title: Antiinflammatory effect of phytosterols in experimental murine colitis model: prevention, induction, remission study.
abstract: Phytosterols, besides hypocholesterolemic effect, present anti-inflammatory properties. Little information is available about their efficacy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Therefore, we have evaluated the effect of a mixture of phytosterols on prevention/induction/remission in a murine experimental model of colitis. Phytosterols were administered x os before, during and after colitis induction with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) in mice. Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress in the intestinal tissue (ileum and colon) and gallbladder ileum and colon spontaneous and carbachol (CCh) induced motility, plasma lipids and plasma, liver and biliary bile acids (BA) were evaluated. A similar longitudinal study was performed in a DSS colitis control group. Mice treated with DSS developed severe colitis as shown by DAI, colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress. Both spontaneous and induced ileal and colonic motility were severely disturbed. The same was observed with gallbladder. DSS colitis resulted in an increase in plasma cholesterol, and a modification of the BA pattern. Phytosterols feeding did not prevent colitis onset but significantly reduced the severity of the disease and improved clinical and histological remission. It had strong antioxidant effects, almost restored colon, ileal and gallbladder motility. Plasmatic levels of cholesterol were also reduced. DSS induced a modification in the BA pattern consistent with an increase in the intestinal BA deconjugating bacteria, prevented by phytosterols. Phytosterols seem a potential nutraceutical tool for gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, combining metabolic systematic and local anti-inflammatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aldini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fato
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergamini
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cont
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camborata
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spinozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.affiliation: DIMES Department, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Errico-Grigioni
authors.affiliation: DIMES Department, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzella
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotecnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budriesi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D010840:Phytosterols; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D002784:Cholesterol