Intestinal Injury (intestinal + injury)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Nitric Oxide-Mediated Intestinal Injury Is Required for Alcohol-Induced Gut Leakiness and Liver Damage

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2009
Yueming Tang
Background:, Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) requires endotoxemia and is commonly associated with intestinal barrier leakiness. Using monolayers of intestinal epithelial cells as an in vitro barrier model, we showed that ethanol-induced intestinal barrier disruption is mediated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) upregulation, nitric oxide (NO) overproduction, and oxidation/nitration of cytoskeletal proteins. We hypothesized that iNOS inhibitors [NG-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (l -NAME), l -N6 -(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (l -NIL)] in vivo will inhibit the above cascade and liver injury in an animal model of alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH). Methods:, Male Sprague,Dawley rats were gavaged daily with alcohol (6 g/kg/d) or dextrose for 10 weeks ± l -NAME, l -NIL, or vehicle. Systemic and intestinal NO levels were measured by nitrites and nitrates in urine and tissue samples, oxidative damage to the intestinal mucosa by protein carbonyl and nitrotyrosine, intestinal permeability by urinary sugar tests, and liver injury by histological inflammation scores, liver fat, and myeloperoxidase activity. Results:, Alcohol caused tissue oxidation, gut leakiness, endotoxemia, and ASH. l -NIL and l -NAME, but not the d -enantiomers, attenuated all steps in the alcohol-induced cascade including NO overproduction, oxidative tissue damage, gut leakiness, endotoxemia, hepatic inflammation, and liver injury. Conclusions:, The mechanism we reported for alcohol-induced intestinal barrier disruption in vitro , NO overproduction, oxidative tissue damage, leaky gut, endotoxemia, and liver injury , appears to be relevant in vivo in an animal model of alcohol-induced liver injury. That iNOS inhibitors attenuated all steps of this cascade suggests that prevention of this cascade in alcoholics will protect the liver against the injurious effects of chronic alcohol and that iNOS may be a useful target for prevention of ALD. [source]


Nutriose, a prebiotic low-digestible carbohydrate, stimulates gut mucosal immunity and prevents TNBS-induced colitis in piglets,

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 5 2010
Philippe R. Pouillart PhD
Abstract Background: We investigated a prebiotic low-digestible carbohydrate (LDC) as a possible food ingredient to stimulate bowel functions in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The study aimed to assess a fermentable dextrin fiber (Nutriose) and its relationship to the immune management of the disease and the microbiota profile in colitis-bearing piglets. Methods: In a randomized placebo-controlled parallel blind preclinical study, 32 male piglets were fed LDC (4% Nutriose) or dextrose placebo for 44 days before being challenged with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce colitis. We followed the microbiota profile using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeted to 9 bacterial genera. Secretory IgA was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Inflammatory protein profiles were monitored in blood and colonic tissues. Both histological scoring of biopsy samples and live endoscopic scoring were used to measure colitis development. Results: Prior and continuing LDC supplementation alleviated the symptoms of colitis (body weight loss, bloody stools) induced by a TNBS challenge. This effect was associated with an improvement in endoscopic and histological scores. LDC was shown to selectively downregulate some of the proinflammatory factors and their concomitant pyretic events and to stimulate the Th2-related immune pathway (IL-10 and s-IgA). Conclusions: At the dose tested, LDC is a well-tolerated prebiotic agent able to not only stimulate butyrogenic bacteria strains and reduce intestinal transit disorders and energy intake, but also to prevent chronic inflammatory intestinal injuries. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010 [source]


The role of the intestine in the pathophysiology and management of severe acute pancreatitis

HPB, Issue 2 2003
RS Flint
Background The outcome of severe acute pancreatitis has scarcely improved in 10 years. Further impact will require new paradigms in pathophysiology and treatment. There is accumulating evidence to support the concept that the intestine has a key role in the pathophysiology of severe acute pancreatitis which goes beyond the notion of secondary pancreatic infection. Intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion and barrier failure are implicated in the development of multiple organ failure. Discussion Conventional management of severe acute pancreatitis has tended to ignore the intestine. More recent attempts to rectify this problem have included 1) resuscitation aimed at restoring intestinal blood flow through the use of appropriate fluids and splanchnic-sparing vasoconstrictors or inotropes; 2) enteral nutrition to help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier; 3) selective gut decontamination and prophylactic antibiotics to reduce bacterial translocation and secondary infection. Novel therapies are being developed to limit intestinal injury, and these include antioxidants and anti-cytokine agents. This paper focuses on the role of the intestine in the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis and reviews the implications for management. [source]


Mechanisms and modulation of intestinal epithelial repair

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 1 2001
Dr. Axel U. Dignass
Abstract The mucosal epithelium of the alimentary tract represents a crucial barrier to a broad spectrum of noxious and immunogenic substances within the intestinal lumen. An impairment of the integrity of the mucosal epithelial barrier is observed in the course of various intestinal disorders including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), celiac disease, intestinal infections, and various other diseases. Furthermore, even under physiologic conditions temporary damage of the epithelial surface mucosa may be caused by proteases, residential flora, dietary compounds, or other factors. Generally, the integrity of the intestinal mucosal surface barrier is rapidly reestablished even after extensive destruction because of an enormous regenerative capability of the mucosal surface epithelium. Rapid resealing of the surface epithelium is accomplished by epithelial cell migration, also termed epithelial restitution, epithelial cell proliferation, and differentiation. Healing of the intestinal surface epithelium is regulated by a complex network of highly divergent factors, among them a broad spectrum of structurally distinct regulatory peptides that have been identified within the mucosa of the intestinal tract. These regulatory peptides, conventionally designated as growth factors and cytokines, play an essential role in regulating differential epithelial cell functions to preserve normal homeostasis and integrity of the intestinal mucosa. In addition, a number of other peptide molecules such as extracellular matrix factors and blood clotting factors, and also nonpeptide molecules including phospholipids, short-chain fatty acids, adenine nucleotides, trace elements, and pharmacological agents, have been demonstrated to modulate intestinal epithelial repair mechanisms. Some of these molecules may be released by platelets, adjacent stromal cells, inflammatory cells, or injured epithelial and nonepithelial cells and may play an important role in the modulation of intestinal injury. Repeated damage and injury of the intestinal surface are key features of various intestinal disorders including IBD and require constant repair of the epithelium. Enhancement of intestinal repair mechanisms by regulatory peptides or other modulatory factors may provide future approaches for the treatment of diseases that are characterized by injuries of the epithelial surface. [source]


Hydrogen sulfide protects from intestinal ischaemia,reperfusion injury in rats

JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009
Hao Liu
Abstract Objectives Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously gaseous mediator, regulating many pathophysiological functions in mammalian cells. H2S has been shown to inhibit myocardial ischaemia,reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, little is known about whether H2S could modulate intestinal I/R injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of H2S on intestinal I/R injury and potential mechanism(s) underlying the action of H2S in regulating the development of intestinal I/R injury in rats. Methods Following surgical induction of intestinal I/R injury for 1 h, groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with, or without, tetramethylpyrazine (8 mg/kg), or sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H2S donor at 7 or 14 ,mol/kg) 30 min after occlusion. All rats were sacrificed immediately after the reperfusion. Their intestinal injury, together with that of sham-control rats, was histologically examined and their sera and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were characterized by biochemical analysis. Key findings The results showed that NaHS significantly reduced intestinal I/R injury and the levels of sera and intestinal MDA activity, and dramatically increased the levels of serum and intestinal SOD and GSH-Px activity. Conclusions The results suggest that H2S protects from intestinal I/R injury in rats, which is associated with increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [source]


Acute Ethanol Exposure Combined With Burn Injury Enhances IL-6 Levels in the Murine Ileum

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2007
Michael T. Scalfani
Background:, Recent studies suggest that ethanol use imposes a greater risk of trauma-associated intestinal injury than trauma alone. The initiating and regulatory factors for multiple organ dysfunction syndromes are not well defined, yet evidence points to the gut as a possible trigger of the systemic inflammatory cascade as well as a potential source of cytokines. In the current study, we hypothesized that ethanol administration would alter cytokine levels and intestinal infiltration by neutrophils within the ileum of mice exposed to burn injury (15% total body surface of dorsal skin). Methods:, Ileal samples were collected for histological assessment, myeloperoxidase quantitation and the protein presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF,), interleukin (IL-) 6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2; CXCL2) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Additional ileal tissue samples were examined for localization of the IL-6 immunoreactivity. Results:, We did not detect statistically significant cytokine/chemokine differences (MIP-2 and IL-10) between sham control and treatment conditions at either 2 or 24 hours. However, there was a significant decrease in TNF, at 24 hours in both burn injury alone and in combination with ethanol treatment conditions (p < 0.05). In addition, there was an increase in IL-6 levels at 24 hours in intestinal tissue obtained from mice subjected to a combination of acute ethanol and burn injury, compared to the mice receiving burn or sham injury (p < 0.001). Ileal homogenate increases in IL-6 at 24 hours were concurrent with decreased villus height in the ileum, but no discernable changes in neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase activity levels) at either 2 or 24 hours. Additional immunocytochemical localization studies of ileal tissue revealed that there was a substantial increase of IL-6 in intestinal enterocytes subjected to both burn injury alone, or in combination with acute ethanol exposure. Conclusions:, The present study suggests that acute ethanol exposure combined with burn injury enhances levels of IL-6 protein in the ileum. The enhanced levels of ileal IL-6 are likely due to enterocyte production of the cytokine. [source]


Protective effect of sulforaphane on indomethacin-induced cytotoxicity via heme oxygenase-1 expression in human intestinal Int 407 cells

MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 9 2009
Chi-Tai Yeh
Abstract Sulforaphane is known to be an indirect antioxidant that acts by inducing NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent phase II enzymes. In the present study, we investigated the effect of sulforaphane on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in human intestinal Int 407 cells. RT-PCR and Western blot data revealed that sulforaphane induced an increase in HO-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. This induction was also marked by an increase in HO-1 activity. Actinomycin D (an RNA synthesis inhibitor) and cycloheximide (a protein synthesis inhibitor) inhibited sulforaphane-responsive HO-1 mRNA expression, indicating that sulforaphane is a requirement for transcription and de novo protein synthesis. Moreover, sulforaphane increased the nuclear levels of Nrf2 and increased the binding activity of nuclear proteins to the antioxidant responsive element consensus sequence. We also found that U0126, an ERK kinase inhibitor, suppressed the sulforaphane-induced HO-1 expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Moreover, the cytoprotective effect of sulforaphane on indomethancin-induced cytotoxicity was partially blocked by ERK and HO-1 inhibitors, further demonstrating that sulforaphane attenuated oxidative stress through a pathway that involved ERK and HO-1. Taken together, this study gives additional support to the possible use of sulforaphane as a dietary preventive agent against oxidative stress-induced intestinal injury. [source]


Effects of L-arginine and L-carnitine in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced intestinal injury

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005
Ceyda Kabaroglu
Abstract,Background:,This study was designed to show the role of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and glutathione-related antioxidant enzymes in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced intestinal injury model in mice and to evaluate the potential benefits of arginine and carnitine supplementation. Methods:,A total of 28 young Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: Group 1 (untreated) was given physiological saline before the experiment; group 2 H/R mice were supplemented with L-arginine; group 3 H/R mice were given L-carnitine for 7 days; and group 4 mice served as controls. At the end of day 7, H/R injury was induced and intestinal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrate levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured. Results:,MDA levels were higher in the untreated animals than in the other three groups. MDA levels were higher in the L-arginine-treated animals than in the L-carnitine-treated animals. Nitrate levels were found to be increased in the L-arginine-treated group when compared to the controls. GSH-Px and GR activities were increased in the untreated, the L-arginine and the L-carnitine-treated H/R groups when compared to the control group. GST activities were indifferent between the groups. Conclusions:,Oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of H/R-induced intestinal injury. The glutathione redox cycle may have a crucial role in the H/R-induced intestinal injury. L-arginine and L-carnitine supplementations ameliorate the histological evidence of H/R-induced intestinal injury and decrease lipid peroxidation but do not alter the glutathione-related antioxidant enzyme activities. [source]


Protective effect of phlorotannin components phloroglucinol and eckol on radiation-induced intestinal injury in mice

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
Changjong Moon
Abstract Components of phlorotannin, which were extracted from Ecklonia species, have been reported to have in vitro radioprotective and antioxidative effects. The radioprotective effects of two of the components of phlorotannin, phloroglucinol and eckol, in intestinal stem cells were examined by evaluating their effects on jejunal crypt survival and apoptosis in gamma-irradiated mice. Pretreating the mice (i.p. 20 mg/kg of body weight at 12 and 36 h before irradiation) prior to irradiation with either phloroglucinol or eckol significantly improved the survival of the jejunal crypt (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 vs irradiation controls at 3.5 days after 8 Gy irradiation, respectively). The administration of phloroglucinol and eckol prior to irradiation protected the intestinal crypts from radiation-induced apoptosis (p < 0.05 vs irradiation controls at 12 h after 1 Gy irradiation). Although the mechanism for this inhibitory effect remains unknown, these results showed that phloroglucinol and eckol might be useful radioprotectors that can defend intestinal stem cells against the oxidative damage caused by gamma-irradiation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Plasma Concentrations of Mycophenolic Acid Acyl Glucuronide Are Not Associated with Diarrhea in Renal Transplant Recipients

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2007
T. Heller
The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma concentrations of the acyl (AcMPAG) and phenolic (MPAG) glucuronide metabolites of mycophenolic acid (MPA) were related to diarrhoea in renal transplant patients on mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with cyclosporine (CsA) or tacrolimus (TCL). Blood samples (0, 30, 120 min) were taken at days 3, 10, week 4, months 3, 6 and 12 for determination of MPA, MPAG and AcMPAG. MPA-AUC was estimated using validated algorithms. Two hour AUCs were calculated for MPAG and AcMPAG. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of CsA/MMF (n= 110) and of TCL/MMF (n= 180). In 70/290 (24%) patients 86 episodes of diarrhoea were recorded during 12 months. Significantly more patients on TCL (31.1%) suffered from diarrhea compared to CsA (12.7%). MMF dose, MPA-AUC and the 2 h AUCs of MPAG and AcMPAG did not differ between patients with and without diarrhoea. Plasma AcMPAG and MPAG concentrations were substantially higher in patients on CsA compared with TCL, while MPA-AUC was lower in the former group. These data support the concept that CsA inhibits the biliary excretion of MPAG and AcMPAG, thereby potentially reducing the risk of intestinal injury through enterohepatic recycling of MPA and its metabolites. [source]