Acute idiopathic pancreatitis is associated with more aggressive disease course in Crohn's disease but not in ulcerative colitis

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract, with the primary subtypes being ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles released by adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, which we, in this manuscript, call "exosomes" (ASC-EXOs), in a mouse model of IBD. We specifically aimed to determine the effectiveness of different treatment protocols and compare the effects with that of anti-IL-12 p40 monoclonal antibody. The addition of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to drinking water induced multiple signs of IBD, including weight loss, soft stool, and bloody feces. ASC-EXOs given by either intraperitoneal (IP) or intravenous (IV) routes resulted in moderate improvement in these signs of IBD. IV ASC-EXOs resulted in significantly reduced body weight loss, improved histopathological scoring, and suppressed the disease activity index (DAI) compared to the IBD control group. Also, a reduction in PCR for pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed. IV ASC treatment resulted in dose-related reduction in IBD signs, including weight loss. An increasing number of injections with ASC-EXOs reduced histopathological scores as well as DAI. Co-administration of ASC-EXOs with anti-IL-12 p40 significantly decreased DAI scores in the ASC-EXO + anti-IL-12 p40 group. In conclusion, ASC-EXOs have potential as a therapeutic agent for IBD, but the route of administration, number of injections, and dosage need to be considered to optimize the effects of ASC-EXO treatment. This study also highlights the potential benefits of combination therapies of ASC-EXOs and anti-IL-12. Our findings pave the way for further studies to unravel the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of ASC-EXOs in IBD treatment.

Prophylactic Coloprotective Effect of Urtica dioica Leaves against Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

Background and Objectives: Urtica dioica, a source of bioactive functional compounds, provides nutritional and gastrointestinal therapeutic benefits. This study attempted to investigate the prophylactic coloprotective action of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica (AEUD) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and Methods: Phenolic compounds, total sugar, and mineral levels were determined in AEUD. Then, AEUD at different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, BW, p.o.) and mesalazine (MESA) as a standard treatment (100 mg/kg, BW, p.o.) were given orally for 21 days. Acute colitis was induced by administering drinking water with 5% (w/v) DSS for 7 days. Body weight variation, fecal occult blood, and stool consistency were determined daily. The severity of colitis was graded according to colon length, disease activity index (DAI), histological evaluations, and biochemical alterations. Rats orally administered DSS regularly developed clinical and macroscopic signs of colitis. Results: Due to its richness in phenolic and flavonoid compounds (247.65 ± 2.69 mg EAG/g MS and 34.08 ± 0.53 mg EQt/g MS, respectively), AEUD markedly ameliorated DAI, ulcer scores, colon length shortening, colonic histopathological changes, and hematological and biochemical modifications. Taken together, AEUD treatment notably (p < 0.01) suppressed DSS-induced UC by reducing oxidative stress via lowering MDA/H2O2 production and stimulating the effect of enzyme antioxidants as well as attenuating inflammation by decreasing CRP levels by 79.5% between the DSS and DSS + AEUD-50 groups compared to the MESA group (75.6%). Conclusions: AEUD was sufficient to exert a coloprotective effect that might be influenced by its bioactive compounds' anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.