title: Basic fibroblast growth factor enema improves experimental colitis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth factors have a potential role in gastrointestinal mucosal repair. Although basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is known to contribute to wound healing, however, the role of bFGF in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease has not been established. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of intracolonic bFGF administration on both the clinical symptoms and histological mucosal repair in an experimental model of colitis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute colitis was induced with 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) given for one week in drinking water. The rats were treated daily with recombinant human bFGF enema (400 microg/kg/day) or vehicle once daily from day 1 to day 7. Clinical score (stool consistency, weight loss and hemoccult/gross rectal bleeding), colon length and histological score of mucosal injury in colonic tissue samples were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of bFGF enema significantly reduced clinical score (p < 0.01) and histological score (p < 0.01). No specific side effect of bFGF was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that bFGF enema is clinically safe and useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. BFGF enema may contribute as a novel therapy of IBD.
authors: Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. kojimat-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors: Tetsu
authors: T
authors: Kojima
authors: Toshiahi
authors: T
authors: Watanabe
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Hata
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Nagawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004733:Enema; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2