Expression and secretion of lipocortin 1 in gut inflammation are not regulated by pituitary-adrenal axis

Lipocortin 1 is considered a mediator of the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids. We have shown that this protein is overexpressed and secreted during an experimental colitis induced by intraluminal injection of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats. We studied here the in vivo regulation of lipocortin 1 expression and secretion in this model, either by glucocorticoids using adrenalectomized or dexamethasone-treated (3 mg/24 h) animals or by pituitary factors using hypophysectomized animals. Inflammation was evaluated by measuring myeloperoxidase activity and by histological scoring of the damage. Lipocortin 1 was detected by immunoblotting, and its secretion was studied by incubating colonic specimens in-culture medium. In the colon of TNBS-injected animals, cumulative histological damage scores were increased in adrenalectomized and decreased in dexamethasone-treated animals compared with control and hypophysectomized animals. The colons of all TNBS-injected animals (controls, adrenalectomized, dexamethasone treated, hypophysectomized) overexpressed and secreted lipocortin 1. In conclusion, the induction of lipocortin 1 overexpression and secretion during this colitis occurs independently of glucocorticoids or pituitary factors.