Epidermal growth factor and bombesin act synergistically to support intestinal adaptation in rats with massive small bowel resection

The Kampo medicine "Daikenchuto (TU-100)" prevents bacterial translocation and hepatic fibrosis in a rat model of biliary atresia

BACKGROUND

Biliary atresia is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease in children. It is known that bile duct ligation contributes to liver fibrosis via bacterial translocation (BT) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We have reported previously that the traditional Japanese medicine, "Dai-kenchu-to (TU-100)," a form of "Kampo medicine" prevents BT in rats exposed to the stress of fasting. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of TU-100 on a rat model of biliary atresia using bile duct ligation.

METHODS

Bile duct ligation and subsequent daily oral administration of TU-100 was performed in 6-week-old rats. The rats were killed at 3, 7, or 14 days after bile duct ligation to evaluate the liver injury, occurrence of BT, and hepatic fibrosis. As an in vitro experiment, we isolated fresh HSCs from the rats undergoing bile duct ligation. After cell attachment, TU-100 and its 3 component herbs (eg, processed ginger, ginseng radix, and Japanese pepper) were added, and the expressions of Alpha actin2 (acta2), Alpha-1 type I collagen (colIa1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (timp1) were analyzed.

RESULTS

In vivo experiments demonstrated that oral administration of TU-100 decreased liver injury and atrophy of intestinal mucosa BT, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatic expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and TLR4, compared with rats that underwent bile duct ligation only. In vitro experiments showed that administration of TU-100 or the component herbs inhibited the expressions of acta2, colIa1, and timp1 in the HSCs.

CONCLUSION

TU-100 prevented BT, activation of HSCs, and subsequent hepatic fibrosis. TU-100 may prevent progression of hepatic fibrosis in children with biliary atresia and improve prognosis.

Medical and surgical management of the pediatric patient with intestinal failure

Until recently, extreme short bowel due primarily to massive resection in the neonatal period had been considered incompatible with long-term survival. Indeed, parents of infants with midgut volvulus or other causes of very extensive intestinal necrosis still may be informed that resection is futile. The advent of intestinal transplantation as a potential therapy and its evolution into a standard therapy for irreversible intestinal failure have led to changing attitudes regarding these catastrophic gastrointestinal events. The experience gained from aggressively maintaining infants with little if any functional small bowel while awaiting transplantation has led to the increasing recognition that long-term survival is possible in many of these children with and often without intestinal transplantation. Even children with very small lengths of residual intestine ultimately may adapt and grow sufficiently to allow enteral autonomy. Achievement of these outcomes requires early referral to a dedicated multidisciplinary intestinal care team well versed in the management options for such children. Initial assessment often involves an inpatient evaluation followed by very close outpatient follow-up. Aggressive management is imperative for all patients with intestinal failure, allowing time for full enteral adaptation before complications become life-threatening; those with no possibility of significant adaptation can achieve optimal growth while awaiting transplantation. Along with medical and nutritional therapy and nontransplant surgery, intestinal transplantation should be seen as one of many modalities available for the optimal management of this population of patients. Thus, patients with irreversible intestinal failure and those with indications for transplantation (even those for whom hope remains that sufficient enteral adaptation still may occur) should be evaluated by the transplant team. If there is no intestinal transplant program at the center undertaking the intestinal failure management, strong links and regular communication with an intestinal transplant program that can partner in the care of these patients should be established. Multicenter collaborative and interventional studies are necessary to clearly demonstrate outcomes and to move the field forward.

Kampo medicine "Dai-kenchu-to" prevents CPT-11-induced small-intestinal injury in rats

PURPOSE

The key anticancer agent, CPT-11 (irinotecan hydrochloride), induces severe diarrhea clinically. We investigated the effect of a Kampo medicine, Dai-kenchu-to (DKT), on CPT-11-induced intestinal injuries in rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: a control group; a CPT-11 group, given CPT-11 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 2 days; and a DKT group, given DKT 300 mg/kg orally for 5 days with CPT-11 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally on days 4 and 5. The rats were killed on day 6.

RESULTS

Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in the small intestine of the CPT-11 group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Interleukin-1β and IFN-γ expression was improved significantly by DKT (P < 0.05). The number and height of jejuna villi, injury score, and apoptosis index in the CPT-11 group were improved significantly by DKT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

DKT suppressed CPT-11 induced inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis in the intestinal mucosa and maintained the mucosal integrity.

Growth factors: possible roles for clinical management of the short bowel syndrome

The structural and functional changes during intestinal adaptation are necessary to compensate for the sudden loss of digestive and absorptive capacity after massive intestinal resection. When the adaptive response is inadequate, short bowel syndrome (SBS) ensues and patients are left with the requirement for parenteral nutrition and its associated morbidities. Several hormones have been studied as potential enhancers of the adaptation process. The effects of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, epidermal growth factor, and glucagon-like peptide 2 on adaptation have been studied extensively in animal models. In addition, growth hormone and glucagon-like peptide 2 have shown promise for the treatment of SBS in clinical trials in human beings. Several lesser studied hormones, including leptin, corticosteroids, thyroxine, testosterone, and estradiol, are also discussed.

Oral insulin supplementation in paediatric short bowel disease: a pilot observational study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Insulin is present in human milk, and oral insulin supplementation causes a dramatic adaptive gut growth in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). We conducted an open-label pilot observational study to examine whether oral insulin supplementation to paediatric patients with SBS decreases the need for parenteral nutrition (PN).

METHODS

Between April 2004 and March 2006, 10 premature infants and children were recruited from 8 paediatric gastroenterology centres in Israel, Croatia, and Germany. Enrolled subjects received 1 unit of insulin (Actrapid, Novonordisk, Denmark)/kg body weight per dose x 4/day (every 6 hours) for 28 days. We monitored glucose blood levels, weight, enteral and parenteral intake of calories, carbohydrates, and lipids. In addition, blood levels of albumin, ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and anti-insulin antibodies were recorded.

RESULTS

On average, enteral intake increased from 45.6% +/- 30.6% to 58.9% +/- 28.2% (not statistically significant), and ALT blood levels decreased from 194 +/- 128 U to 136 +/- 79 U (not statistically significant). Two (2/10) infants were weaned off PN. None of the children developed insulin antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral insulin supplementation in paediatric SBS is not associated with short-term side effects. Although clinical improvement was observed in a subset of children, whether these effects are due to insulin administration is uncertain. The efficacy of oral insulin remains to be determined in a double-blind manner using a preparation that is resistant to degradation in the stomach.

Kampo medicine "Dai-kenchu-to" prevents bacterial translocation in rats

Kampo medicine "Dai-kenchu-to" (DKT) has been used for treatment of ileus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of DKT on the bacterial translocation (BT) model in rats. Rats were divided into the following four groups: group 1, receiving only water, and groups 2, 3, and 4, receiving 100, 300, and 1,000 mg/kg/day of DKT. Rats were sacrificed 6 days after the beginning of the fast, and then the mesenteric lymph node was cultured. Inflammatory cytokines, intestinal integrity, and apoptosis were assessed. Incidence of BT in groups 3 (33%) and 4 (16%) was lower than in group 1 (66%). Interferon-gamma expression in groups 2, 3, and 4 was significantly lower than in group 1. Villous height and number of villus in groups 2, 3, and 4 were significantly taller and greater than in group 1. Apoptotic index in groups 2, 3, and 4 was significantly lower than in group 1. This is the first evidence that DKT prevents BT by reducing inflammatory reaction and maintaining intestinal integrity.

Current status of transplantation of the small intestine

The evolution of small bowel transplantation has been significant over the past 20 years to the point at which it can now be considered a viable and often successful option in the treatment of many forms of short bowel syndrome. A refinement of surgical techniques, improved immunosuppression, enhanced understanding of gut immunology, and better treatment and prevention of complications have contributed to a marked improvement in graft and patient survival. Whereas this transplant population is still beset with many potential complications after isolated bowel or multivisceral transplantation and long-term graft survival (like with other solid organ transplants) remains a challenge, the future holds promise for a continuation of the current positive trend of improvement in several areas.

New growth factor therapies aimed at improving intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a condition of malabsorption and malnutrition resulting from the loss of absorptive area following massive small bowel resection. The key to improved clinical outcome after massive small bowel resection is the ability of the residual bowel to adapt. Although still in experimental stages, a major goal in the management of SBS may be the augmented use of growth factors to promote increased adaptation. A number of growth factors have been implicated in promoting the adaptation process. The best-described growth factors are reviewed: glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and growth hormone (GH). This article reviews the ability of recombinant GLP-2, EGF and GH to modulate structural and functional aspects of intestinal adaptation following small bowel resection. Although these growth factors have shown promise, small sample size, inconsistent measurement parameters and uncontrolled study designs have hampered the acquisition of strong data advocating the use of growth factor treatment for SBS. Multicenter trials using well-defined outcome measures to assess clinical efficacy are needed to direct the clinical indications, timing and duration of therapy and assess potential risks associated with growth factor therapies.

Short bowel syndrome and intestinal transplantation in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes recent knowledge and clinical practice for pediatric patients suffering extensive intestinal resection causing short bowel syndrome. This condition requires the use of parenteral nutrition, as long as intestinal failure persists, and may be, in some selected cases, an indication for intestinal transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Biological evaluation of intestinal failure is becoming possible with the use of plasma citrulline as a marker of intestinal mass. Few epidemiological data are available; some indicate an increased incidence of short bowel syndrome-related gastroschisis and persistent high incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis. Morbidity and mortality data in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome are limited, while long-term outcome is better documented from recently reported cohorts. Non-transplant surgery is one of the best options for patients with unadapted short bowel syndrome. Isolated liver transplantation may be avoided. The use of trophic factors for enhancing mucosal hyperplasia still remains disappointing.

SUMMARY

The management should include therapies adapted to each stage of intestinal failure, based on a multidisciplinary approach in centers involving pediatric surgery, pediatric gastroenterology, parenteral nutrition expertise, home-parenteral nutrition program, and liver-intestinal transplantation experience. If managed appropriately, the prognosis of short bowel syndrome is excellent, with limited indications for intestinal and/or liver transplantation. Timing for patient referral in specialized centers remains an issue.