title: Establishment and validation of a new semi-chronic dextran sulfate sodium-induced model of colitis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced model of colitis is a commonly used model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in animals. However, there were few studies on the therapeutic efficacy of drugs for IBD after the onset of colitis in this model. We established a semi-chronic model of DSS-induced colitis in mice and used it to assess the therapeutic efficacy of agents for IBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colitis was induced by administration of 3% DSS in drinking water to mice for 7days followed by 5days of normal drinking water.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ulcerative colitis (UC)-like symptoms including diarrhea, bloody stools and body-weight loss were observed from days 3 to 5, and continued until day 12 after DSS administration. Persistent colitis was associated with sustained local production of cytokines and was characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, crypt loss and erosion in the distal colon. These features are similar to those found in patients with UC. In this model, anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibody or anti-interleukin (IL)-12/23p40 antibody significantly ameliorated colitis when administered after the onset of colitis. However, treatment with FK506, prednisolone or sulfasalazine provided limited therapeutic benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DSS-induced colitis established here showed similar symptomatic and histopathological features to those seen in human UC. This model may be available for predicting the clinical efficacy of candidate compounds for UC.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takukyu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Igaki
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuchimori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D011239:Prednisolone; D009195:Peroxidase; D016559:Tacrolimus