Systemic inflammatory response associated with augmentation and activation of leukocytes in Candida/indomethacin administered mice

Cell-free probiotic supernatant (CFS) treatment alleviates indomethacin-induced enterocolopathy in BALB/c mice by down-modulating inflammatory response and oxidative stress: potential alternative targeted treatment

Probiotics and their metabolites appear to be a promising approach that targets both the intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis in bowel diseases. In this context, the emergence of the probiotic cell-free supernatant (CFS) has attracted more attention as a safe and targeted alternative therapy with reduced side effects. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause significant intestinal alterations and inflammation, leading to experimental enterocolopathy resembling Crohn disease. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CFS supplementation on the inflammation and the mucosal intestinal alterations induced by NSAIDs, indomethacin. In the current study, a murine model of intestinal inflammation was generated by the oral gavage (o.g) of indomethacin (10 mg/kg) to BALB/C mice. A group of mice treated with indomethacin was concomitantly treated orally by CFS for 5 days. The Body Health Condition index was monitored, and histological scores were evaluated. Moreover, oxidative and pro-inflammatory markers were assessed. Interestingly, we observed that CFS treatment attenuated the severity of the intestinal inflammation in our enterocolopathy model and resulted in the improvement of the clinical symptoms and the histopathological features. Notably, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor alpha, malondialdehyde, and myeloperoxidase levels were down-modulated by CFS supplementation. Concomitantly, an attenuation of NF-κB p65, iNOS, COX2 expression in the ileum and the colon was reported. Collectively, our data suggest that CFS treatment has a beneficial effect in experimental enterocolopathy model and could constitute a good therapeutic candidate for alleviating inflammatory responses and to maintain mucosal homeostasis during chronic and severe conditions of intestinal inflammation.

Analysis of Leukocyte Behaviors on Microfluidic Chips

The orchestration of massive leukocytes in the immune system protects humans from invading pathogens and abnormal cells in the body. So far, researches focusing on leukocyte behaviors are performed based on both in vivo and in vitro models. The in vivo animal models are usually less controllable due to their extreme complexity and nonignorable species issue. Therefore, many researchers turn to in vitro models. With the advances in micro/nanofabrication, the microfluidic chip has emerged as a novel platform for model construction in multiple biomedical research fields. Specifically, the microfluidic chip is used to study leukocyte behaviors, due to its incomparable advantages in high throughput, precise control, and flexible integration. Moreover, the small size of the microstructures on the microfluidic chip can better mimic the native microenvironment of leukocytes, which contributes to a more reliable recapitulation. Herein are reviewed the recent advances in microfluidic chip-based leukocyte behavior analysis to provide an overview of this field. Detailed discussions are specifically focused on host defense against pathogens, immunodiagnosis, and immunotherapy studies on microfluidic chips. Finally, the current technical challenges are discussed, as well as possible innovations in this field to improve the related applications.

The protective effect of aged garlic extract on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastric inflammations in male albino rats

Natural products have long gained wide acceptance among the public and scientific community in the gastrointestinal ulcerative field. The present study explore the potential effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on indomethacin-(IN-) induced gastric inflammation in male rats. Animals were divided into six groups (n = 8) control group, IN-induced gastric inflammation group via oral single dose (30 mg/kg to fasted rats) two AGE orally administered groups (100 and 200 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days) two AGE orally administered groups to rats pretreated with IN at the same aforementioned doses. The results declared the more potent effect of the higher AGE dose (200 mg/kg) as compared to that of the 100 mg/kg dose in the gastroprotective effects reflected by significant gastric mucosal healing of damage and reduction in the total microbial induced due to indomethacin administration. In addition to the significant effect to normalize the significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) values, and the significant decrease in the total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) values induced by indomethacin. The results support AGE antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potency reflected by the healing of the gastric tissue damage induced by indomethacin.

Antibiotics Protect against Septic Shock in Mice Administered β-Glucan and Indomethacin

We have developed an animal model of sepsis in mice by repeatedly administering beta-glucan, a biological response modifier, and indomethacin (IND), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The combination of these drugs induced bacteremia by translocation of the enterobacterial flora, resulting in increasing the number of activated leukocytes, and inducing hyper cytokinemia. In the present study, we examined the effect of antibiotics on beta-glucan and IND-induced septic shock. Treatment with antibiotics inhibited microbial translocation, inhibited contraction of the colon, reduced lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-elicited production of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and finally prolonged survival. However, the efficacy of antibiotics treatment was limited in mice administered IND orally. These findings strongly suggested that the antibiotics controlled the gut-associated action of IND and reduced various symptoms accompanying sepsis.

Effect of SPG/indomethacin treatment on sepsis, interleukin-6 production, and expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 isoforms in differing strains of mice

We previously reported that a combination of beta-glucan and indomethacin (IND), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was lethal to mice. This lethality was strongly related to translocation of enterobacterial flora to various organs and the development of a systemic inflammation. In this study, we examined expression of microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP), a drug-metabolizing enzyme mostly found in the liver. Normal ICR mice and endotoxin-low responder C3H/HeJ mice were employed to assess effects of endotoxin on impairment of CYP. In the ICR mice, CYP3A11 expression was decreased by beta-glucan or IND. In the early stage of beta-glucan + IND-treatment, 3A11 expression decreased more significantly; when shock was induced, CYP was dramatically decreased. 3A11 expression was also decreased in C3H/HeJ mice, but the effect was milder. In contrast, in both strains, CYP2E1 expression did not vary due to beta-glucan or IND, but decreased during sepsis. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of induced sepsis in C3H/HeJ mice, the reactivity of other pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) was assessed. Those studies showed cooperative effects between Pam(3)CSK(4) (Pam(3)) and CpG ODN (CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide) on the induction of IL-6 synthesis by C3H/HeJ spleen cells. The findings here suggest that the beta-glucan + IND combination influenced hepatic cytochrome P450 expression, particularly in the late stage of sepsis. The results also indicate that this change may be associated with not only endotoxin but other PAMPs as well, and could be affected by the integrity of a host's drug metabolism function.

SPG/IND-induced septic shock in a LPS-low responder strain, C3H/HeJ mice

The administration of beta-glucan (sonifilan; SPG) in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin (IND), induced lethal septic shock in mice. To demonstrate the influence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in this lethal toxicity, LPS non-responder C3H/HeJ mice were used to compare features of sepsis and physicochemical parameters in the present study. The administration of SPG and IND induced the death of C3H/HeJ mice, lowering rectal temperature, reducing body weight, increasing serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, shortening the gastrointestinal tract, and increasing the GOT/GPT level. Microbial translocation to various organs was also significantly increased. These results strongly suggested that LPS-non-responding strain also induced septic shock in this experimental model, and other pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) may significantly contribute to the septic shock.

Natural and modified (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans in health promotion and disease alleviation

A number of polysaccharides with beta-glycosidic linkage are widespread in nature in a variety of sources. All have a common structure and the (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan backbone is essential. They have attracted attention over the years because of their bioactive and medicinal properties. In many cases their functional role is a mystery, in others it is well established. Because of their insoluble chemical nature, particulate (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans are not suitable for many medical applications. Various methods of changing or modifying the beta-D-glucan chemical structure and transforming it to a soluble form have been published. The beta-D-glucan bioactive properties can be affected positively or negatively by such modifications. This review examines beta-glucan sources in nature, health effects and structure-activity relationships. It presents the current state of beta-D-glucan solubilization methods and discusses their effectiveness and application possibilities for the future.

Influence of gastric colonization with Candida albicans on ulcer healing in rats: effect of ranitidine, aspirin and probiotic therapy

OBJECTIVE

Candida albicans frequently inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of humans leading to gastrointestinal candidiasis, especially following suppression of gastric acidity, but studies on the relation between this fungal infection and gastric pathology are limited due to lack of convenient animal models resembling Candida infection in humans. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We compared the effects of C. albicans and vehicle inoculation on gastric secretion and healing of gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats treated with 1) ranitidine (30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) s.c.) and 2) aspirin (ASA) (60 mg kg(-1) day(-1) i.g.) with or without probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophillus. At day 0 and at 4, 15 and 25 days after ulcer induction, the ulcer area, the gastric blood flow (GBF), the quantitative gastric cultures of Candida and the expression of mRNAs for pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and growth factors EGF and TGFalpha were assessed in the gastric mucosa.

RESULTS

Gastric acid output was reduced by over 40% soon after Candida inoculation and this effect persisted during all time intervals tested. The area of ulcers in control rats significantly decreased at day 15 and the ulcers disappeared almost completely after 25 days of their induction. In contrast, the ulcers were present until day 25 in Candida-inoculated rats followed by a fall in GBF and a rise in plasma gastrin levels, these effects being significantly attenuated by the co-treatment with Lactobacillus. Candidiasis was accompanied by up-regulation of mRNA for IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, EGF and TGFalpha and a significant increment in plasma IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels.

CONCLUSIONS

1) Persistent colonization with Candida could be achieved in rats treated with antisecretory agents or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ASA; 2) candidiasis reduces gastric acid secretion, while delaying ulcer healing possibly due to the impairment in GBF in the ulcer area and enhanced expression and release of IL-1beta and TNFalpha and 3) probiotic therapy could be useful in the treatment against the deleterious action of fungal infection on the healing of pre-existing gastric ulcers.

Effect of Nitric Oxide on .BETA.-Glucan/Indomethacin-Induced Septic Shock

We have previously shown that repeated administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to mice treated with beta-glucan, a biological response modifier, induced severe lethality. The lethality would be strongly related to the translocation of enterobacterial flora to the peritoneal cavity and disruption of the cytokine network. Reports suggest that nitric oxide (NO) can have an effective or detrimental role in septic shock. In the present study, we examined the effect of NO, an inflammatory mediator, on beta-glucan/indomethacin (IND)- induced septic shock by inhibiting its synthesis with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonselective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Nitrite concentration was used as an indicator of NO generation. Mortality in beta-glucan/IND-treated mice was increased by administering L-NAME. Numbers of bacteria in various organs of mice treated with beta-glucan/IND rose significantly within a couple of days of the administration of L-NAME. Additionally, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 concentrations were enhanced in peritoneal exuded cells in culture. These results suggest a significant loss of the bactericidal activity of macrophages on the administration of a NOS inhibitor which enhanced the rate of enterobacterial invasion to the peritoneal cavity, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The production of NO, therefore, provides a protective effect in beta-glucan/IND-induced sepsis.

Chemistry and biology of angiitis inducer, Candida albicans water-soluble mannoprotein-beta-glucan complex (CAWS)

Deep mycoses have been clearly demonstrated to release beta-glucans into the blood. Structure of the beta-glucan was, at least in part, suggested to be a mannoprotein beta-glucan complex (CAWS) as assessed by biochemical and immunochemical analyses of the extracellular macromolecular fraction of Candida albicans. Half clearance time of i.v. administered CAWS was about 30 min in mice. In addition to the reactivity with limulus G-test, CAWS was found to exhibit various biological activities, such as cytokine synthesis by leukocyte, platelet aggregation, lethal toxicity, enhancement of side effect of indomethacin, induction of coronary arteritis in mice, and so on. In this review, the chemical properties and biological activities of CAWS are discussed.

Structure and biological activities of beta-glucans from yeast and mycelial forms of Candida albicans

We have achieved the extraction of cell wall beta-glucan from the mycelial form of Candida albicans (C. albicans) IFO 0579 (M-CSBG) by using acetic acid, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) treatments. The yield of M-CSBG was significantly lower (7.5% from dried mycelial cells) than that of the yeast form from C. albicans IFO 1385 (Y-CSBG, 25.9% from dried yeast cells). The properties of M-CSBG were similar to those of Y-CSBG in terms of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and limulus reactivity. Molecular weight (Mw) of M-CSBG was slightly higher than that of Y-CSBG. Both Y-CSBG and M-CSBG induced the production of comparable amounts of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), a chemotactic factor, from mouse peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) in vitro. These findings suggest that the structure and properties of CSBG from yeast and mycelial cells are similar to each other.