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Compromised neuroimmune status in rats with experimental colitis
Lysa Boissé1, Marja D Van Sickle, Keith A Sharkey
1Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Journal of Physiology
|March 18, 2003
Summary
Chronic colitis disrupts the neuroimmune system, impairing fever responses and body temperature regulation. This study reveals a compromised host defense in colitis, impacting inflammatory signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
Background:
- Chronic colitis involves inflammation and host defense breakdown, potentially affecting neuroimmune responses.
- The impact of colitis on circadian body temperature rhythms and febrile responses remains unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if colitis alters the host neuroimmune response.
- To examine the effects of colitis on body temperature rhythm and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever.
Main Methods:
- Male rats were induced with colitis using trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid and monitored for body temperature via telemetry.
- LPS was administered during colitis and its reactivation to assess febrile and inflammatory marker responses.
Main Results:
- Colitis induced disrupted circadian body temperature rhythms, with daytime fever and nighttime hypothermia.
- LPS administration resulted in reduced fever and lower interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in colitis rats.
- Reactivated colitis further blunted the febrile response and inflammatory cytokine release following LPS challenge.
Conclusions:
- Experimental colitis is linked to a compromised neuroimmune status.
- Colitis impairs the ability to mount a febrile response to endotoxin, indicating altered neuroimmune regulation.