Melatonin mediated inhibition of EZH2-NOS2 crosstalk attenuates inflammatory bowel disease in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models

AIMS

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is characterised by abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding and weight loss. Sometimes it may leads to severe health complications resulting in death of an individual. Current research efforts to highlight the role of melatonin in regulating EZH2, a master epigenetic regulator and its beneficiary effect in case of IBD management.

MATERIAL METHODS

Murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to activate them for generating inflammatory response to investigate efficacy of melatonin in-vitro models. Similarly, for developing in vivo models, Dextran sodium sulphate (36-50 kDa) was used. Evaluations of anti-inflammatory activities were carried out by nitrite assay, western blotting, q-PCR, immunofluorescence, and histological studies.

KEY FINDINGS

Reduction of epigenetic target, EZH2 by melatonin significantly improves the clinical symptoms of dextran sodium sulphate induced colitis and may be implicated as a potential therapeutic target in IBD management. The present study evaluates the efficacy of melatonin by epigenetic regulation in IBD models. Down regulation of EZH2 by melatonin reduced the chemical induced inflammatory insults in in vitro and in vivo models. Exploration of molecular pathways has revealed interlink of EZH2 and NOS2, a hallmark of inflammation. Molecular mechanistic action of melatonin is attributed to inhibition of the expression and physical interaction of EZH2 and NOS2.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our study highlights melatonin therapeutic effect via attenuating interaction between EZH2 and NOS2 which is beneficial in managing IBD treatment.

Mast cells: new therapeutic target in helminth immune modulation

Helminth infection and their secreted antigens have a protective role in many immune-mediated inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, studies have focused primarily on identifying immune protective mechanisms of helminth infection and their secreted molecules on dendritic cells and macrophages. Given that mast cells have been shown to be implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of many inflammatory disorders, their role should also be examined and considered as cellular target for helminth-based therapies. As there is a dearth of studies examining the interaction of helminth-derived antigens and mast cells, this review will focus on the role of mast cells during helminth infection and examine our current understanding of the involvement of mast cells in TH 1/TH 17-mediated immune disorders. In this context, potential mechanisms by which helminths could target the TH 1/TH 17 promoting properties of mast cells can be identified to unveil novel therapeutic mast cell driven targets in combating these inflammatory disorders.