The nonneuronal cholinergic system in the colon: A comprehensive review

Solute Transporter OCTN1/Slc22a4 Affects Disease Severity and Response to Infliximab in Experimental Colitis: Role of Gut Microbiota and Immune Modulation

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic disabling conditions with a complex and multifactorial etiology, still incompletely understood. OCTN1, an organic cation transporter, could have a role in modulating the inflammatory response, and some genetic polymorphisms of this molecule have been associated with increased risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. Until now, limited information exists on its potential in predicting/modulating patient's response to therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of OCTN1 in modifying gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in response to infliximab therapy in murine colitis.

METHODS

A dextran sodium sulphate model of colitis was used to assess the clinical efficacy of infliximab administered intravenously in ocnt1 gene knockout mice and their C57BL/6 controls. Stool, colon, and mesenteric lymph node samples were collected to evaluate differences in gut microbiota composition, histology, and T cell populations, respectively.

RESULTS

Octn1 -/- influences the microbiota profile and is associated with a worse dysbiosis in mice with colitis. Infliximab treatment attenuates colitis-associated dysbiosis, with an increase of bacterial richness and evenness in both strains. In comparison with wild type, octn1-/- mice have milder disease and a higher baseline percentage of Treg, Tmemory, Th2 and Th17 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the murine model to study OCTN1 genetic contribution to inflammatory bowel diseases. This could be the first step towards the recognition of this membrane transporter as a biomarker in inflammatory conditions and a predictor of response to therapies.

Study on quality difference between Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC and Iris tectorum Maxim. based on chemical chromatogram analysis, biological activity evaluation and in vivo distribution rule

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. (BC) and Iris tectorum Maxim. (ITM) have been widely used in recent years due to their remarkable curative effects on sore throat, cough and asthma. but they are often misused due to their similar appearance. A comprehensive comparison of the chemical composition, biological activity, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution between the two active differential components has not been performed. Differences in their specific effects have not been fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aims at differentiating between BC and ITM in terms of appearance, chemical composition, biological activity, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the HPLC-FP method was used to find the differences between the chemical components of BC and ITM. The pharmacological experiments were used to compare the differences in activity, including in vitro anti-inflammatory activity with LPS-induced inflammation model of RAW 264.7 cells, inhibition of AChE activity, and the regulation of isolated small intestinal smooth muscle in mice. The pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution profiles were used to analyze the differences between the two in rats.

RESULTS

The types of isoflavones in BC and ITM are basically the same, but their contents in ITM is much higher than that in BC. At the same doses, the release of TNF-α, NO, IL-1β and IL-6 from RAW 264.7 cells in the ITM group was lower than that of the BC group, and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of ITM was stronger than that of BC. Meanwhile, ITM had stronger inhibition ability to inhibit AChE activity than BC. The BC extract exhibited an inhibitory effect on the isolated small intestinal smooth muscle of mice, and the ITM extract showed stimulatory effect at low concentration and inhibitory effect at high concentration. There were significant differences in drug-time profiles, kinetic parameters and tissue distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant differences in the multidimensional aspects of appearance, chemical composition, biological activity, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution between BC and ITM. This study provides a theoretical basis for the quality control, pharmacological efficacy and clinical application of the two herbs.