Vanillin improves and prevents trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic inflammatory and relapsing disease of the gut. It has been known that activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and production of proinflammatory cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of IBD. In this study, the effect of vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde), a potent nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor, was evaluated in mice with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Oral administration of vanillin improved macroscopic and histological features of TNBS-induced colitis in a dose-dependent manner. Vanillin not only prevented TNBS-induced colitis but also ameliorated the established colitis. By in vivo NF-kappaB bioluminescence imaging, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and Western blot, we found that vanillin suppressed in vivo NF-kappaB activities through the inhibition of p65 translocation, inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB(IkappaB)-alpha phosphorylation, and IkappaB kinase activation. Furthermore, vanillin reduced the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and stimulated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) in colonic tissues. In conclusion, this work identified vanillin as an anti-inflammatory compound with the capacity to prevent and ameliorate TNBS-induced colitis. Due to its safety, vanillin could be a potent candidate for the treatment of IBD.
Department of Biochemistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Shih-Lu
SL
Wu
Jaw-Chyun
JC
Chen
Chia-Cheng
CC
Li
Hsin-Yi
HY
Lo
Tin-Yun
TY
Ho
Chien-Yun
CY
Hsiang
D000818:Animals; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
D001547:Benzaldehydes; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; C100058:vanillin