Schistosoma mansoni proteins attenuate gastrointestinal motility disturbances during experimental colitis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) soluble worm proteins on gastrointestinal motility disturbances during experimental colitis in mice.


METHODS
Colitis was induced by intrarectal injection of trinitrobenzene sulphate (TNBS) and 6 h later, mice were treated ip with S. mansoni proteins. Experiments were performed 5 d after TNBS injection. Inflammation was quantified using validated inflammation parameters. Gastric emptying and geometric center were measured to assess in vivo gastrointestinal motility. Peristaltic activity of distal colonic segments was studied in vitro using a modified Trendelenburg set-up. Cytokine profiles of T-lymphocytes isolated from the colon were determined by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Intracolonic injection of TNBS caused severe colitis. Treatment with S. mansoni proteins significantly ameliorated colonic inflammation after 5 d. TNBS did not affect gastric emptying but significantly decreased the geometric center and impaired colonic peristaltic activity 5 d after the induction of colitis. Treatment with S. mansoni proteins ameliorated these in vivo and in vitro motility disturbances. In addition, TNBS injection caused a downregulation of effector T cell cytokines after 5 d, whereas a S. mansoni protein effect was no longer observed at this time point.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with S. mansoni proteins attenuated intestinal inflammation and ameliorated motility disturbances during murine experimental colitis.
Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Nathalie E
NE
Ruyssers
Benedicte Y
BY
De Winter
Joris G
JG
De Man
Natacha D
ND
Ruyssers
Ann J
AJ
Van Gils
Alex
A
Loukas
Mark S
MS
Pearson
Joel V
JV
Weinstock
Paul A
PA
Pelckmans
Tom G
TG
Moreels
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects
D016207:Cytokines; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid