Oral Administration of Surface-Deacetylated Chitin Nanofibers and Chitosan Inhibit 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Mucositis in Mice

Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Jan 27;18(2):279. doi: 10.3390/ijms18020279.

Abstract

This study investigated the prophylactic effects of orally administered surface-deacetylated chitin nanofibers (SDACNFs) and chitosan against 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced intestinal mucositis, which is a common side effect of 5-FU chemotherapy. SDACNFs and chitosan abolished histological abnormalities associated with intestinal mucositis and suppressed hypoproliferation and apoptosis of intestinal crypt cells. These results indicate that SDACNF and chitosan are useful agents for preventing mucositis induced by anti-cancer drugs.

Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; apoptosis; chitosan; mucositis; surface deacetylated chitin nanofiber.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Chitin / administration & dosage*
  • Chitin / pharmacology
  • Chitin / therapeutic use*
  • Chitosan / administration & dosage
  • Chitosan / pharmacology
  • Chitosan / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mucositis / chemically induced*
  • Mucositis / drug therapy*
  • Nanofibers / administration & dosage
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / ultrastructure
  • Peroxidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Chitin
  • Chitosan
  • Peroxidase
  • Caspase 3
  • Fluorouracil