Myosin light chain kinase inhibitor inhibits dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) plays a central role in the mechanisms of barrier dysfunction, and intestinal epithelial MLCK protein expression is upregulated in active ulcerative colitis (UC). ML-7, a MLCK inhibitor, has been used in many MLCK studies. However, the effect of ML-7 has never been estimated in colitis models. The aim of this study was to determine whether ML-7 can treat UC.


METHODS
Experimental colitis was induced and ML-7 was administered by intraperitoneal injection. The disease activity index (DAI) scores were evaluated and colon tissue was collected for the assessment of histological changes, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-13 and interleukin (IL)-17 levels. The small intestinal mucosa was ultrastructurally examined, epithelial MLCK protein expression and enzymatic activity were determined, and intestinal permeability was assayed using FITC-dextran 4000 (FD-4) and Evans blue (EB).


RESULTS
ML-7 was found to be significantly effective in reducing the DAI scores and histological index scores, and decreasing MPO activity and TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-13 and IL-17 levels. The small intestinal epithelial MLCK protein expression and enzymatic activity were downregulated by ML-7. The epithelial cells and intercellular tight junctions were ameliorated, and the amount of FD-4 in blood and EB permeating into the intestine were decreased by ML-7 in colitis mice.


CONCLUSIONS
ML-7 has a significant anti-colitis effect in colitis mice. It is mainly associated with the inhibition of the epithelial MLCK protein expression, resulting in ameliorated intestinal mucosal permeability.
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, The Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Anhui Province, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, China.
Xiaochang
X
Liu
Jianming
J
Xu
Qiao
Q
Mei
Liang
L
Han
Jian
J
Huang
D000818:Animals; D001381:Azepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010539:Permeability; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D001381:Azepines; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; C070571:ML 7; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase