title: Alloferon Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis.
abstract: Dysfunction of gut immune regulation is involved in mucosal damage in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is still no efficacious immune-regulator for the treatment of IBD. Alloferon is a novel immune-modulatory peptide that was originally isolated from infected insects. It shows anti-inflammatory effects by the regulation of cytokine production by immune cells and their activities. Therefore, we investigated the effect of alloferon in a mouse model of colitis using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Colitis was induced by administration of DSS in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. It was confirmed by the presence of weight loss, diarrhea, hematochezia, and colon contraction. Alloferon was injected 4 days after DSS administration. We found that alloferon improved the pathogenesis of IBD based on the reduced disease activity index (DAI) and colon contraction. Edema, epithelial erosion, and immune cell infiltration were found in mice administered DSS, but the phenomena were reduced following alloferon treatment. The plasma level of IL-6, a classical pro-inflammatory cytokine in colitis, was also decreased by alloferon. Moreover, alloferon inhibited the TNF-α-induced degradation and phosphorylation of IκB in Colo205 colon cancer cells. Taken together, these results show that alloferon has anti-inflammatory effects and attenuates DSS-induced colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyemin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Pil
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. ; Institute of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Seung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
authors.forename: Wang Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Alloferon; Anti-inflammation; DSS-induced colitis; Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)