title: Unfractionated heparin and new heparin analogues from ascidians (chordate-tunicate) ameliorate colitis in rats.
abstract: The anti-inflammatory effect of mammalian heparin analogues, named dermatan sulfate and heparin, isolated from the ascidian Styela plicata was accessed in a TNBS-induced colitis model in rats. Subcutaneous administration of the invertebrate compounds during a 7-day period drastically reduced inflammation as observed by the normalization of the macroscopic and histological characteristics of the colon. At the molecular level, a decrease in the production of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, and VEGF was observed, as well as a reduction of NF-kappaB and MAPK kinase activation. At the cellular level, the heparin analogues attenuated lymphocyte and macrophage recruitment and epithelial cell apoptosis. A drastic reduction in collagen-mediated fibrosis was also observed. No hemorrhagic events were observed after glycan treatment. These results strongly indicate the potential therapeutic use of these compounds for the treatment of colonic inflammation with a lower risk of hemorrhage when compared with mammalian heparin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecido Conjuntivo, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF) and Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-913, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso L R
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Belmiro
authors.forename: Morgana T L
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Castelo-Branco
authors.forename: Leandra M C
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Melim
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schanaider
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.forename: Kalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Madi
authors.forename: Mauro S G
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pavão
authors.forename: Heitor S P
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D043344:Chordata; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006493:Heparin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D003094:Collagen