Higher apoptosis index and proliferation index in colonocytes of patients with ulcerative colitis in remission. Pol Przegl Chir. 2012;84:271-275. [PMID: 22842738 DOI: 10.2478/v10035-012-0046-8]

Moxibustion improved the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation donor to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is beneficial for several gastrointestinal diseases because it alters the intestinal microbiota of recipients. The efficacy of FMT is related to the microbial structure and composition of the donor. Mild moxibustion is a non-invasive and safe traditional Chinese therapy that can regulate the gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated whether moxibustion improved the efficacy of FMT in donors using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Normal mice were treated with mild moxibustion at acupoints ST25 and ST36 for 7 days. DSS (2%) was administered for 7 days to induce colitis. FMT was performed on Day 8 and lasted for 7 days. The effect of FMT on mice with DSS was observed on Day 21. Using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence, we analyzed the pathology and cell proliferation after FMT in DSS mice. In addition, using 16 S rDNA sequencing analysis, we investigated the gut microbiota of mice. The results indicated that moxibustion altered the colonic microbial community and increased the relative abundance of specific bacteria without changes in morphology and physiological function in normal mice. FMT using donors with moxibustion reduced body weight loss, inflammation, abnormal microbial community structure, and the relative abundance of some bacteria. These results provide potential strategies for the safe and targeted improvement of FMT donors.

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 promotes peripheral blood lymphocyte apoptosis in rats with colitis

AIM: To investigate the influence of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 on peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) apoptosis in rats with colitis and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODS: Forty-five healthy female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal group, a model group and a SB203580 group. Colitis was induced with 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats of the latter two groups. The normal group and the model group were treated intrarectally with saline, while the SB203580 group was given SB203580 [1 mg/(kg•d)]. The rats were sacrificed after 2 wk to assess disease activity index (DAI) and macroscopic and histological changes of the colon. PBL apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression were examined by flow cytometry. p-ATF2 protein expression in colon tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: In the model group, the percentages of cells expressing p-ATF2 and Bcl-2 were higher than those in the normal group and SB203580 group (43.40% ± 2.67% vs 7.45% ± 1.26%, 20.70% ± 2.79%; 38.60% ± 3.53% vs 13.70% ± 2.45%, 20.30% ± 2.87%, P < 0.01 for all), but the percentage of apoptotic PBLs in the model group was lower than those in the normal group and SB203580 group (27.70% ± 3.02% vs 58.70% ± 3.09%, 46.60% ± 4.14%, P < 0.01 for both). DAI and macroscopic and histological scores in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group and SB203580 group (2.42 ± 0.30 vs 0.28 ± 0.29, 1.24 ± 0.17; 5.42 ± 0.30 vs 0.30 ± 0.48, 3.30 ± 0.22; 3.29 ± 0.26 vs 0.05 ± 0.20, 1.10 ± 0.74, P < 0.01 for all).

CONCLUSION: P38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 reduces colonic inflammatory injury in rats with colitis by down-regulating expression of p-ATF2 and Bcl-2 and inducing PBL apoptosis. SB203580 can be considered as a novel therapeutic alternative for the treatment of UC.

Treatment with diammonium glycyrrhizinate down-regulates M30 expression in ulcerative colitis in rats

AIM: To assess the therapeutic effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced ulcerative colitis in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms by detecting the expression of M30 and Fas/FasL.

METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were equally randomized into a normal control group, a model group and a DG group. Ulcerative colitis was induced in the DG group and model group with TNBS by enema. After ten days, all rats were killed. Disease activity index (DAI), colon macroscopic damage score (CMDS) and histological damage score were calculated, and the expression of M30 and Fas/FasL in the colonic mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, the DAI, CMDS and histological damage score significantly increased in model rats (7.06 ± 0.80 vs 0.32 ± 0.14; 6.03 ± 0.61 vs 0.19 ± 0.16; 5.84 ± 0.53 vs 0.22 ± 0.11, P < 0.01). Compared to the model group, the above parameters were significantly improved in the DG group (3.33 ± 0.27 vs 7.06 ± 0.80; 3.29 ± 0.36 vs 6.03 ± 0.61; 2.98 ± 0.24 vs 5.84 ± 0.53, P < 0.05). Compared to the normal control group, the expression of M30 and Fas/FasL was up-regulated in the model group and DG group (5.76 ± 0.66 vs 0.42 ± 0.18; 26.62 ± 4.20 vs 10.81 ± 2.20; 17.11 ± 3.12 vs 6.02 ± 1.02, P < 0.01). Compared to the model group, the expression of M30 and Fas/FasL was remarkably decreased in the DG group (2.24 ± 0.48 vs 5.76 ± 0.66; 17.23 ± 3.20 vs 26.62 ± 4.20; 11.02 ± 2.12 vs 17.11 ± 3.12, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Treatment with DG could reduce inflammatory injury in rats with experimental ulcerative colitis possibly by reducing the expression Fas/FasL and inhibiting apoptosis of cells in the colonic mucosa.