Protective effect of ilomastat on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

AIM: To evaluate the protective effects of ilomastat,an exogenous matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor,on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNB)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats.METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into model group,protective groups A and B,and normal control group.Rats in the model group received only intra-colonic TNB.Rats in the protective groups A and B received intra-peritoneal ilomastat of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg,respectively,beside TNB.Rats in the normal control group received only intra-colonic normal saline.After 3 wk,segments of colon were obtained.RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used for pathological study.RESULTS: The model of UC was successfully induced in rats.Inflammation of colonic mucosa greatly improved in protective groups A and B.Expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in the model group,protective groups A and B was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P ＜ 0.0001) with MMP-1 expression increased more significantly than TIMP-1 expression.Expression of MMP-1 in protective groups A and B was significantly lower than that in the model group (P ＜ 0.0001).Expression of MMP-1 in protective group B was significantly lower than that in protective group A (P ＜ 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Ilomastat improves TNB-induced UC in rats by inhibiting the MMP-1 activity.