Effects of low molecular weight heparin on platelet surface P-selectin expression and serum interleukin-8 production in rats with trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on platelet surface P-selectin expression and serum interleukin-8 production in rats with trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis.


METHODS
Colitis was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by colonic administration of 2, 4, 6-TNBS. LMWH, a dalteparin (150 U/kg, 300 U/kg), was subcutaneously administrated one hour before induction of colitis and went on once a day for 6 days. Then a half dose was given for the next 7 days. Control animals received the same volume of normal saline once a day for 14 days after treated by TNBS. Animals were sacrificed at 24 h, days 7 and 14 after induction of colitis. The colon was excised for the evaluation of macroscopic and histological findings and TNF-alpha immunohistochemical assay. Platelet surface P-selectin expression was determined by radioimmunoassay and serum IL-8 production was assayed by ELISA method.


RESULTS
LMWH treatment in a dose of 300 U/kg for 14 days significantly improved colonic inflammation by histological examination. Serum IL-8 production in the 300 U/kg treatment group was more significantly decreased at day 14 than that at 24 h (P<0.05). However, platelet surface P-selectin expression and TNF-alpha staining in colonic tissue were not significantly different among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
LMWH has an anti-inflammatory effect on TNBS induced colitis in rats. The effect is possibly related to inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine IL-8, but not involved platelet surface P-selectin expression.
Department of Internal Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. bingxia@public.wh.hb.cn
Bing
B
Xia
Hong
H
Han
Ke-Jian
KJ
Zhang
Jin
J
Li
Guang-Song
GS
Guo
Ling-Ling
LL
Gong
Xian-Chang
XC
Zeng
Jun-Yan
JY
Liu
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019007:P-Selectin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid