title: Flavaglines Ameliorate Experimental Colitis and Protect Against Intestinal Epithelial Cell Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flavaglines are a family of natural compounds shown to have anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in neurons and cardiomyocytes. Flavaglines target prohibitins as ligands, which are scaffold proteins that regulate mitochondrial function, cell survival, and transcription. This study tested the therapeutic potential of flavaglines to promote intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis and to protect against a model of experimental colitis in which inflammation is driven by epithelial ulceration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survival and homeostasis of Caco2-BBE and IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cell lines were measured during treatment with the flavaglines FL3 or FL37 alone and in combination with the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α and interferon γ. Wild-type mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.1 mg/kg FL3 or vehicle once daily for 4 days during dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis to test the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of FL3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FL3 and FL37 increased basal Caco2-BBE and IEC-6 cell viability, decreased apoptosis, and decreased epithelial monolayer permeability. FL3 and FL37 inhibited TNFα- and interferon γ-induced nuclear factor kappa B and Cox2 expression, apoptosis, and increased permeability in Caco2-BBE cells. FL3 and FL37 protected against TNFα-induced mitochondrial superoxide generation by preserving respiratory chain complex I activity and prohibitin expression. p38-MAPK activation was essential for the protective effect of FL3 and FL37 on barrier permeability and mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species production during TNFα treatment. Mice administered FL3 during dextran sodium sulfate colitis exhibited increased colonic prohibitin expression and p38-MAPK activation, preserved barrier function, and less inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that flavaglines exhibit therapeutic potential against colitis and preserve intestinal epithelial cell survival, mitochondrial function, and barrier integrity.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor Research Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; and †Therapeutic Innovation Laboratory, CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basmadjian
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Désaubry
authors.forename: Arianne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Theiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016264:Dextran Sulfate