2. Academic Validation
  3. Protective Effects of Imatinib on a DSS-induced Colitis Model Through Regulation of Apoptosis and Inflammation

Protective Effects of Imatinib on a DSS-induced Colitis Model Through Regulation of Apoptosis and Inflammation

  • In Vivo. 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2310-2317. doi: 10.21873/invivo.13696.
Hyeonjin Kim # 1,  Chae Yeon Kim # 1,  Dongwook Kim 1,  Eungyung Kim 1,  Lei Ma 1,  Kanghyun Park 1,  Zhibin Liu 1 2,  K E Huang 1 2,  Weihong Wen 3,  Jiwon Ko 4,  Su-Geun Lim 4,  Younghun Sung 5,  Zae Young Ryoo 6,  Jun Koo Yi 7,  Soyoung Jang 8,  Myoung Ok Kim 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Innovative Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Department of Dental Hygiene, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea.
  • 3 Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, P.R. China.
  • 4 School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 5 Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 6 School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
  • 7 School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Hankyong National University, Anseong, Republic of Korea.
  • 8 School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea; jangsy@knu.ac.kr.
  • 9 Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Research Institute for Innovative Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea; ok4325@knu.ac.kr.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39187319 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13696
Abstract

Background/aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by dysregulated immune responses and a multifactorial etiology. While imatinib has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of immune-related diseases, its potential effects in IBD treatment remain underexplored.

Materials and methods: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of imatinib in colitis treatment. A dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model was used to mimic IBD in mice. Imatinib was administered orally to mice simultaneously with DSS treatment. The effects of imatinib on DSS-induced colitis were evaluated by analyzing colitis-related pathology, including the disease activity index (DAI), histological lesions, inflammatory markers, and tight junction integrity. Additionally, western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to assess inflammatory markers, tight-junction proteins, and cell death.

Results: In the DSS-induced colitis model, imatinib treatment exerted protective effects by attenuating weight loss, restoring colon length, reducing spleen weight, and improving the DAI score and histological lesions. Additionally, imatinib reduced the level of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Furthermore, imatinib treatment restored tight-junction integrity and decreased the expression of Apoptosis marker proteins.

Conclusion: Overall, imatinib treatment significantly alleviated the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis by influencing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, tight junction proteins, and apoptotic markers in mice. These findings highlight imatinib as a potential therapeutic candidate for IBD.

Keywords

Inflammatory bowel disease; apoptosis; imatinib; inflammation; tight junction.

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