Balsalazine decreases intestinal mucosal permeability of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of balsalazine treatment on intestinal mucosal permeability in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and to determine the mechanism of the balsalazine-induced changes.


METHODS
Experimental colitis was induced in C57BL/6J mice by the administration of 5% DSS. Balsalazine was administered intragastrically at doses of 42, 141, and 423 mg/kg. The disease activity index (DAI) score was evaluated and colon tissue was collected for the assessment of histological changes. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the colon was determined, along with the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Mucosa from the small intestine was collected to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma. The mucosa was ultrastructurally examined with transmission electron microscopy and intestinal permeability was assayed using Evans blue.


RESULTS
Balsalazine was found to reduce the DAI score and the histological index (HI) score, decrease the MDA content and the activity of MPO, and increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in colitis mice. At the same time, balsalazine ameliorated microvillus and tight junction structure, resulting in a decrease in the amount of Evans blue permeating into the intestinal wall and the levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma in colitis mice.


CONCLUSIONS
In colitis mice, the anti-colitis effect of balsalazine results in a decrease in intestinal mucosal permeability. The mechanism of this effect is partly associated with balsalazine's antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 987-993; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.77.
Liu
Xiao-Chang
XC
The Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, the Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Anhui Province, Hefei 230022, China.
Mei
Qiao
Q
Xu
Jian-Ming
JM
Hu
Jing
J
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010659:Phenylhydrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010659:Phenylhydrazines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019804:Mesalamine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D009195:Peroxidase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C038637:balsalazide