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Updated: May 29, 2026
08:43
Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Intravenous injection of endogenous microbial components abrogates DSS-induced colitis
Beate C Sydora1, Eric J Albert, Rae R Foshaug
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Center of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. bsydora@ualberta.ca
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|September 2, 2011
Summary
High doses of bacterial components induce tolerance, reducing intestinal inflammation and weight loss in a colitis model. This finding offers a potential new strategy for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- The exact causes of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) remain unclear, but uncontrolled immune responses to gut bacteria are implicated.
- High-dose tolerance, achieved by exposure to high antigen amounts, is a known immune mechanism.
- Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice serves as a relevant model for human IBD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if administering high doses of endogenous bacterial components can induce tolerance.
- To investigate the impact of this induced tolerance on DSS-induced colitis in mice.
Main Methods:
- Mice received intravenous injections of fecal bacterial lysates or control lysates.
- Colitis was induced using Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) in drinking water.
- Inflammation was assessed via weight loss, histopathology, cytokine release, and systemic immune responses.
Main Results:
- Fecal lysate treatment significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release in the gut and systemically.
- Mice treated with fecal lysates showed reduced weight loss and intestinal damage after DSS administration.
- A tolerogenic effect on both mucosal and systemic immune responses was observed.
Conclusions:
- Pre-treatment with high doses of bacterial components induces a profound tolerogenic effect.
- This approach effectively reduces intestinal inflammation and mitigates colitis-induced symptoms like weight loss.
- Findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for IBD by modulating immune responses to gut microbiota.
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