Abstract:

Objective   To evaluate the protective effect of tylophorine DCB-3503 on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced ulcerative colitis and the possible molecular mechanism. Methods   24 C57BL/6 wild-type mice were divided into three groups: EtOH group, TNBS+DMSO group and TNBS+DCB-3503 group. Three days after the model was set up, the mice were killed and colon length, histological section, patterns of IFN-γ+ inflammatory cells and Treg cells were examined. Besides, the expression of Foxp3 in IECs was detected using Western blot. Results   Compared with TNBS+DMSO group, DCB-3503 treatment group displayed remarkably improved clinical symptoms. Percentage of IFN-γ+ inflammatory cells in mesenteric lymph node was significantly decreased in TNBS+DCB-3503 group. Meanwhile the percentage of Treg cells in mesenteric lymph node and the expression of Foxp3 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were significantly increased after DCB-3503 treatment. Conclusion   The increase of Treg cells and decrease of IFN-γ+ inflammatory cells in DCB-3503 treatment group suggest that DCB-3503 can ameliorate the ulcerative colitis induced by TNBS via the growing number of Foxp3+ Treg cells and their suppression on IFN-γ+ inflammatory cells.

Key words:  Ulcerative colitis; Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid; IFN-γ; Treg; Foxp3