Artesunate alleviates the inflammatory response of ulcerative colitis by regulating the expression of miR-155

Abstract

Context

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recrudescent and chronic inflammatory disease. Artesunate (ART) has shown its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties in severe diseases, including UC.

Objective

The present study investigates the molecular mechanisms for effects of ART on UC, and the role of miR-155 in this process.

Materials and methods

The in vitro UC model was established by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. For BALB/c mice model, different concentrations/doses of ART were treated once a day for 7 days. The apoptosis and viability were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The expressions and concentrations of inflammatory factors were detected by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Colon tissues of mice were used for detecting the activity of MPO, and the histological changes were observed by H&E staining.

Results

The IC₅₀ of ART for RAW264.7 cells was 107.3 μg/mL. In LPS-induced cells, ART treatment inhibited the cell apoptosis and promoted cell viability compared with the model group. Besides, ART treatment also reduced the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors and miR-155. However, overexpression of miR-155 showed opposite effects and attenuated the effects of ART. Meanwhile, inhibiting miR-155 expression also improved the inflammatory response induced by LPS. In UC mice model, ART treatment also alleviated the mice’s survival and alleviated the inflammatory response. In addition, the expression of p-NF-κB was suppressed by ART.

Conclusion

ART reduced the inflammatory response by inhibiting the expression of miR-155 in UC to inhibit the NF-κB pathway. This research showed ART might have potential in UC treatment.

Keywords:

• NF-κB
• microRNA
• natural plant extracts
• cellular molecular mechanism

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Authors’ contributions

Guarantor of integrity of the entire study: Zhao-Bin Yang, Lu-Zhen Qiu, Jian-Dong Lin; study concepts, study design and definition of intellectual content: Zhao-Bin Yang; literature research: Zhao-Bin Yang, Lu-Zhen Qiu; clinical studies: Quan Chen; Zhao-Bin Yang, Quan Chen perform the experimental; data acquisition, analysis and statistical analysis: Zhao-Bin Yang, Quan Chen; manuscript preparation and manuscript editing: Zhao-Bin Yang, Lu-Zhen Qiu; manuscript review: Lu-Zhen Qiu, Jian-Dong Lin

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Startup Fund for scientific research from Fujian Medical University [2017XQ114].