Protective effects of l-theanine on rats with dextran sulfate sodium-induced infl ammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Archives of pharmacal research 2020, 43(8), , pp.821-862
• Main Authors: Ling Chen, Wen-jun Xiao, Qiong-xian Yan, Zhi-hua Gong, Sheng Zhang, Li Zeng, Ming Yang, Yan-he Zhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 약학
• ISSN: 0253-6269; 1976-3786
• DOI: 10.1007/s12272-020-01248-9

The aim of this study is to evaluate the antiinflammatory and protective eff ects of L -theanine in infl ammatorybowel disease (IBD) and to identify the underlyingmolecular mechanisms. Rats were pre-treated with L -theanineat 0, 50, 200, or 800 mg/kg/day. IBD was induced inrats using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Histopathologicalanalysis suggests that L -theanine can suppress DSS-inducedIBD with signifi cant inhibition of infl ammation in large andsmall intestinal tissues. Moreover, the 200 mg/kg/day L -theanine-treated DSS group had higher body and small intestineweights, a lower disease activity index and expression ofinfl ammatory factors than the DSS group without pre-treatment. In RNA sequencing and tandem mass tag labelinganalyses, large number of mRNAs and proteins expressionlevel diff ered when compared with the DSS-induced ratswith and without 200 mg/kg/day L -theanine pre-treatment. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathwayanalysis indicates the anti-infl ammatory activities ofL -theanine in DSS-induced IBD, with a high representationof genes in “Cholesterol metabolism” and “Retinol metabolism”pathways. Analysis of protein–protein interaction networksfurther indicates the involvement of these two pathways. These studies suggest that medium-dose L -theaninepre-treatment could ameliorate DSS-induced IBD throughmolecular mechanisms involving cholesterol and retinolmetabolism. KCI Citation Count: 3