Research Article

The effect of Taurine on 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis.

10.5505/KRHD.2011.08379

  • Bünyamin Gürbulak
  • Esin Kabul Gürbulak
  • Emre Balık
  • Yeşim Erbil

Turk J Colorectal Dis 2011;21(3):94-102

OBJECTIVE:

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum etiology of which is unknown. Neutrophil and overproduction of proinflammatory mediators including cytokines, arachidonate metabolites, and reactive oxygen metabolites have been implicated in the pathogenesis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of taurine administration on tissue damage and markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant metabolism in an animal model of colitis.

METHODS:

Thirty two rats were grouped into: Group 1 (n = 8): Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis group, Group 2 (n = 8): Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis treated with taurine 1g/kg/day via intragastric gavage, Group 3 (n = 8): Taurine alone 1g/kg/day via intragastric gavage treated group, Group 4 (n = 8): Isotonic saline solution 1ml/rat via intragastric treated control group.

RESULTS:

Tissue levels of malondialdehyde; glutathione levels; as well as immunohistochemical determination of nuclear factor-kappa B and heme oxygenase-1 was performed. The results of the present study suggest that taurine administration significantly reduced the tissue damage in colitis due to the observation that it significantly reduced tissue malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.05), and the HO-1 expression of the colonic tissues was found to be significantly higher in group 1 compared to the control group (p < 0.05).Furthermore macroscopic and microscopic scores of inflammation were significantly reduced as well as tissue expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (p < 0.05). Nuclear factor-kappa B is induced in inflammatory setting as expected.

CONCLUSION:

Taurine administration increased tissue levels of glutathione and heme oxygenase-1 which is suggestive of the possible role of antioxidant mechanisms taking part in its beneficial effect. Taurine seems to have protective effects against colonic damage in Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis through reducing inflammation and enhancing antioxidant metabolism.

Keywords: Taurine, Colitis, Apoptosis, NF-KB, HO-1