Protective role of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in the mucosal injury and epithelial barrier disruption in DSS-induced acute colitis in mice.
Intestinal hyper-permeability plays a critical role in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by affecting the penetration of pathogens, toxic compounds and macromolecules. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the active form of vitamin D, has been shown to be an important regulator of IBD and recent epidemiology suggests that patients with IBD have an impaired vitamin D status. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on mucosal injury and epithelial barrier disruption on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis model.
We used DSS-induced acute colitis model to investigate the protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on mucosal injury and epithelial barrier integrity. Severity of colitis was evaluated by disease activity index (DAI), body weight (BW) change, colon length, histology, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and proinflammatory cytokine production including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In vitro the protective role of 1,25(OH)2D3 was assessed by incubating Caco-2 cells with or without DSS and measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D). The intestinal permeability was analyzed by FITC-D, bacterial translocation and measurement of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ultrastructural features of the colon tissue and Caco-2 cell monolayer were observed by electron microscopy. Expressions of tight junction (TJ) proteins in the colon mucosa and Caco-2 cells were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, respectively.
DSS-induced acute colitis model was characterized by a reduced BW, AUC of BW, serum calcium, higher DAI, AUC of DAI, shortened colon length, elevated MPO activity, worsened histologic inflammation, increased mononuclear cell numbers in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and colonic lamina propria (LP), and enhanced proteins and mRNA levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ. 1,25(OH)2D3 markedly increased expressions of TJ proteins and mRNA and decreased the FITC-D permeability and the level of LPS. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)2D3 abrogated bacterial translocation to MLNs and ameliorated ultrastructural features of the colon epithelium by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro, 1,25(OH)2D3 increased TEER, TJ proteins and mRNA expressions, decreased the FITC-D permeability, and preserved structural integrity of the TJ in Caco-2 cells.
1,25(OH)2D3 may play a protective role in mucosal barrier homeostasis by maintaining the integrity of junction complexes and in healing capacity of the colon epithelium. 1,25(OH)2D3 may represent an attractive and novel therapeutic agent for the adjuvant therapy of IBD.
Zhao H
,Zhang H
,Wu H
,Li H
,Liu L
,Guo J
,Li C
,Shih DQ
,Zhang X
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《BMC GASTROENTEROLOGY》
Intraperitoneal supplementation of iron alleviates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by enhancing intestinal barrier function.
Iron supplementation is necessary for the treatment of anemia, one of the most frequent complications in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, oral iron supplementation leads to an exacerbation of intestinal inflammation. Gut barrier plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD. The aim of this study was to characterize the interrelationship between systemic iron, intestinal barrier and the development of intestinal inflammation in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced experimental colitis mice model. We found that DSS-treated mice developed severe inflammation of colon, but became much healthy when intraperitoneal injection with iron. Iron supplementation alleviated colonic and systemic inflammation by lower histological scores, restorative morphology of colonic villi, and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, intraperitoneal supplementation of iron enhanced intestinal barrier function by upregulating the colonic expressions of tight junction proteins, restoring intestinal immune homeostasis by regulating immune cell infiltration and T lymphocyte subsets, and increasing mucous secretion of goblet cells in the colon. High-throughput sequencing of fecal 16 S rRNA showed that iron injection significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, which was suppressed in the gut microbiota of DSS-induced colitis mice. These results provided evidences supporting the protective effects of systemic iron repletion by intraperitoneal injection of iron on intestinal barrier functions. The finding highlights a novel approach for the treatment of IBD with iron injection therapy.
Liang L
,Xiong Q
,Kong J
,Tian C
,Miao L
,Zhang X
,Du H
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