Procyanidin improves experimental colitis by regulating macrophage polarization

Abstract

BackgroundInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with an unclear pathogenesis for which successful treatments are still lacking. It has been reported that procyanidin, a natural antioxidant, relieves colitis, but the specific mechanism is elusive. PurposeOur present study was designed to investigate the effects of procyanidin on colitis and the regulation of the M1 macrophage phenotype and related signaling pathways. MethodsIn vivo, we used two classic colitis models to observe the effect of procyanidin on macrophage polarization. In vitro, we further validated the therapeutic effect of procyanidin in the RAW264.7 cell line and peritoneal macrophages. ResultsThe current findings provide new evidence that procyanidin ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis by preventing the polarization of macrophages to the M1 type and downregulating the levels of proinflammatory factors in cells. We also showed that procyanidin prevented lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevation of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of proinflammatory macrophages, which was achieved by activating the STAT3 and NF-κB pathways. ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that procyanidin alleviates experimental colitis by inhibiting the polarization of proinflammatory macrophages. These data reveal new ideas for the pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory diseases.