Coriolus Versicolor Downregulates TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Cascade in Dinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid-Treated Mice: A Possible Mechanism for the Anti-Colitis Effect

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. The focus of the present study was to examine the effect of the fungus Coriolus versicolor (CV), underlining its correlation with Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2); we aim to evaluate its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect in mice exposed to experimental colitis. The model was induced in mice by colon instillation of dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS), CV was administered orally (200 mg per kg) daily for 4 days. On day 4, the animals were killed, and the tissues collected for histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Four days after DNBS administration, CC motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production increased in association with damage to the colon. Neutrophil infiltration, as assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, in the mucosa was associated with overexpression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1). Immunohistochemistry for nitrotyrosine and poly-(ADP-Ribose)-polymerase (PARP) showed evident stain in the inflamed colon. Treatment with CV significantly reduced the appearance of colon changes and weight loss. These effects were associated with a remarkable ability of CV to reduce the expression of TLR4 and modulate the pathway of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB). This improved the colon architecture, reduced MPO activity, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, the presence of nitrotyrosine, and the hyperactivation of PARP, as well as the up-regulation of P-selectin and ICAM1. Furthermore, we studied the action of CV on the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which is important for maintaining redox balance, demonstrating that CV by significantly increasing both enzymes is able to counteract the oxidative stress induced by DNBS. Taken together, our results clearly show that this natural compound can be considered as a possible dietary supplement against colitis.

Ulva pertusa, a Marine Green Alga, Attenuates DNBS-Induced Colitis Damage via NF-κB/Nrf2/SIRT1 Signaling Pathways

“…NF-κB activation contributes to the development and maintenance of gut inflammation. More specifically, NF-κB was found to be activated in mucosal cells of IBD patients, thus raising the assumption that its pharmacological inhibition represents a step forward in the treatment of intestinal inflammatory disorders [ 45 ]. Here, our results suggested how Ulva pertusa treatments exerted beneficial properties by reducing also pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and iNOS and modulating the NF-κB pathway in colitis mice.…”

Effects of Medicinal Plants and Phytochemicals in Nrf2 Pathways during Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Related Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

“…Impellizzeri et al [ 181 ] used a DNBS-induced CD1 mice model of colitis to evaluate the effects of the fungus Coriolus versicolor in a dose of 200 mg/kg against IBD. Before treatment, they observed neutrophils infiltration in the colon, lipid peroxidation, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion, such as IL-1β and TNF-α.…”

Mushrooms as future generation healthy foods

“…Preliminary results in the mouse colitis model suggest that Coriolus versicolor biomass supplements hold great promise as a useful way to manage inflammatory bowel diseases ( 183 ).…”