The therapeutic effect of recombinant human trefoil factor 3 on hypoxia-induced necrotizing enterocolitis in immature rat.
Trefoil peptides are a new class of regulatory peptides involved in mucosal protection and repair in the gastrointestinal tract. Among them, trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) (intestinal trefoil factor) is known to be cytoprotective in the gut. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of recombinant human trefoil factor 3 (rhTFF3) on hypoxia-induced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in immature rats. In the present study, thirty-two 1-day-old Wistar rat pups were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 served as nonhypoxic controls. Group 2 rats were subjected to hypoxia reoxygenation (H/O) and then were returned to their mothers. Groups 3 and 4 rats were subjected to H/O, were returned to their mothers, and were treated with rhTFF3 intraperitoneally (0.5 mg) and subcutaneously (0.2 mg), respectively, for the next 3 days. All animals were killed on day 4, and intestine specimens were obtained to determine the histological changes, tissue level of interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), malondialdehyde (MDA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tromboxane B2 (TXB2), and nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the effects of rhTFF3 on abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were also investigated. In neonatal NEC (group 2), necrosis of villi and crypts and, in some cases, transmural necrosis was observed under light microscopy. Tissue level of interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, malondialdehyde, prostaglandin E2, tromboxane B2, and nitric oxide were significantly higher than group 1. In addition, abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 was markedly increased. In groups 3 and 4, only very slight intestinal injury was observed. The tissue level of interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, malondialdehyde, prostaglandin E2, tromboxane B2, and nitric oxide were significantly decreased in comparison to the group 2. Meanwhile, the abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 was also marked decreased in comparison to group 2. The current study suggests a therapeutic role of TFF3 in an experimental model of NEC. Our findings may open a new insight into the treatment of NEC in newborns.
Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, 430060, Wuhan, PR China.
Bing-Hong
BH
Zhang
Hong-Gang
HG
Yu
Zhi-Xiang
ZX
Sheng
He-Sheng
HS
Luo
Jie-Ping
JP
Yu
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009077:Mucins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010455:Peptides; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3
D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009077:Mucins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C082495:TFF3 protein, human; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases