Affiliations 

  • 1 SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: m.tambuwala@ulster.ac.uk
  • 2 International Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Education, Shree Bhawani Paper Mill Road, ITI Compound, Raebareli, 229010, U.P., India
  • 4 School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
  • 5 SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Pathol Res Pract, 2018 Nov;214(11):1909-1911.
PMID: 30170869 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.08.020

Abstract

Fibrosis is known to be the hallmarks of chronic inflammation of the bowel. Epithelial damage due to inflammation compromises the barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract. This barrier dysfunction leads to further spread of inflammation resulting in a chronic state of inflammation. This chronic inflammation leads to development of fibrosis, which has very limited therapeutic options and usually requires surgical removal of the affected tissue. Our previous work has shown that Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent, found in propolis, has been found to be protective in experimental colitis via enhancement of epithelial barrier function. However, the impact of CAPE on resolution of fibrosis in the long-term is unknown. The aim of this follow up study was to investigate the effect of CAPE on colon fibrosis in a chronic model of Dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis in mice. Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) 2.5% w/v was administered in drinking water to induce colitis in C57/BL6 mice for 5 days on the 6th day DSS was stopped and test group mice were treated with intraperitoneal administration of CAPE (30 mg kg-1 day-1) for a further 7 days. Disease activity index (DAI) score, colon length and tissue histology and level of tissue fibrosis was observed. CAPE-treated mice had significantly lower levels of DAI, tissue inflammation scores and fibrosis as compared with control group. Our results show that CAPE is effective in resolving colon fibrosis in chronic inflammation. Thus, we can conclude CAPE could be a potential therapeutic agent for further clinical investigations for treatment of fibrosis in inflammatory bowel diseases in humans.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.