using the ∆∆CT method.

RESULTS

The mean BOP values (p = 0.001) and PD (p = 0.000) were significantly higher in the CD group compared to controls. Expression of IL-10 was significantly higher in the CD (p = 0.004) and UC groups (p = 0.022). Expression of MMP-7 was significantly higher in the CD group (p = 0.032). IBD patients treated with TNF inhibitors (p = 0.007) or other immunosuppressants (p = 0.014) showed significant overexpression of IL-10 compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

Different expression levels of IL-10 and MMP-7 were detected in plaque samples from IBD patients. As only BOP was significantly increased, we conclude that no clinical impairment of periodontal tissue occurred in IBD patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

With the worldwide increasing incidence of IBD, it is important to obtain insights into the effects of the disease on the oral cavity. The study was registered (01.09.2020) at the German clinical trial registry (DRKS00022956).

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered at the German clinical trial registry (DRKS00022956).

Probiotic Lactobacilli Isolated from Kefir Promote Down-Regulation of Inflammatory Lamina Propria T Cells from Patients with Active IBD

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are immunologically mediated disorders. Several therapies are focused on activated T cells as key targets. Although Lactobacillus kefiri has shown anti-inflammatory effects in animal models, few studies were done using human mucosal T cells. The aim of this work was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of this bacterium on intestinal T cells from patients with active IBD. Mucosal biopsies and surgical samples from IBD adult patients (n = 19) or healthy donors (HC; n = 5) were used. Lamina propria mononuclear cells were isolated by enzymatic tissue digestion, and entero-adhesive Escherichia coli-specific lamina propria T cells (LPTC) were expanded. The immunomodulatory properties of L. kefiri CIDCA 8348 strain were evaluated on biopsies and on anti-CD3/CD28-activated LPTC. Secreted cytokines were quantified by ELISA, and cell proliferation and viability were assessed by flow cytometry. We found that L. kefiri reduced spontaneous release of IL-6 and IL-8 from inflamed biopsies ex vivo. Activated LPTC from IBD patients showed low proliferative rates and reduced secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-13 in the presence of L. kefiri. In addition, L. kefiri induced an increased frequency of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ LPTC along with high levels of IL-10. This is the first report showing an immunomodulatory effect of L. kefiri CIDCA 8348 on human intestinal cells from IBD patients. Understanding the mechanisms of interaction between probiotics and immune mucosal cells may open new avenues for treatment and prevention of IBD.

Role of the IL23/IL17 Pathway in Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and represents one of the main entities of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CD affects genetically susceptible patients that are influenced by environmental factors and the intestinal microbiome, which results in excessive activation of the mucosal immune system and aberrant cytokine responses. Various studies have implicated the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL17 and IL23 in the pathogenesis of CD. IL23 is a member of the IL12 family of cytokines and is able to enhance and affect the expansion of pathogenic T helper type 17 (Th17) cells through various mechanisms, including maintenance of Th17 signature genes, upregulation of effector genes or suppression of repressive factors. Moreover, IL17 and IL23 signaling is able to induce a cascade of pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF, IFNγ, IL22, lymphotoxin, IL1β and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here, IL17A and TNF are known to mediate signaling synergistically to drive expression of inflammatory genes. Recent advances in understanding the immunopathogenetic mechanisms underlying CD have led to the development of new biological therapies that selectively intervene and inhibit inflammatory processes caused by pro-inflammatory mediators like IL17 and IL23. Recently published data demonstrate that treatment with selective IL23 inhibitors lead to markedly high response rates in the cohort of CD patients that failed previous anti-TNF therapy. Macrophages are considered as a main source of IL23 in the intestine and are supposed to play a key role in the molecular crosstalk with T cell subsets and innate lymphoid cells in the gut. The following review focuses on mechanisms, pathways and specific therapies in Crohn's disease underlying the IL23/IL17 pathway.

Antagonism of Adherent Invasive E. coli LF82 With Human α-defensin 5 in the Follicle-associated Epithelium of Patients With Ileal Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

The first visible signs of Crohn's disease (CD) are microscopic erosions over the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of human α-defensin 5 (HD5) on adherent-invasive Escherichia coli LF82 translocation and HD5 secretion after LF82 exposure in an in vitro model of human FAE and in human FAE ex vivo.

METHODS

An in vitro FAE-model was set up by the coculture of Raji B cells and Caco-2-cl1 cells. Ileal FAE from patients with CD and controls were mounted in Ussing chambers. The effect of HD5 on LF82 translocation was studied by LF82 exposure to the cells or tissues with or without incubation with HD5. The HD5 secretion was measured in human FAE exposed to LF82 or Salmonella typhimurium. The HD5 levels were evaluated by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and ELISA.

RESULTS

There was an increased LF82 translocation across the FAE-model compared with Caco-2-cl1 (P < 0.05). Incubation of cell/tissues with HD5 before LF82 exposure reduced bacterial passage in both models. Human FAE showed increased LF82 translocation in CD compared with controls and attenuated passage after incubation with sublethal HD5 in both CD and controls (P < 0.05). LF82 exposure resulted in a lower HD5 secretion in CD FAE compared with controls (P < 0.05), whereas Salmonella exposure caused equal secretion on CD and controls. There were significantly lower HD5 levels in CD tissues compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Sublethal HD5 reduces the ability of LF82 to translocate through FAE. The HD5 is secreted less in CD in response to LF82, despite a normal response to Salmonella. This further implicates the integrated role of antimicrobial factors and barrier function in CD pathogenesis.

Mycobacterial Hsp65 antigen delivered by invasive Lactococcus lactis reduces intestinal inflammation and fibrosis in TNBS-induced chronic colitis model

Intestinal fibrosis associated with Crohn's disease (CD), which a common and serious complication of inflammatory bowel diseases. In this context, heat shock proteins (HSPs) might serve as an alternative treatment because these antigens play important roles in the regulation of effector T cells. We thus evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic capacities of an invasive and Hsp65-producing strain-Lactococcus lactis NCDO2118 FnBPA+ (pXYCYT:Hsp65)-in chronic intestinal inflammation to assess its potential as an alternative therapeutic strategy against fibrotic CD. Experimental colitis was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in BALB/c mice, and the mice were treated orally with L. lactis NCDO2118 FnBPA+ (pXYCYT:Hsp65) via intragastric gavage. The oral administration of this strain significantly attenuated the severity of inflammation and intestinal fibrosis in mice (p < 0.05). These results are mainly justified by reductions in the levels of the pro-fibrotic cytokines IL-13 and TGF-β and increases in the concentration of the regulatory cytokine IL-10. The L. lactis NCDO2118 FnBPA+ (pXYCYT:Hsp65) strain contributed to reductions in the severity of inflammatory damage in chronic experimental CD, and these findings confirm the effectiveness of this new antifibrotic strategy based on the delivery of therapeutic proteins to inside cells of the host intestinal mucosa.

Computational analysis of eugenol inhibitory activity in lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways

Chronic inflammation is triggered by numerous diseases such as osteoarthritis, Crohn's disease and cancer. The control of the pro-inflammatory process can prevent, mitigate and/or inhibit the evolution of these diseases. Therefore, anti-inflammatory drugs have been studied as possible compounds to act in these diseases. This paper proposes a computational analysis of eugenol in relation to aspirin and diclofenac and analyzing the ADMET profile and interactions with COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes, important enzymes in the signaling pathway of pro-inflammatory processes. Through the analysis of ADMET in silico, it was found that the pharmacokinetic results of eugenol are similar to NSAIDs, such as diclofenac and aspirin. Bioinformatics analysis using coupling tests showed that eugenol can bind to COX-2 and 5-LOX. These results corroborate with different findings in the literature that demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity with less gastric irritation, bleeding and ulcerogenic side effects of eugenol. The results of bioinformatics reinforce studies that try to propose eugenol as an anti-inflammatory compound that can act in the COX-2/5-LOX pathways, replacing some NSAIDs in different diseases.

The EDN2 rs110287192 gene polymorphism is associated with paratuberculosis susceptibility in multibreed cattle population

Paratuberculosis (pTB), also known as Johne's disease (JD), is a contagious, chronic, and granulomatous inflammatory disease of the intestines of ruminants which is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, resulting in billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide. Since, currently, no effective cure is available for MAP infection, it is important to explore the genetic variants that affect the host MAP susceptibility. The aim of this study was to analyze a potential association between EDN2 synonymous gene mutations (rs110287192, rs109651404 and rs136707411), that modifies susceptibility to pTB. EDN2 rs110287192, rs109651404 and rs136707411 mutations were genotyped in 68 infected and 753 healthy animals from East Anatolian Red crossbred, Anatolian Black crossbred and Holstein breed cattle by using Custom TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays. For pTB status, serum antibody levels S/P ≥ 1.0 were assessed in carriers of the different EDN2 genotypes. EDN2 rs110287192 mutation showed a significant association with bovine pTB (adj. p < 0.05). For rs110287192 locus, the odd ratios for GG and TG genotypes versus TT genotypes were 1.73; (95% CI = 0.34–8.59) and 0.53 (95% CI = 0.12–2.37) respectively, which indicated that proportion of TG heterozygotes were significantly higher in control animals as compared to pTB animals. On the other hand, while rs136707411 mutation showed a suggestive association with pTB status in the examined cattle population (nominal p < 0.05); no association was detected between rs109651404 genotypes and pTB status. Selecting animals against rs110287192-GG genotype may decrease the risk of pTB in cattle of the Bos taurus taurus subspecies.