Abstract
Pre-pubertal murine models of acute colitis are lacking. Magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) is a promising minimally invasive tool to assess colitis. We aimed to: 1/ Adapt a model of acute experimental colitis to pre-pubertal rats and determine whether MRC characteristics correlate with histological inflammation. 2/ Test this model by administering a diet supplemented in transforming growth factor β2 to reverse inflammation. Twenty-four rats were randomized at weaning to one of 3 groups: Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) group (n = 8) fed a standard diet, that received an intra-rectal 60 mg/kg dose of TNBS-ethanol; Control group (n = 8) fed standard diet, that received a dose of intra-rectal PBS; TNBS+MODULEN group (n = 8) that received a dose of TNBS and were exclusively fed MODULEN-IBD® after induction of colitis. One week after induction of colitis, rats were assessed by MRC, colon histopathology and inflammation markers (Interleukin 1β, Tumor necrosis factor α, Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 and Cyclooxygenase 2). TNBS induced typical features of acute colitis on histopathology and MRC (increased colon wall thickness, increased colon intensity on T2-weighted images, target sign, ulcers). Treatment with MODULEN-IBD® did not reduce signs of colitis on MRC. Inflammatory marker expression did not differ among study groups.
Highlights
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis, is a chronic relapsing disease affecting the digestive tract
In a model of acute Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) colitis in adult rats we previously showed that magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) could accurately evaluate inflammation, compared to histopathology [17]
Colon weight/length, a marker of inflammation, did not differ between TNBS and Control groups (p = 0.08) (Fig 2, Panel F), colon weight was significantly increased in TNBS group compared to Controls (2.3 ± 1.1 g vs. 1.4 ± 0.3 g, p = 0.009)
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis, is a chronic relapsing disease affecting the digestive tract. The incidence and prevalence of these diseases are increasing worldwide [1]. A systematic worldwide review showed that the highest reported prevalence values for IBD were in Europe (UC: 505 per 100,000 persons, CD: 322 per 100,000 persons) [1]. An estimated ten percent of new IBD cases patients are children, with a steady increase of incidence of pediatric IBD worldwide [2, 3]. Crohn’s disease beginning in childhood has several specificities compared to adult-onset disease among which a higher incidence of complicated phenotypes and of growth failure [4,5,6].
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