title: Decreased Fibrogenesis After Treatment with Pirfenidone in a Newly Developed Mouse Model of Intestinal Fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibrosis as a common problem in patients with Crohn's disease is a result of an imbalance toward excessive tissue repair. At present, there is no specific treatment option. Pirfenidone is approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with both antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. We subsequently investigated the impact of pirfenidone treatment on development of fibrosis in a new mouse model of intestinal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small bowel resections from donor mice were transplanted subcutaneously into the neck of recipients. Animals received either pirfenidone (100 mg/kg, three times daily, orally) or vehicle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After administration of pirfenidone, a significantly decreased collagen layer thickness was revealed as compared to vehicle (9.7 ± 1.0 versus 13.5 ± 1.5 µm, respectively, **P < 0.001). Transforming growth factor-β and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were significantly decreased after treatment with pirfenidone as confirmed by real-time PCR (0.42 ± 0.13 versus 1.00 ± 0.21 and 0.46 ± 0.24 versus 1.00 ± 0.62 mRNA expression level relative to GAPDH, respectively, *P < 0.05). Significantly decreased transforming growth factor-β after administration of pirfenidone was confirmed by Western blotting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our mouse model, intestinal fibrosis can be reliably induced and is developed within 7 days. Pirfenidone partially prevented the development of fibrosis, making it a potential treatment option against Crohn's disease-associated fibrosis.
authors: *Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; †Departamento de Farmacología and CIBERehd, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; ‡Division of Cranio-Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Center for Dental Medicine, Oral Biotechnology & Bioengineering, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; and §Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Remo
authors: R
authors: Meier
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Lutz
authors: Jesus
authors: J
authors: Cosín-Roger
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Fagagnini
authors: Gabi
authors: G
authors: Bollmann
authors: Anouk
authors: A
authors: Hünerwadel
authors: Celine
authors: C
authors: Mamie
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Lang
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Tchouboukov
authors: Franz E
authors: FE
authors: Weber
authors: Achim
authors: A
authors: Weber
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Rogler
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Hausmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D011728:Pyridones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; C093844:pirfenidone