lignans and Inflammatory-Bowel-Diseases

Anemia is the main extra-gastrointestinal symptom in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other cytokines are secreted and act in the microenvironment of the small intestine mucous membrane of IBD patients. Iron is essential for multiple cell functions and its homeostasis is regulated by the hepcidin-ferroportin axis. Hepcidin (HEPC) is mainly produced by the liver in response to iron needs but is also an acute phase protein. During inflammation, hepcidin is upregulated by IL-6 and is responsible for iron compartmentalization within cells, in turn causing anemia of inflammation. Tissues other than liver can produce hepcidin in response to inflammatory stimuli, in order to decrease iron efflux at a local level, then acting in an autocrine-paracrine manner. In IBDs and, in particular, in celiac disease (CeD), IL-6 might trigger the expression, upregulation and secretion of hepcidin in the small intestine, reducing iron efflux and exacerbating defective iron absorption. 7-Hydroxymatairesinol (7-HMR) belongs to the family of lignans, polyphenolic compounds produced by plants, and has nutraceutical antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and estrogenic properties. In this mini-review we revise the role of inflammation in IBDs and in particular in CeD, focusing our attention on the close link among inflammation, anemia and iron metabolism. We also briefly describe the anti-inflammatory and estrogenic activity of 7-HMR contained in foods that are often consumed by CeD patients. Finally, considering that HEPC expression is regulated by iron needs, inflammation and estrogens, we explored the hypothesis that 7-HMR consumption could ameliorate anemia in CeD using Caco-2 cells as bowel model. Further studies are needed to verify the regulation pathway through which 7-HMR may interfere with the local production of HEPC in bowel.

Topics: Anemia; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Caco-2 Cells; Celiac Disease; Cytokines; Edible Grain; Hepcidins; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Iron; Lignans

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammation syndromes that are very common in developed countries. It is characterized by intermittent episodes of clinical remission and relapse, with recurrent inflammatory injury that can lead to structural damage of the intestine. The uncontrolled intestinal immune response to bacterial antigens leads to the production of abundant cytokines and chemokines, by activated leukocytes and epithelial cells, which trigger inflammatory and oxidative reactions. The current treatment of IBD consists in long-term anti-inflammatory therapy that, however, does not exclude relapses and side effects, frequently resulting in surgical intervention. Polyphenols have been acknowledged to be anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory and therefore, have been proposed as an alternative natural approach to prevent or treat chronic inflammatory diseases. Most studies have been in animal models of colitis, using chemical inducers or mice defective in anti-inflammatory mediators and in intestinal cell lines treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines or lipid oxidation products. These studies provide evidence that polyphenols can effectively modulate intestinal inflammation. They exert their effects by modulating cell signaling pathways, mainly activated in response to oxidative and inflammatory stimuli, and NF-kB is the principal downstream effector. Polyphenols may thus be considered able to prevent or delay the progression of IBD, especially because they reach higher concentrations in the gut than in other tissues. However, knowledge of the use of polyphenols in managing human IBD is still scanty, and further clinical studies should afford more solid evidence of their beneficial effects.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Complementary Therapies; Cytokines; Dietary Supplements; Flavonoids; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Lignans; NF-kappa B; Polyphenols; Stilbenes

Intestinal mucus barrier dysfunction is closely involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanism of arctigenin, a phytoestrogen isolated from the fruits of Arctium lappa L., on the intestinal mucus barrier under colitis condition. The role of arctigenin on the intestinal mucus barrier and the apoptosis of goblet cells were examined by using both in vitro and in vivo assays. Arctigenin was demonstrated to promote the mucus secretion and maintain the integrity of mucus barrier, which might be achieved by an increase in the number of goblet cells via inhibiting apoptosis. Arctigenin selectively inhibited the mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, arctigenin elevated the protein level of prohibitin 1 (PHB1) through blocking the ubiquitination via activation of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) to competitively interact with PHB1 and disrupt the binding of tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21) with PHB1. ERβ knock down in the colons of mice with DSS-induced colitis resulted in significant reduction of the protection of arctigenin and DPN against the mucosal barrier. Arctigenin can maintain the integrity of the mucus barrier by inhibiting the apoptosis of goblet cells through the ERβ/TRIM21/PHB1 pathway.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Colitis; Estrogen Receptor beta; Furans; Goblet Cells; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Lignans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mucus; Phytoestrogens; Prohibitins

Leaky gut symptoms and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with damaged intestinal mucosa, intestinal permeability dysfunction by epithelial cell cytoskeleton contraction, disrupted intercellular tight junction (TJ) protein expression, and abnormal immune responses and are intractable diseases.. We evaluated the effects of schisandrin C, a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan from Schisandra chinensis, on intestinal inflammation and permeability dysfunction in gut mimetic systems: cultured intestinal cells, intestinal organoids, and a Caenorhabditis elegans model.. Schisandrin C was selected from 9 lignan compounds from S. chinensis based on its anti-inflammatory effects in HT-29 human intestinal cells. IL-1β and Pseudomonas aeruginosa supernatants were used to disrupt intestinal barrier formation in vitro and in C. elegans, respectively. The effects of schisandrin C on transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and intestinal permeability were evaluated in intestinal cell monolayers, and its effect on intestinal permeability dysfunction was tested in mouse intestinal organoids and C. elegans by measuring fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran efflux. The effect of schisandrin C on TJ protein expression was investigated by western blotting and fluorescence microscopy. The signaling pathway underlying these effects was also elucidated.. Schisandrin C ameliorated intestinal permeability dysfunction in three IBD model systems and enhanced epithelial barrier formation via upregulation of ZO-1 and occludin in intestinal cell monolayers and intestinal organoids. In Caco-2 cells, schisandrin C restored IL-1β-mediated increases in MLCK and p-MLC expression, in turn blocking cytoskeletal contraction and subsequent intestinal permeabilization. Schisandrin C inhibited NF-ĸB and p38 MAPK signaling, which regulates MLCK expression and structural reorganization of the TJ complex in Caco-2 cells. Schisandrin C significantly improved abnormal FITC-dextran permeabilization in both intestinal organoids and C. elegans.. Schisandrin C significantly improves abnormal intestinal permeability and regulates the expression of TJ proteins, long MLCK, p-MLC, and inflammation-related proteins, which are closely related to leaky gut symptoms and IBD development. Therefore, schisandrin C is a candidate to treat leaky gut symptoms and IBDs.

Topics: Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Caenorhabditis elegans; Cyclooctanes; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Lignans; Mice; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; Organoids; Permeability; Polycyclic Compounds; Tight Junction Proteins; Tight Junctions

Schisandrin B (Sch B) is the major active constituent of the traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra chinensis and has anti-inflammatory activity, but the target of Sch B remains unclear. T helper 17 (T

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Cyclooctanes; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Lignans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Polycyclic Compounds; Th17 Cells

Intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction is deeply involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Arctigenin, the main active constituent in Fructus Arctii (a traditional Chinese medicine), has previously been found to attenuate colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. The present study investigated whether and how arctigenin protects against the disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier in IBD. Arctigenin maintained the intestinal epithelial barrier function of mice with DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis. In Caco-2 and HT-29 cells, arctigenin lowered the monolayer permeability, increased TEER, reversed the abnormal expression of tight junction proteins, and restored the altered localization of F-actin induced by TNF-α and IL-1β. The specific antagonist PHTPP or shRNA of ERβ largely weakened the protective effect of arctigenin on the epithelial barrier function of Caco-2 and HT-29 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that arctigenin had high affinity for ERβ mainly through hydrogen bonds as well as hydrophobic effects, and the protective effect of arctigenin on the intestinal barrier function was largely diminished in ERβ-mutated (ARG346 and/or GLU305) Caco-2 cells. Moreover, arctigenin-blocked TNF-α induced increase of the monolayer permeability in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells and the activation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)/myosin light chain (MLC) pathway in an ERβ-dependent manner. ERβ deletion in colons of mice with DSS-induced colitis resulted in a significant attenuation of the protective effect of arctigenin on the barrier integrity and colon inflammation. Arctigenin maintained the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier under IBD by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins through the ERβ-MLCK/MLC pathway.

Topics: Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Estrogen Receptor beta; Female; Furans; HT29 Cells; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Interleukin-1beta; Intestinal Mucosa; Lignans; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mutation, Missense; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; Signal Transduction; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Fargesin is a bioactive lignan from

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Benzodioxoles; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Dextran Sulfate; Gene Expression Regulation; Inflammation Mediators; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Lignans; Luciferases; Mice; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Peroxidase; Proteolysis; RAW 264.7 Cells; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Schisandrin B (Sch B), the most abundant dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, possesses various biological activities, such as hepatic protection, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-cardiovascular properties. However, the effect of Sch B on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not yet known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Sch B has protective effect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model. The acute mouse model of IBD was induced by drinking 2.5% DSS water for 5 days. Sch B was administered orally in doses of 10, 40, and 100 mg/kg respectively. It significantly reduced concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β, INF-γ and IL-6 in colon tissue as well as the mRNA expression levels. In addition, we demonstrated that Sch B blocked the phosphorylation of IκBα, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal regulated kinase in DSS-induced acute colitis. In conclusion, these results indicated that Sch B could exert beneficial effects on experimental IBD induced by DSS and may represent a novel treatment strategy for IBD.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Colitis; Colon; Cyclooctanes; Cytokines; Dextran Sulfate; Female; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Lignans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; NF-kappa B; Polycyclic Compounds; Signal Transduction