Andrographolide Derivative AL-1 Ameliorates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Murine Colitis by Inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2019, Vol.2019 (2019), p.1-18
• Main Authors: Jing, Mei, Xu, Lipeng, Wang, Yuqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Colitis - blood; Colitis - chemically induced; Colitis - drug therapy; Colitis - enzymology; Colon; Cytokines - blood; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Diterpenes - pharmacology; Diterpenes - therapeutic use; Female; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - complications; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation Mediators - blood; Inflammatory bowel disease; Kinases; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System - drug effects; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Biological; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Peroxidase - metabolism; RAW 264.7 Cells; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Rodents
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/6138723

Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) are commonly used to induce experimental murine ulcerative colitis (UC). Our recent study has demonstrated that a novel andrographolide derivative, AL-1, ameliorated TNBS-induced colitis in mice. However, the effect of AL-1 on DSS-induced murine colitis and the underlying mechanisms are yet unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of AL-1 against DSS-induced UC in mice and to define its mechanisms of action. Oral administration of AL-1 attenuated body weight loss, reduced colon length shortening, lowered the disease activity index score, and alleviated colon histological damage. AL-1 significantly inhibited myeloperoxidase activity and suppressed immune inflammatory responses in colonic tissues. Moreover, AL-1 reversed DSS-altered expression of inflammatory cytokines in DSS-induced colitis mice. Importantly, the efficacy of 45 mg/kg of AL-1 was higher than that of 100 mg/kg of the positive control drugs 5-aminosalicylic acid and mesalazine. AL-1 decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in cultured macrophages in vitro; it also reversed the altered expression of inflammatory cytokines. In both in vivo and in vitro studies, Western blot analysis revealed that AL-1 reduced the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and IκBα, downregulated the expression of iNOS and COX-2, and attenuated the expression of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), ERK, and JNK. In conclusion, AL-1 alleviated DSS-induced murine colitis by inhibiting activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Our data suggest that AL-1 could be a potential new treatment for UC.