Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2005; 11(12): 1747-1752
Published online Mar 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i12.1747
Preventive and therapeutic effects of NF-kappaB inhibitor curcumin in rats colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid
Yan-Ting Jian, Guo-Feng Mai, Ji-De Wang, Ya-Li Zhang, Rong-Cheng Luo, Yong-Xin Fang
Yan-Ting Jian, Ji-De Wang, Ya-Li Zhang, Chinese PLA Institute of Digestive Disease, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Rong-Cheng Luo, Yong-Xin Fang, Oncology Department, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Guo-Feng Mai, Jiangmen Board of Health, Jiangmen Red Cross Dispensary, Jiangmen 529000, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Ya-Li Zhang, Chinese PLA Institute of Digestive Disease, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China. zhangyl@fimmu.com
Telephone: +86-20-61641544
Received: June 19, 2004
Revised: June 20, 2004
Accepted: July 15, 2004
Published online: March 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To ascertain the molecule mechanism of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor curcumin preventive and therapeutic effects in rats’ colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

METHODS: Sixty rats with TNBS-induced colitis were treated with 2.0% curcumin in the diet. Thirty positive control rats were treated with 0.5% sulfasalazine (SASP). Thirty negative control rats and thirty model rats were treated with general diet. Changes of body weight together with histological scores were evaluated. Survival rates were also evaluated. Cell nuclear NF-κB activity in colonic mucosa was evaluated by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cytoplasmic IκB protein in colonic mucosa was detected by using Western Blot analysis. Cytokine messenger expression in colonic tissue was assessed by using semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: Treatment with curcumin could prevent and treat both wasting and histopathologic signs of rats with TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation. In accordance with these findings, NF-κB activation in colonic mucosa was suppressed in the curcumin-treated groups. Degradations of cytoplasmic IκB protein in colonic mucosa were blocked by curcumin treatment. Proinflammatory cytokine messenger RNA expression in colonic mucosa was also suppressed.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that NF-κB inhibitor curcumin could prevent and improve experimental colitis in murine model with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The findings suggest that NF-κB inhibitor curcumin could be a potential target for the patients with IBD.

Keywords: IBD; Curcumin; TNBS; NF-κB