Ginkgetin improved experimental colitis by inhibiting intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis through EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling.

Excessive apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells leads to intestinal barrier dysfunction, which is not only one of the pathological features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but also a therapeutic target. A natural plant extract, Ginkgetin (GK), has been reported to have anti-apoptotic activity, but its role in IBD is unknown. This study aimed to explore whether GK has anti-colitis effects and related mechanisms. An experimental colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was established, and GK was found to relieve colitis in DSS-induced mice as evidenced by improvements in weight loss, colon shortening, Disease Activity Index (DAI), macroscopic and tissue scores, and proinflammatory mediators. In addition, in DSS mice and TNF-α-induced colonic organoids, GK protected the intestinal barrier and inhibited intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, by improving permeability and inhibiting the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of key apoptotic regulators (cleaved caspase 3, Bax and Bcl-2). The underlying mechanism of GK's protective effect was explored by bioinformatics, rescue experiments and molecular docking, and it was found that GK might directly target and activate EGFR, thereby interfering with PI3K/AKT signaling to inhibit apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, GK inhibited intestinal epithelial apoptosis in mice with experimental colitis, at least in part, by activating EGFR and interfering with PI3K/AKT activation, explaining the underlying mechanism for ameliorating colitis, which may provide new options for the treatment of IBD.

Complanatuside A ameliorates 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice by regulating the Th17/Treg balance via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Immunity imbalance of T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells is involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Complanatuside A (CA), a flavonol glycoside, exerts anti-inflammatory activities and our study aimed to identify its effect on TNBS-induced colitis and the possible mechanisms. We found that CA alleviated the symptoms of colitis in TNBS mice, as demonstrated by prevented weight loss and colon length shortening, as well as decreased disease activity index scores, inflammatory scores, and levels of proinflammatory factors. Flow cytometry analysis showed that CA markedly reduced the percentage of Th17 cells while increasing the percentage of Treg cells in TNBS mice. Under Th17 cell polarizing conditions, CA inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells while the Treg cell differentiation was elevated under Treg cell polarizing conditions. Furthermore, it was observed that JAK2 interacted with CA through six hydrogen bonds via molecular docking. The phosphorylation of JAK2/STAT3 was reduced by CA, which might be correlated with the protective effect of CA on colitis. In conclusion, CA reduced the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in TNBS-induced colitis, which may provide novel strategies for CD treatment.

Bryostatin-1 attenuates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.

Bryostatin-1 (Bryo-1) exerts antioxidative stress effects in multiple diseases, and we confirmed that it improves intestinal barrier dysfunction in experimental colitis. Nevertheless, there are few reports on its action on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). In this study, we mainly explored the effect of Bryo-1 on intestinal I/R injury and determined the mechanism. C57BL/6J mice underwent temporary superior mesenteric artery (SMA) obturation to induce I/R, on the contrary, Caco-2 cells suffered to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) to establish the in vitro model. RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS to induce macrophage inflammation. The drug gradient experiment was used to demonstrate in vivo and in vitro models. Bryo-1 ameliorated the intestinal I/R-induced injury of multiple organs and epithelial cells. It also alleviated intestinal I/R-induced barrier disruption of intestines according to the histology, intestinal permeability, intestinal bacterial translocation rates, and tight junction protein expression results. Bryo-1 significantly inhibited oxidative stress damages and inflammation, which may contribute to the restoration of intestinal barrier function. Further, Bryo-1 significantly activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in vivo. However, the deletion of Nrf2 in Caco-2 and RAW264.7 cells attenuated the protective functions of Bryo-1 and significantly abolished the anti-inflammatory effect of Bryo-1 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammation. Bryo-1 protects intestines against I/R-induced injury. It is associated with intestinal barrier protection, as well as inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress partly through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.

Vindoline ameliorates intestinal barrier damage in Crohn's disease mice through MAPK signaling pathway.

Intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier damage are important pathological changes in Crohn's disease (CD). Vindoline is a natural monomer with anti-inflammatory effects. We employed CD model mice to explore the effect of Vindoline on CD-like colitis and the possible mechanism. Il-10-deficient (Il-10-/- ) mice and wild-type (WT) mice (both aged 15 weeks, male) were used to explore the effect of Vindoline on colitis and intestinal barrier damage, as well as macrophage-mediated inflammation. Bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and colonic organoids from mice were used to explore the inhibitory effect of Vindoline on macrophage-mediated inflammation and the protective effect on inflammation-induced intestinal barrier damage as well as the possible mechanism. We found that Vindoline significantly ameliorated colitis in CD mice, as evidenced by increased weight change and colon length and decreased the colon macroscopic injury score, histological inflammatory score, and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Vindoline also protected against intestinal barrier damage in CD mice. Furthermore, Vindoline inhibited macrophage-mediated inflammation and protected against inflammation-induced intestinal barrier damage in the coculture system. In addition, Vindoline ameliorated colitis in CD mice by protecting against inflammation-induced intestinal barrier damage, which may be caused by inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway. This protective effect suggests that Vindoline has potential value for clinical application in the treatment of CD.

[Mediator Complex Subunit 8:Expression in Gastric Cancer, Prognostic Significance,and Impact on Cell Cycle].

Objective To investigate the expression and prognostic significance of mediator complex subunit 8 (MED8) in gastric cancer and its impact on the cell cycle.Methods The expression of MED8 in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues and its correlation with patients' prognosis were analyzed using public databases.A validation cohort of 104 patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from June 2012 to July 2017 was included.The receiver operating characteristic curve was established to evaluate the predictive value of MED8 for postoperative 5-year survival.Bioinformatics tools were used to predict the biological roles of MED8 in gastric cancer.The effect of the MED8 level on the G1/S phase transition of gastric cancer cells (MGC-803) was analyzed via lentivirus transduction and flow cytometry.Western blotting was carried out to assess the impact of MED8 expression on the protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 4(Cdk4) and G1/S-specific cyclin-D1(CyclinD1) in MGC-803 cells.Results The high expression of MED8 in the gastric cancer tissue was associated with poor prognosis (P<0.001) and had prognostic significance (area under curve=0.733,P<0.001).Gene enrichment analysis suggested that MED8 may participate in the cell cycle process.Flow cytometry results revealed that the upregulation of MED8 expression promoted the transition of MGC-803 cells from the G1 phase to the S phase (P<0.001),while the downregulation of MED8 had the opposite effect (P<0.001).Western blotting showed increases in the protein levels of Cdk4 and CyclinD1 in MGC-803 cells with upregulated MED8 expression (all P<0.001),and decreases in the cells with downregulated MED8 expression (all P<0.001).Conclusion MED8 is highly expressed in gastric cancer and may affect its progression and prognosis by regulating the G1/S phase transition of gastric cancer cells.

[Association of Serine/Threonine Phosphoprotein Phosphatase 4C Expression With Prognosis of Gastric Cancer].

Objective To investigate the expression level of serine/threonine phosphoprotein phosphatase 4C(PPP4C)in gastric cancer,and analyze its relationship with prognosis and the underlying regulatory mechanism.Methods The clinical data of 104 gastric cancer patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January 2012 and August 2016 were collected.Immunohistochemical staining was employed to determine the expression levels of PPP4C and Ki-67 in the gastric cancer tissue.The gastric cancer cell lines BGC823 and HGC27 were cultured and transfected with the vector for PPP4C knockdown,the vector for PPP4C overexpression,and the lentiviral vector(control),respectively.The effects of PPP4C on the cell cycle and proliferation were analyzed and the possible regulatory mechanisms were explored.Results PPP4C was highly expressed in gastric cancer(P<0.001),and its expression promoted malignant progression of the tumor(all P<0.01).Univariate and Cox multivariate analysis clarified that high expression of PPP4C was an independent risk factor affecting the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer patients(P=0.003).Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis suggested that PPP4C may be involved in the cell cycle.The correlation analysis showed that the expression of PPP4C was positively correlated with that of Ki-67 in gastric cancer(P<0.001).The up-regulation of PPP4C expression increased the proportion of tumor cells in the S phase,alleviated the G2/M phase arrest,and promoted the proliferation of gastric cancer cells and the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 6(CDK6)(all P<0.05).The down-regulation of PPP4C decreased the proportion of gastric cancer cells in the S phase,promoted G2/M phase arrest,and inhibited cell proliferation and the expression of cyclin D1,CDK6,and p53(all P<0.05).p53 inhibitors promoted the proliferation of BGC823 and HGC27 cells in the PPP4C knockdown group(P<0.001,P<0.001),while p53 activators inhibited the proliferation of BGC823 and HGC27 cells in the PPP4C overexpression group(P<0.001,P=0.002).Conclusions PPP4C is highly expressed in gastric cancer and affects the prognosis of the patients.It may increase the proportion of gastric cancer cells in the S phase and alleviate the G2/M phase arrest by inhibiting p53 signaling,thereby promoting cell proliferation.

[Prognostic Value of PCMT1 Expression in Gastric Cancer and Its Regulatory Effect on Spindle Assembly Checkpoints]. / 胃癌中PCMT1è¡¨è¾¾çš„é¢„åŽä»·å€¼åŠå ¶å¯¹çººé”¤ä½“ç»„è£ æ£€æŸ¥ç‚¹çš„è°ƒæŽ§ä½œç”¨.

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the expression of protein-L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PCMT1) in gastric cancer and its effect on the prognosis, and to analyze its potential mechanism. Methods: UALCAN, a cancer data analysis platform, was used to conduct online analysis of the expression of PCMT1 in gastric cancer tissues. Through the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and signaling pathway enrichment by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed to analyze the possible functions and signaling pathways. A total of 120 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 2014 and December 2017 in our hospital were enrolled for the study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expression of PCMT1 and Ki67 in gastric cancer tissues. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier curve, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for prognostic analysis of 5-year survival in gastric cancer patients after surgery. Lentivirus was used to construct PCMT1-interfering or PCMT1-overexpressing vectors, which were then used to transfect human gastric cancer cell lines of MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells. The interfering empty vector (sh-NC) group, the interfering PCMT1 vector (sh-PCMT1) group, the overexpressing empty vector (LV-Vec) group, and the overexpressing PCMT1 vector (LV-PCMT1) group were set up. Western blot was performed to determine the protein expression levels of PCMT1, CyclinB1, and CDC20. CCK-8 assay was performed to measure the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the cell cycle. MGC-803 cells were injected in four groups of nude mice to construct a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model, with three nude mice in each group. The body mass of the nude mice was measured. The nude mice were sacrificed after 14 days and the tumor volume was monitored. The expression levels of CyclinB1 and CDC20 proteins in the tumor tissues were determined by Western blot assay. Results: Analysis with UALCAN showed that PCMT1 was highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues. Moreover, elevated expression was found in gastric tumor tissues of different pathological stages and grades and those with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that PCMT1 was mainly involved in the signal regulation of mitosis, spindle assembly checkpoints, and cell cycle. The immunohistochemical results showed that PCMT1 and Ki67 were highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and that they were positively correlated with each other (P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that high PCMT1 expression (hazard ratio [HR]=2.921, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.628-5.239) was one of the independent risk factors affecting the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer patients after surgery. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that patients with high PCMT1 expression had a lower 5-year survival after surgery (16.7%, HR=4.651, 95% CI: 2.846-7.601) than patients with low PCMT1 expression (70.0%, HR=0.215, 95% CI: 0.132-0.351) did. The ROC curve showed that PCMT1 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.764 (95% CI: 0.674-0.854) for predicting 5-year patient survival after surgery. Western blot results showed that lentiviral interference or overexpression of PCMT1 cell lines was successfully constructed. The results of CCK-8 showed that the proliferative ability of MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells was weakened with the downregulation of PCMT1, and the overexpression of PCMT1 promoted cell proliferation (P<0.05). With the interference of PCMT1, the expression of CDC20 protein was decreased, the expression of CyclinB1 protein was increased, and the cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase. In contrast, the overexpression of PCMT1 led to the opposite trends (P<0.05). In the sh-PCMT1 group, the tumor volume and mass were decreased and the expression of CDC20 protein was decreased and the expression of CyclinB1 protein was increased in the tumor tissues of the nude mice (P<0.05, compared with those of the sh-NC group. In contrast, the LV-PCMT1 group showed the opposite trends (P<0.05, compared with those of the LV-Vec group). Conclusion: The high expression of PCMT1 in gastric cancer tissues is associated with poor prognosis in patients and may affect tumor cell malignant proliferation via regulating spindle checkpoints in the process of mitosis.

[Prognostic Value of the Expression of Myeloid Leukemia Factor 1-Interacting Protein in Gastric Cancer and Its Regulatory Role in Tumor Progression].

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of the expression of myeloid leukemia factor 1-interacting protein (MLF1IP) in gastric cancer tissue and its regulatory role in tumor progression. Methods: Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to analyze the expression level of MLF1IP in tumor tissues of gastric cancer patients. Kaplan-Meier Plotter database was used to analyze the relationship between MLF1IP expression level and patient prognosis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 108 gastric cancer patients who had undergone radical surgery at our hospital between January 2015 and December 2015. The expression of MLF1IP in gastric cancer tissue and adjacent tissues was examined. We analyzed the relationship between MLF1IP and the clinicopathological parameters of gastric cancer patients and its impact on the long-term prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were done to identify the risk factors affecting the long-term prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The assessment value of MLF1IP for long-term prognosis of gastric cancer was analyzed with ROC curve. The effects of MLF1IP on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells were analyzed in vitro with gastric cancer cell line (MGC803). A xenograft tumor model was established with nude mice to analyze in vivo the effect of MLF1IP on tumor growth. Results: The results of the gastric cancer cohort GSE29272 of GEO database showed that the expression level of MLF1IP in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues ( P<0.05). Analysis with Kaplan-Meier Plotter database indicated that high MLF1IP expression was correlated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression level of MLF1IP in gastric cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent tissues ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the MLF1IP level in gastric cancer tissue was positively correlated with Ki67 ( r=0.609, P<0.01), peripheral blood carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ( r=0.572, P<0.01) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) ( r=0.623, P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate of patients in the MLF1IP high expression group was significantly lower than that in the MLF1IP low expression group ( P<0.01). Cox regression analysis showed that independent risk factors for 5-year survival after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer included the expression of MLF1IP ( HR=2.508, 95% CI: 1.259-4.999), CEA≥5 µg/L ( HR=2.171, 95% CI: 1.152-4.092), CA19-9≥37 kU/L ( HR=2.401, 95% CI: 1.094-5.269), and T3-T4 stages ( HR=2.779, 95% CI: 1.049-7.358) and N2-N3 stages ( HR=2.072, 95% CI: 1.100-3.904). ROC analysis showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MLF1IP (the cut-off value was 3.00 relative protein expression level) in assessing the 5-year survival rate after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer was 75.00%, 76.92%, and 76.2%, respectively ( P<0.05). CCK-8, Transwell assay, and scratch assays showed that in vitro knocking down of MLF1 IP gene expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Subcutaneous tumor xenograft experiment in nude mice showed that knocking down MLF1 IP gene significantly inhibited tumor growth. Conclusion: Increased expression of MLF1IP in gastric cancer tissue, which may be involved in the malignant activities of proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells, has a certain predictive value for poor prognosis.

Epac-2 ameliorates spontaneous colitis in Il-10-/- mice by protecting the intestinal barrier and suppressing NF-κB/MAPK signalling.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction and intestinal inflammation interact in the progression of Crohn's disease (CD). A recent study indicated that Epac-2 protected the intestinal barrier and had anti-inflammatory effects. The present study examined the function of Epac-2 in CD-like colitis. Interleukin-10 gene knockout (Il-10-/- ) mice exhibit significant spontaneous enteritis and were used as the CD model. These mice were treated with Epac-2 agonists (Me-cAMP) or Epac-2 antagonists (HJC-0350) or were fed normally (control), and colitis and intestinal barrier structure and function were compared. A Caco-2 and RAW 264.7 cell co-culture system were used to analyse the effects of Epac-2 on the cross-talk between intestinal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. Epac-2 activation significantly ameliorated colitis in mice, which was indicated by reductions in the colitis inflammation score, the expression of inflammatory factors and intestinal permeability. Epac-2 activation also decreased Caco-2 cell permeability in an LPS-induced cell co-culture system. Epac-2 activation significantly suppressed nuclear factor (NF)-κB/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in vivo and in vitro. Epac-2 may be a therapeutic target for CD based on its anti-inflammatory functions and protective effects on the intestinal barrier.

MAL protein suppresses the metastasis and invasion of GC cells by interfering with the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is accompanied by low diagnosis and survival rates. The molecular mechanism of GC must be elucidated to improve treatment strategies. Recent research has shown that the expression of myelin and lymphocyte (MAL) protein is reduced in a variety of adenocarcinomas and has the function of suppressing tumor growth. However, the mechanism by which MAL regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC remains unclear. Here, we showed that MAL expression was downregulated in specimens from patients with GC and was negatively correlated with the clinical stage. Gain- and loss-of function assays showed that interference with MAL significantly increased tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion and the EMT. Overexpression of MAL significantly inhibited the malignant behavior of GC cells. Moreover, MAL suppressed the malignant behavior of GC cells by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate that MAL suppresses the malignant behavior of GC cells via the STAT3/EMT axis. This study also provides insights into the pathophysiological process of GC and a reference for diagnosis and treatment.

The upregulation of stromal antigen 3 expression suppresses the phenotypic hallmarks of hepatocellular carcinoma through the Smad3-CDK4/CDK6-cyclin D1 and CXCR4/RhoA pathways.

BACKGROUND: The stromal antigen 3 (STAG3) gene encodes an adhesion complex subunit that can regulate sister chromatid cohesion during cell division. Chromosome instability caused by STAG3 gene mutation may potentially promote tumor progression, but the effect of STAG3 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the related molecular mechanism are not reported in the literature. The mechanism of the occurrence and development of HCC is not adequately understood. Therefore, the biological role of STAG3 in HCC remains to be studied, and whether STAG3 might be a sensitive therapeutic target in HCC remains to be determined. METHODS: The expression and clinical significance of STAG3 in HCC tissues and cell lines were determined by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. The biological functions of STAG3 in HCC were determined through in vitro and in vivo cell function tests. The molecular mechanism of STAG3 in HCC cells was then investigated by western blot assay. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of STAG3 was lower in most HCC cells than in normal cells. Subsequently, an immunohistochemical analysis of STAG3 was performed with 126 samples, and lower STAG3 expression was associated with worse overall survival in HCC patients. Moreover, cytofunctional tests revealed that the lentivirus-mediated overexpression of STAG3 in HCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; promoted apoptosis; induced G1/S phase arrest in vitro; and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, studies of the molecular mechanism suggested that the overexpression of STAG3 increased Smad3 expression and decreased CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1, CXCR4 and RhoA expression. CONCLUSION: STAG3 exhibits anticancer effects against HCC, and these effects involve the Smad3-CDK4/CDK6-cyclin D1 and CXCR4/RhoA pathways. STAG3 is a tumor-suppressor gene that may serve as a potential target for molecular therapy, which provides a new idea for the treatment of HCC.

Spontaneous colitis in IL-10-deficient mice was ameliorated via inhibiting glutaminase1.

Immunity imbalance and barrier damage in the intestinal mucosa are the main pathogenic factors of Crohn's disease (CD). Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) is a glutaminase 1 (Gls1) inhibitor with the dual functions of increasing glutamine levels and immune regulation. In this study, we focused on the role of BPTES in CD-like enteritis and the possible mechanisms. We found that Gls1 expression was significantly increased in CD intestinal tissue compared with control tissue. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment significantly ameliorated chronic colitis in the IL-10-/- , as manifested by decreased disease activity index, body weight change, histological inflammatory degree and inflammatory cytokine expression. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment exerted protective effects on CD that were associated with the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity and the Th/Treg balance. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment may act in part through TCR-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signalling activation. In conclusion, inhibition of Gls1 expression attenuated chronic colitis by maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and the Th/Treg balance, thereby ameliorating CD-like colitis.

Bryostatin-1 ameliorated experimental colitis in Il-10-/- Mice by protecting the intestinal barrier and limiting immune dysfunction.

Bryostatin-1 (Bry-1) has been proven to be effective and safe in clinical trials of a variety of immune-related diseases. However, little is known about its effect on Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to investigate the impact of Bry-1 on CD-like colitis and determine the mechanism underlying this effect. In the present study, 15-week-old male Il-10-/- mice with spontaneous colitis were divided into positive control and Bry-1-treated (Bry-1, 30 µg/kg every other day, injected intraperitoneally for 4 weeks) groups. Age-matched, male wild-type (WT) mice were used as a negative control. The effects of Bry-1 on colitis, intestinal barrier function and T cell responses as well as the potential regulatory mechanisms were evaluated. We found that the systemic delivery of Bry-1 significantly ameliorated colitis in Il-10-/- mice, as demonstrated by decreases in the disease activity index (DAI), inflammatory score and proinflammatory mediator levels. The protective effects of Bry-1 on CD-like colitis included the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity and the helper T cell (Th)/regulatory T cell (Treg) balance. These effects of Bry-1 may act in part through nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling activation and STAT3/4 signalling inhibition. The protective effect of Bry-1 on CD-like colitis suggests Bry-1 has therapeutic potential in human CD, particularly given the established clinical safety of Bry-1.

Impact of Preoperative Exclusive Enteral Nutrition on Postoperative Complications and Recurrence After Bowel Resection in Patients with Active Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The impact of preoperative enteral nutrition (EN) on postoperative complications and recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD) has not been investigated to date. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of preoperative exclusive EN on postoperative complications and recurrence after bowel resection in patients with active CD. METHODS: Patient data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. 81 patients who received bowel resection for ileal or ileocolonic CD were studied. Before operation, 42 CD patients received exclusive EN for 4 weeks, and the other patients had no nutritional therapy. All patients were followed up regularly for 2 years after surgery, and ileocolonoscopy was performed every 6 months after bowel resection. RESULTS: Patients receiving exclusive EN had a dramatic improvement of nutritional (BMI, albumin, pre-albumin, and Hb) and inflammatory (CRP and CDAI) status compared with baseline after the EN therapy for 4 weeks (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significantly lower incidence of both infectious and non-infectious complications was observed in patients receiving exclusive EN compared with those received no nutritional therapy (P < 0.05). Exclusive EN therapy for 4 weeks significantly reduced endoscopic recurrence rates after resection for CD 6 months after operation. However, during the 2-year follow-up, incidence of clinical recurrence was similar in both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative exclusive EN therapy for 4 weeks reduced postoperative complications, which may be associated with improvement of nutritional and inflammatory status in patients with active CD.

Anti-mouse CD52 monoclonal antibody ameliorates intestinal epithelial barrier function in interleukin-10 knockout mice with spontaneous chronic colitis.

Intestinal inflammation causes tight junction changes and death of epithelial cells, and plays an important role in the development of Crohn's disease (CD). CD52 monoclonal antibody (CD52 mAb) directly targets the cell surface CD52 and is effective in depleting mature lymphocytes by cytolytic effects in vivo, leading to long-lasting changes in adaptive immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of CD52 mAb on epithelial barrier function in animal models of IBD. Interleukin-10 knockout mice (IL-10(-/-) ) of 16 weeks with established colitis were treated with CD52 mAb once a week for 2 weeks. Severity of colitis, CD4(+) lymphocytes and cytokines in the lamina propria, epithelial expression of tight junction proteins, morphology of tight junctions, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) mRNA expression, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression and activity, as well as epithelial apoptosis in proximal colon were measured at the end of the experiment. CD52 mAb treatment effectively attenuated colitis associated with decreased lamina propria CD4(+) lymphocytes and interferon-γ/IL-17 responses in colonic mucosa in IL-10(-/-) mice. After CD52 mAb treatment, attenuation of colonic permeability, increased epithelial expression and correct localization of tight junction proteins (occludin and zona occludens protein-1), as well as ameliorated tight junction morphology were observed in IL-10(-/-) mice. CD52 mAb treatment also effectively suppressed the epithelial apoptosis, mucosa TNF-α mRNA expression, epithelial expression of long MLCK, TNFR2 and phosphorylation of MLC. Our results indicated that anti-CD52 therapy may inhibit TNF-α/TNFR2-mediated epithelial apoptosis and MLCK-dependent tight junction permeability by depleting activated T cells in the gut mucosa.

A Practical Predictive Index for Intra-abdominal Septic Complications After Primary Anastomosis for Crohn's Disease: Change in C-Reactive Protein Level Before Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications are difficult to manage in Crohn's disease, which makes prevention especially important. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors for intra-abdominal septic complications after primary anastomosis for Crohn's disease and to seek a practical predictive index for intra-abdominal septic complications. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS: Based on a computerized database of 344 patients with Crohn's disease who underwent primary anastomosis between 2004 and 2013, the patients were placed into an intra-abdominal septic complications group and a group without intra-abdominal septic complications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors, and the predictive accuracy of possible predictors was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Overall, 39 patients (11.34%) developed intra-abdominal septic complications. Preoperative C-reactive protein level >10 mg/L was found to be an independent risk factor (p < 0.01) for intra-abdominal septic complications. For prediction of intra-abdominal septic complications, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a C-reactive protein cutoff of 14.50 mg/L provided negative and positive predictive values of 96.84% and 34.07%. In addition, the change in C-reactive protein levels over the 2 weeks before surgery was greater in the intra-abdominal septic complications group than the group with no intra-abdominal septic complications (p < 0.01), and the directions of change were opposite, upward in the former and downward in the latter. Apart from being a risk factor for intra-abdominal septic complications (p < 0.01), receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the change in C-reactive protein levels before surgery had a negative predictive value for intra-abdominal septic complications of 98.66% and a positive predictive value of 76.09%. LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in C-reactive protein before surgical treatment of Crohn's disease could serve as a practical predictive index for postoperative intra-abdominal septic complications.

DHA protects against experimental colitis in IL-10-deficient mice associated with the modulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function.

A defect in the intestinal barrier is one of the characteristics of Crohn's disease (CD). The tight junction (TJ) changes and death of epithelial cells caused by intestinal inflammation play an important role in the development of CD. DHA, a long-chain PUFA, has been shown to be helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease in experimental models by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. The present study aimed at investigating the specific effect of DHA on the intestinal barrier function in IL-10-deficient mice. IL-10-deficient mice (IL-10(-/-)) at 16 weeks of age with established colitis were treated with DHA (i.g. 35.5 mg/kg per d) for 2 weeks. The severity of their colitis, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, epithelial gene expression, the distributions of TJ proteins (occludin and zona occludens (ZO)-1), and epithelial apoptosis in the proximal colon were measured at the end of the experiment. DHA treatment attenuated the established colitis and was associated with reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells in the colonic mucosa, lower mean histological scores and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17, TNF-α and interferon-γ). Moreover, enhanced barrier function was observed in the DHA-treated mice that resulted from attenuated colonic permeability, rescued expression and corrected distributions of occludin and ZO-1. The results of the present study indicate that DHA therapy may ameliorate experimental colitis in IL-10(-/-) mice by improving the intestinal epithelial barrier function.

The respective role of medical and surgical therapy for enterovesical fistula in Crohn's disease.

GOALS AND BACKGROUND: There are very few reports available on the role of medical and surgical therapy for enterovesical fistula (EVF) in Crohn's disease (CD). The goal of this study was to investigate the respective role of medical and surgical therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with EVF in CD, who were consecutively admitted to our institution between 2004 and 2011, underwent initial medical treatment. Medical records were abstracted from our prospective CD database. We performed a univariate analysis of risk factors for surgery. RESULTS: The origin of EVF was ileal (ileovesical fistula, 78.4%) and sigmoidal (sigmoidovesical and ileosigmoidovesical fistula, 21.6%). After medical therapy (antibiotics, azathioprine, steroids, infliximab, or a combination), 13/37 (35.1%) patients achieved long-term remission over a mean period of 4.7 years and avoided surgery. Surgery was performed in 24/37 (64.9%) patients presenting with intractable disease. Univariate analysis showed that the significant risk factors for surgery included sigmoid-originated EVF (P=0.019) and concurrent CD complications (P=0.001), such as small bowel obstruction, abscess formation, enterocutaneous fistula, enteroenteric fistula, and persistent ureteral obstruction or urinary tract infection. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with ileovesical fistula alone, medical therapy is the first choice. For patients with ileovesical fistula accompanied by other CD complications, surgical intervention will most likely be needed. Patients with sigmoidovesical or ileosigmoidovesical fistula are more likely to require surgery than an uncomplicated ileovesical fistula.

Anti-mouse CD52 monoclonal antibody ameliorates iron-deficient anaemia in IL-10 knockout mice.

Approximately 50 % of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from anaemia, with Fe deficiency being the most common cause. CD52 monoclonal antibody (mAb) targets the cell surface CD52 and is effective in depleting lymphocytes through cytolytic effects in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of anti-mouse CD52 mAb on Fe-deficient anaemia in IBD. IL-10 knockout mice (IL-10- / -) of 12 weeks with established colitis were treated with anti-mouse CD52 mAb once per week for 2 weeks. Severity of colitis, blood T lymphocytes, blood Hb, haematocrit, plasma erythropoietin (EPO), serum Fe concentration, transferrin saturation, splenic Fe stores, expression of liver hepcidin mRNA, Western blotting of the phosphorylated form of Smad1/5/8 and total Smad1 were measured at the end of the experiment. IL-10- / - mice treated with CD52 mAb showed a reduction in the percentage of CD4+ and CD4+CD45+ T cells in blood and weight loss typically associated with colonic inflammation, serum levels of EPO, the expression of liver hepcidin mRNA and total Smad1 protein, while they showed an increase in Hb concentrations, haematocrit, levels of serum Fe, transferrin saturation and splenic Fe stores. The present results indicated that anti-CD52 therapy may ameliorate Fe-deficient anaemia by reducing colonic inflammation. These findings may open novel horizons in the treatment of patients with IBD by resetting of immunological homeostasis in the gut by depleting the activated T cells in the gut mucosa.