recoflavone and Colitis

Previously, we have shown that DA-6034, a synthetic derivative of flavonoid eupatilin, inhibited NF-kappaB activation in colon epithelial cells and prevented trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced rat colitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effect of DA-6034 on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and on inflammation-related cancer. C57BL/6 mice were given 4% DSS for 5 days with and without DA-6034 in the acute preventive model. In the acute therapeutic model, mice were given 4% DSS for 5 days followed by rectal administration of DA-6034. Colitis was quantified by body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histology. In the inflammation-related cancer model, mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane, then three cycles of 2% DSS for 5 days, then 2 weeks of free water consumption. Apoptosis was determined by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, and the expression of Ki-67, phospho-kappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha), and COX-2 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. In both the acute preventive and acute therapeutic models, DA-6034 significantly attenuated DSS-induced weight loss, an increase in DAI, and a shortening of colon length. DA-6034-treated mice maintained crypt architecture and revealed a scanty infiltration of inflammatory cells in both the preventive and therapeutic models. In the inflammation-related cancer model, DA-6034 reduced the number of colon tumors and ameliorated weight loss and shortening of colon length. DA-6034 strongly enhanced apoptosis and inhibited the expression of COX-2 and phospho-IKKalpha in inflammation-related colon cancer models. Our results suggest that DA-6034 prevents acute murine colitis and inhibits inflammation-related colon carcinogenesis. DA-6034 could be a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Apoptosis; Body Weight; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Colitis; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Flavonoids; I-kappa B Kinase; Ki-67 Antigen; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phosphorylation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disorder with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. DA-6034, 7-carboxymethyloxy-3', 4', 5-trimethoxy flavone, is a synthetic flavonoid known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. This study was performed to evaluate the oral therapeutic effect of DA-6034 in three experimental animal models of IBD: two chemical-induced IBD models of rats and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 transgenic rat model known to develop spontaneous colitis without the use of exogenous agents. Acute chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic instillation of 1.2 ml of 4% acetic acid solution. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg) and DA-6034 (0.3 to approximately 3 mg/kg) were orally administered twice daily for 6 days in these rats. In addition, chronic chemical colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) 30 mg in 50% ethanol and agents were orally administered for 6 or 20 days. In chemical-induced IBD models, all of these agents reduced the severity of colitis and specially, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) showed more potent effect than other drugs in macroscopic lesion score. In HLA-B27 transgenic rats, DA-6034 (3 mg/kg) and prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg) were treated orally twice daily for 6 weeks. The HLA-B27 transgenic rats showed only mild colitis, compared with the chemical-induced colitis models. DA-6034 ameliorated the loose stool and decreased microscopic damage, which is the important indicator of this model. In conclusion, oral therapy of DA-6034 attenuated the macroscopic and histologic damages of the colon in all three experimental models of IBD, which suggest that DA-6034 could be a promising drug in the treatment of IBD.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; beta 2-Microglobulin; Colitis; Flavonoids; Gastrointestinal Agents; HLA-B27 Antigen; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Organ Size; Prednisolone; Rats; Sulfasalazine; Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; Weight Loss