Novel Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Irritable bowel disease (IBD) is episodes of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, these episodes is caused by abnormal immune response to gut microflora. IBD is divided into two types: ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease. The causes of IBD are increased permeability of intestinal barrier and imbalance in gut microbiota. Treatment known for IBD are anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids and sulfasalazine, Immunosuppressive drugs like Imuran. Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve normal microflora in the body. Therefore, the aim of study is investigation the efficacy of a novel strain of probiotics to be used as a potential treatment for IBD. While, the objectives are induction of inflammation on rats and mice, evaluation of novel therapeutic agent, and assessment of its anti-inflammatory activity histopathologically and by measuring inflammatory biomarkers. We worked on 3 colitis models: first model is BALB/c mice and colitis are induced by shigella toxin, second and third models are Wister albino rats and colitis is induced in one of them by acetic acid and in the other by dextran sulfate. We made protection with our novel therapy (lactobacillus) and commercial drug (enterogermina) or sulfasalazine. After the induction step, all mice and rats were scarified, and blood samples were collected to measure inflammatory biomarkers by ELISA and Western blotting, also intestine is isolated to be examined histopathologically. Histopathological examinations of acetic acid and Shigella models showed normal mucosa without alteration in the groups protected by lactobacillus, sulfasalazine and in control group, while the group protected by enterogermina showed mild edema. Elisa results proved that lactobacillus has anti-inflammatory activity as it showed inhibition in levels of inflammatory biomarkers after induction by acetic acid and shigella. In conclusion, lactobacillus showed more anti-inflammatory activity than enterogermina, so it is a promising drug in IBD treatment.