Pharmacological mechanisms of chitotriose as a redox regulator in the treatment of rat inflammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2022-06, Vol.150, p.112988-112988, Article 112988
• Main Authors: Hu, Kai, Yuan, Xiaozheng, He, Huan, Zhang, Hui, Wang, Fengsong, Qiao, Jing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chitosan - pharmacology; Chitosan - therapeutic use; Chitotriose; Fibrogenesis; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - drug therapy; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - metabolism; Mucosal barrier destruction; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Signal Transduction; Trisaccharides - pharmacology; Trisaccharides - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112988

Although extensive development has been made in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), adverse effects and incomplete efficacy of currently used medications are continuous challenge. Accumulated reports on the benefits of chitosan oligosaccharides in intestinal disorders make chitotriose (COS) a breakthrough in the development of new IBD drugs. This study aimed to investigate the biosafety, efficacy and pharmacological mechanisms of COS in the treatment of experimental IBD in compare with the commercial 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). In this study, COS effectively relieved active inflammation, restored epithelial function, and reduced intestinal fibrosis. Further investigation demonstrated that COS treatment regulated redox state of the colon tissue by stimulating the transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), increasing production of endogenous antioxidants, and alleviating oxidative stress. The offset of oxidative stress shut down the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) inflammatory pathway, mitophagy of epithelial cells, M2 macrophage polarization in pre-fibrotic inflammation, and myofibroblast activation in intestinal fibrogenesis. In conclusion, COS is a safe and effective therapeutic agent for experimental IBD as a redox regulator. Our results expand the current understanding of the pharmacology of chitosan oligosaccharides for IBD treatment and provides experimental basis for the medicinal development of small molecule carbohydrates. [Display omitted] •COS alleviates active inflammation by restraining activation of the NF-ĸB signaling.•COS restores mucosal barrier by reducing epithelial mitophagy.•COS prevents fibrogenesis by inhibiting the activation of fibroblasts.•COS inhibits pre-fibrotic inflammation by preventing M2 macrophage polarization.•COS eliminates oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2.