Glucagonlike peptide-2 analogue: a possible new approach in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
OBJECTIVE
Glucagonlike peptide-2alpha (GLP-2alpha) has been shown to be a growth factor for the small intestine. This study investigated the benefits of intravenous and intraluminal administration of GLP-2alpha using a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


METHODS
Normal Fisher rats and HLA-B27 (IBD) rats were treated for 14 days as follows: Fisher, intravenous saline (n = 6); HLA-B27, intravenous saline (n = 6); HLA-B27, intravenous GLP-2alpha (50 microg/kg/d; n = 5); Fisher, intraluminal saline (n = 5); HLA-B27, intraluminal saline (n = 5); or intraluminal GLP-2alpha (50 microg/kg/d; n = 5). Rats were evaluated for frequency of diarrhea, and the bowel was analyzed for gross and microscopic lesions. Statistical evaluations were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A P value of.05 was significant.


RESULTS
Intravenous GLP-2alpha decreased diarrhea and the number of bowel lesions (P <.05). Microscopic inflammation was reduced by 24% but was not statistically significant. Intraluminal GLP-2alpha decreased the number of small intestine lesions (P <.05) and the microscopic inflammation (P <.05) but did not significantly reduce diarrhea or the overall number of bowel lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
GLP-2alpha ameliorates the signs of IBD in HLA-B27 rats. Intravenous GLP-2alpha reduces diarrhea more effectively than intraluminal administration, and both routes are equally effective in ameliorating inflammation. GLP-2alpha potentially provides a new modality for the treatment of IBD.
Arthur
Grier L
GL
Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5587, USA.
Schwartz
Marshall Z
MZ
Kuenzler
Keith A
KA
Birbe
Ruth
R
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003672:Defecation; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D007082:Ileum; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D010455:Peptides; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; C015236:glucagon-like-immunoreactivity