Oral in vivo bactofection in dextran sulfate sodium treated female Wistar rats

Salmonella typhimurium SL7207 carrying Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase and an N-terminal deletion mutant of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 genes was applied to dextran sodium sulfate treated female Wistar rats. Stool quality, food and water intake were monitored. Markers of oxidative stress, interleukin 1, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were quantified. No differences were found in body weights, markers of oxidative stress in plasma and inflammatory markers in colon homogenates. Plasma concentrations of I11, I16 were lower in the treatment groups than in the dextran sodium sulfate group. However, dextran sodium sulfate induced inflammation could not be confirmed by plasma levels of I11, I16 and TNFalpha. Although some parameters showed a tendency to improve, the inflammation caused by administration of 4% dextran sodium sulfate during 7 days was low and contradictory to other studies. Results showed the potential synergic effect of combined bacteria-mediated antioxidative and anti-inflammatory gene therapy.