title: Effects of probiotic on intestinal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of probiotic on intestinal mucosae of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and to evaluate the role of probiotic in preventing the relapse of UC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients received treatment with sulphasalazine (SASP) and glucocorticoid and then were randomly administered bifid triple viable capsule (BIFICO) (1.26 g/d), or an identical placebo (starch) for 8 wk. Fecal samples were collected for stool culture 2 wk before and after the randomized treatments. The patients were evaluated clinically, endoscopically and histologically after 2 mo of treatment or in case of relapse of UC. p65 and IkappaB expressions were determined by Western blot analysis. DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB in colonic nuclear extracts was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). mRNA expressions of cytokines were identified by semi-quantitative assay, reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients (20%) in the BIFICO group had relapses during 2-mo follow-up period, compared with 14 (93.3%) in placebo group (P<0.01). The concentration of fecal lactobacilli, bifidobacteria was significantly increased in BIFICO-treated group only (P<0.01). The expressions of NF-kappaB p65 and DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB were significantly attenuated in the treatment group than that in control (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines was elevated in comparison with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probiotic could impede the activation of NF-kappaB, decrease the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and elevate the expression of IL-10. These results suggest that oral administration of this new probiotic preparation is effective in preventing flare-ups of chronic UC. It may become a prophylactic drug to decrease the relapse of UC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Chinese PLA Institute of Digestion Medicine, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Cun-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-De
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cun
authors.forename: Jin-Bao
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Hu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Han-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Yan-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: Xue-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D012460:Sulfasalazine