title: Fasting prevents experimental murine colitis produced by dextran sulfate sodium and decreases interleukin-1 beta and insulin-like growth factor I messenger ribonucleic acid.
abstract: Cytokines and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are involved in the induction and/or perpetuation of inflammatory bowel disease. The effect of fasting on inflammatory bowel disease was studied in a mouse experimental model of acute colitis caused by adding dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to drinking water. Animals were either fed ad libitum or fasted (water only) for 2 days before death. Inflammation and tissue damage, measured as a colitis activity score, were markedly reduced in fasted (2.4 +/- 0.1) compared to fed (5.3 +/- 0.1) DSS animals (P < 0.0001). Colon interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IGF-I, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were quantified by Northern blot hybridization and expressed as a percentage of mRNA abundance in fed controls. In DSS mice, IL-1 beta mRNA was elevated in the fed group (954 +/- 155%; P < 0.001), but was suppressed in fasted animals (71.1 +/- 11%). IGF-I mRNA also was elevated in fed DSS mice (421 +/- 71%; P < 0.01). This increase was attenuated in fasted DSS mice (202 +/- 17%; P < 0.01 compared to fed DSS mice). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA was increased in fed DSS mice (162 +/- 15%; P < 0.01), but was not significantly lower in fasted animals. By in situ hybridization, IL-1 beta mRNA was localized to the lamina propria of colonic mucosa in fed DSS animals, but was not detectable in other groups. We conclude that fasting has a protective effect on the progression of acute DSS, induced colitis. This is associated with decreased expression of IL-1 beta and IGF-I mRNAs in the colon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sävendahl
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Haldeman
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ulshen
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D016264:Dextran Sulfate