Relationship between mast cells and the colitis with relapse induced by trinitrobenzesulphonic acid in Wistar rats

Cortisone-loaded stearoyl ascorbic acid based nanostructured lipid carriers alleviate inflammatory changes in DSS-induced colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease which poorly affects the colon and spreads toward the rectum over time. Cortisone (CRT) is a corticosteroid clinically used for the management of inflammatory diseases like colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. Due to some physicochemical properties' cortisone has limited potency in clinics. To overcome drug-related problems, we successfully prepared lipid nanocarriers with generally regarded as safe (GRAS) materials approved by USFDA. The present study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of CRT-loaded 6-o-stearoyl ascorbic acid (SAA) nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) against DSS-induced colitis mice. Formulation and characterizations of reported nanostructured lipid carrier were performed according to our previously optimized parameters. The average hydrodynamic diameter of NLCs was 182 nm as measured by DLS with 81.14 % encapsulation efficacy. TEM, AFM and SEM images analysis confirmed its spherical appearance. hTERT-BJ cells viability up to a dose of 500 μg/ml shows cytocompatible characteristics of blank NLCs. CRT-loaded NLCs treatment normalizes physically observed parameters such as disease activity index, weight variation etc. These NLCs were able to significantly reduce the severity of colitis in terms of colon histoarchitecture, regaining of the goblet cells, mucins secretions, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines etc. Treatment with CRT-loaded NLCs effectively downregulated the overexpression of inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) etc. The results of this study concluded that these CRT-encapsulated NLCs efficiently manage the disease severity induced by DSS.

Caffeic Acid-Conjugated Budesonide-Loaded Nanomicelle Attenuates Inflammation in Experimental Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a multifactorial disease of the gastrointestinal tract which is caused due to chronic inflammation in the colon; it usually starts from the lower end of the colon and may spread to other portions of the large intestine, if left unmanaged. Budesonide (BUD) is a synthetically available second-generation corticosteroidal drug with potent local anti-inflammatory activity. The pharmacokinetic properties, such as extensive first-pass metabolism and quite limited bioavailability, reduce its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome the limitations, nanosized micelles were developed in this study by conjugating stearic acid with caffeic acid to make an amphiphilic compound. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of BUD-loaded micelles in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Micelles were formulated by the solvent evaporation method, and their physicochemical characterizations show their spherical shape under microscopic techniques like atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release experiment shows sustained release behavior in physiological media. These micelles show cytocompatible behavior against hTERT-BJ cells up to 500 μg/mL dose, evidenced by more than 85% viable cells. BUD-loaded micelles successfully normalized the disease activity index and physical observation of colon length. The treatment with BUD-loaded micelles alleviates the colitis severity as analyzed in histopathology and efficiently, overcoming the disease severity via downregulation of various related cytokines (MPO, NO, and TNF-α) and inflammatory enzymes such as COX-2 and iNOS. Results of the study suggest that BUD-loaded nano-sized micelles effectively attenuate the disease conditions in colitis.

Thiol-Functionalized Cellulose-Grafted Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for the Therapy of Experimental Colitis in Swiss Albino Mice

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease, which deleteriously affects the lower end of the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., the colon and the rectum. UC affects colonic inflammatory homeostasis and disrupts intestinal barrier functions. Intestinal tissue damage activates the immune system and collectively worsens the disease condition via the production of various cytokines. Ongoing therapeutics of UC have marked limitations like rapid clearance, extensive first-pass metabolism, poor drug absorption, very low solubility, bioavailability, etc. Because of these restrictions, the management of UC demands a rational approach that selectively delivers the drug at the site of action to overcome the therapeutic limiting factors. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have good therapeutic efficacy against colitis, but their uses are limited due to adverse effects on the biological system. In this study, we have used biocompatible thiol-functionalized cellulose-grafted copper oxide nanoparticles (C-Cu^I/IIO NPs) to treat UC. The metal NPs alleviated the colitis condition as evidenced by the colon length and observed physical parameters. Analysis of histopathology demonstrated the recovery of the colon architecture damaged by dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Treatment with C-Cu^I/IIO NPs reduced the disintegration of goblet cells and the retainment of sulfomucin. Significant downregulation of inflammatory markers like MPO activity, as well as levels of nitrite and TNF-α, was found following C-Cu^I/IIO NP treatment. The observations from the study suggested that intrarectal treatment of colitis with cellulose-based C-Cu^I/IIO NPs successfully combated the intestinal inflammatory condition.

Cell therapy in experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, which mainly involves Crohn's disease and ulcerative rectocolitis, is an inflammatory condition of the mucosa that can afflict any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Despite the fact that the existing therapies result in improvement in patient's symptomatology and quality of life, there is no curative treatment. Surgical treatment involves complex procedures associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In this context, cell therapy with stem cells has emerged as a treatment with broad potential applicability. In this study, we intended to verify the efficacy of transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in rats with intestinal inflammation induced by trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. The cell population was isolated from the adipose tissue of inguinal region of rats and processed for culture by mechanical dissociation. The animals were evaluated with respect to clinical and biochemical aspects, as well as by macroscopic, microscopic and histological analyses. In the experimental model of bowel inflammation by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, the infusion of adipose tissue significantly reduced the presence of adhesions in the colon and adjacent organs and decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase, a marker of neutrophil infiltration in the injured mucosa. The results suggest that cell therapy with adipose tissue can promote and/or accelerate the regeneration of damaged intestinal mucosa. It is concluded that the presence of adhesions and the determination of myeloperoxidase activity provide indications that adipose tissue can promote and/or accelerate the regeneration of inflammatory bowel mucosa.