Dandelion polysaccharide can decrease the level of IL-6 in rats with ulcerative colitis. - GreenMedInfo Summary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dandelion polysaccharide on IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in rats with ulcerative colitis.

METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (=10):control group, model group, positive control group and dandelion polysaccharide group. The ulcerative colitis model was established by treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The positive control group was treated with mesalazine 10 mg/kg·d and dandelion polysaccharide group was treated with dandelion polysaccharide 10 mg/kg·d. The levels of interleukin -6(IL-6), colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6Rα) were measured after 4 weeks of treatment. The pathological changes of colonic mucosa were observed inrats. The gene expressions of glycoprotein 130 (gp130), transcriptional activator3(STAT3) and IL-6 were detected.

RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the level of serum IL-6 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of IL-6 in the dandelion polysaccharide group and the methacetin group were significantly decreased (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the MPO positive density of the rats in the dandelion polysaccharide group and the methacetin group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of sIL-6Rα and gp130 in the rats were significantly lower than those in the model group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of STAT3 and IL-6 mRNA in the intestinal tissue of the rats in the dandelion polysaccharide group and the methacetin group were decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS: Dandelion polysaccharide can decrease the level of IL-6 in rats with ulcerative colitis, regulate the expression of sIL-6Rα and gp130 protein in IL-6/STAT3 pathway, and then down-regulate the expressions of STAT3 and IL-6 mRNA in intestinal tissue of rats, alleviate the colon inflammation state, protect and repair the mucosal tissue. Dandelion polysaccharide plays a role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.