Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) has reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immunologic pathways implicated in its pathogenesis. The search for new therapeutic protocols in managing UC is tailored in suppressing or preventing these pathways. The influence of trivalent chromium (Cr3+), an essential mineral on experimental colitis was investigated. Mice were grouped into 3; group 1 (control) received clean drinking water while groups 2 and 3 received 10 and 100 ppm Cr3+ respectively for 12 weeks through drinking water. After Cr3+ administration, 5 animals per group were sacrificed on day 0. Thereafter, experimental colitis was induced intra-rectally using acetic acid (4%, 0.3mL) and 5 mice per group were subsequently sacrificed on days 3, 7 and 14. Blood and colonic tissues were obtained and processed appropriately. Blood Cr3+ level, haematological variables, gross and microscopic colitis scores, colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined using standard methods. Colon cytokine mRNA genes were quantified using real-time PCR. There was a significant decrease in colon gross and histology scores on days 3 and 7 in chromium treated compared with control. The MPO and MDA in chromium groups reduced significantly compared with control while SOD activities increased significantly in Cr3+ groups compared with control. Total RNA increased in chromium groups compared with control on day 3 post-colitis. There was up-regulation of IL-10, down-regulation of TNF-α and IFN-λ in chromium administered groups compared with control. Chromium enhanced healing of colitis by suppression of ROS, inflammation and promotion of antioxidant activities.
Highlights
IntroductionInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises of both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) which is often characterized by extensive and severe intestinal inflammation resulting from deranged immune system in response to increasing loads of commensal micro-biota [1]
The MPO and MDA in chromium groups reduced significantly compared with control while Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities increased significantly in Cr3+ groups compared with control
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises of both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) which is often characterized by extensive and severe intestinal inflammation resulting from deranged immune system in response to increasing loads of commensal micro-biota [1]
Summary
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises of both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) which is often characterized by extensive and severe intestinal inflammation resulting from deranged immune system in response to increasing loads of commensal micro-biota [1]. The pathophysiology is still vague, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immunologic processes are key theories that have been proposed as the possible mechanism of its pathologic nature [2] [3] [4] [5] This has driven the search for therapeutic strategies that can be focused or targeted to the needs of individual patients. Trivalent (Cr3+) is an essential mineral that human requires in trace amounts, its mechanism of actions and the quantity that is beneficial to health have no clear-cut definitions [9]. It exists mainly in two forms, trivalent which are the more stable bio-available forms and present in food substances; hexavalent, the toxic form available from industrial pollutions. Chromium in this study is limited to trivalent form and has been reported to promote actions of insulin [10] [11], aid metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and protein [12] [13], among other beneficial effects
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