Antiinflammatory effect of phytosterols in experimental murine colitis model: prevention, induction, remission study

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 30;9(9):e108112. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108112. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Phytosterols, besides hypocholesterolemic effect, present anti-inflammatory properties. Little information is available about their efficacy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Therefore, we have evaluated the effect of a mixture of phytosterols on prevention/induction/remission in a murine experimental model of colitis. Phytosterols were administered x os before, during and after colitis induction with Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) in mice. Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress in the intestinal tissue (ileum and colon) and gallbladder ileum and colon spontaneous and carbachol (CCh) induced motility, plasma lipids and plasma, liver and biliary bile acids (BA) were evaluated. A similar longitudinal study was performed in a DSS colitis control group. Mice treated with DSS developed severe colitis as shown by DAI, colon length, histopathology score, 18F-FDG microPET, oxidative stress. Both spontaneous and induced ileal and colonic motility were severely disturbed. The same was observed with gallbladder. DSS colitis resulted in an increase in plasma cholesterol, and a modification of the BA pattern. Phytosterols feeding did not prevent colitis onset but significantly reduced the severity of the disease and improved clinical and histological remission. It had strong antioxidant effects, almost restored colon, ileal and gallbladder motility. Plasmatic levels of cholesterol were also reduced. DSS induced a modification in the BA pattern consistent with an increase in the intestinal BA deconjugating bacteria, prevented by phytosterols. Phytosterols seem a potential nutraceutical tool for gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, combining metabolic systematic and local anti-inflammatory effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / drug therapy*
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colon / drug effects*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gallbladder / drug effects
  • Gallbladder / pathology
  • Ileum / drug effects
  • Ileum / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Peristalsis / drug effects
  • Phytosterols / pharmacology*
  • Remission Induction
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Phytosterols
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Cholesterol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Alisal (Mazz100136- 2010). ALISAL is a project supported by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali, with D.M. 11008/7303/10, dated 17/05/2010. The title of the project is: Miglioramento delle proprietà igienico-sanitarie, salutistiche e funzionali di commodity per l'alimentazione dell'uomo e/o degli animali (Improvement of sanitary properties, healthy and functional food commodities for human and/or animals). Prof. Mazzella was supported with materials, reagents, animals. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.