Protective effect of ursodeoxycholic acid against chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Abstract

796 Background: Gastrointestinal mucositis is a serious side effect of chemotherapy. It increases the frequency of infection, risk of bleeding, and duration of hospitalization, consequently reducing subsequent chemotherapy doses. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is currently used in various liver diseases, exerts direct cytoprotective effects by stabilizing membranes, inhibiting apoptosis, and acting as an antioxidant. The protective effect of UDCA against chemotherapy-induced mucositis was assessed using an in vivo animal model. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following 5 groups: non-chemotherapy and vehicle; 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and vehicle; 5-FU and 10 mg/kg/day UDCA; 5-FU and 100 mg/kg/day UDCA; and 5-FU and 500 mg/kg/day UDCA. 5-FU (400 mg/kg) or physiological saline (control) was administered by intraperitoneal injection. UDCA was orally administered 1 day before 5-FU injection for 6 days. One day after the final UDCA dose, rats were sacrificed, and the intestines were dissected for tissue sampling and laboratory analysis. Results: UDCA promoted a higher body weight recovery, decreased villus destruction, and reduced inflammatory cytokines levels, at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg/day. Villous fusion and destruction were pronounced in the 5-FU group compared with those observed in the UDCA-treated group or controls. The jejunal villous lengths were as follows: 212.8±58.0 µm, 331.3±18.0 µm, and 310.0±112.6 µm, in the 5-FU and vehicle, 5-FU and 10 mg/kg UDCA (p = 0.006), and 5-FU and 100 mg/kg UDCA groups (p = 0.046), respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that IL-6 and TNF-α levels decreased in the 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg UDCA co-administration groups. Further, myeloperoxidase activity decreased in the UDCA co-administration group. Conclusions: UDCA significantly attenuated the reduction of the height of small intestinal villi and reduced inflammatory cytokine levels, thus highlighting the potential of UDCA as a preventive agent against chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis. The specific protective mechanisms of UDCA on the gastrointestinal tract should be determined.