Blockade of STAT3 by antisense oligonucleotide in TNBS-induced murine colitis.
OBJECTIVE
The expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is increased in Crohn's disease (CD), and nuclear translocated STAT3 is also found in the disease. However, the role of STAT3 protein on the pathogenesis of CD is not clear. This study was executed to investigate the role of STAT3 protein on the pathogenesis of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis, the pathogenesis of which is CD-like.


METHODS
TNBS-induced colitis was produced, and STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide was administrated intracolonically during the early phase of colitis. The mice were killed 7 days later, and the expressions of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 were identified by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) were isolated freshly, and the percent of cell death and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in LPMCs were evaluated. Colonic tissue damage and the production of inflammatory cytokines were measured also.


RESULTS
Administration of STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide effectively inhibited STAT3 expression and phosphorylation in inflamed colonic mucosa of colitis. The mice that were administered STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide showed less colonic tissue damage with decreased production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and INF-gamma in mucosa compared with that of those TNBS-induced colitis. Administration of STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide successfully induced apoptosis of LPMCs and counteracted the unbalanced expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in LPMCs from colitis.


CONCLUSIONS
STAT3 activation may play an important role in the inflammatory process of TNBS-induced colitis, and inhibiting STAT3 activation during the early phase of the inflammatory response may have a beneficial effect on the colitis.
Bai
AiPing
A
Department of Gastroenterology, The first affiliated hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Hu
PinJin
P
Chen
Jie
J
Song
Xin
X
Chen
Wei
W
Peng
WenXin
W
Zeng
ZhiRong
Z
Gao
Xiang
X
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D016207:Cytokines; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid