Abstract:
Integrins can modulate the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the secretion of various inflammatory mediators, essential players in the pathogenesis of colitis. This study explores the role of β2 and β3 integrin signaling and their possible role in experimental colitis. A total of 160 adult male Sprague-Dawly rats were divided into 4 equal groups: methylcellulose, bacteria, iodoacetamide and iodoacetamide plus bacteria. Clinical symptoms and signs of colitis were checked daily and colonic tissues were biopsied on days 3, 14, 28, and 56 post induction. Histological studies along with histochemical analysis and polymerase chain reaction of β2, β3 and αvβ3 were performed according to standard procedures. The symptoms and signs were consistent with previously reported data on active colitis. The highest expression of β3 integrin was in the combined treatment mostly on platelets, endothelial and inflammatory cells. In the same group, the expression of αvβ3 integrin complex reached the highest score after 56 days in all colonic layers. β2 integrin expression showed a 3-4-fold increase in the combined treatment group at all time points and kept increasing till day 56. It was mostly expressed in the mucosa and submucosa. In addition, the expression of both αvβ 3 and αiiβ3 integrins was also elevated 2- to 10-fold, respectively, in the same colitis groups throughout the duration of the experiment. In conclusion, the combined treatment of IA and Enteropathogenic E. coli led to a significant upregulation of all the tested integrins throughout the experimental duration. Such upregulation of integrins could have contributed to the increase and chronicity of inflammation. Copyright © by BIOLIFE, s.a.s.