Dysfunction of gut immune regulation is involved in mucosal damage in
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is still no efficacious immune-regulator for the treatment of IBD.
Alloferon is a novel immune-modulatory
peptide that was originally isolated from infected insects. It shows anti-inflammatory effects by the regulation of
cytokine production by immune cells and their activities. Therefore, we investigated the effect of
alloferon in a mouse model of
colitis using
dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).
Colitis was induced by administration of DSS in
drinking water for 7 consecutive days. It was confirmed by the presence of
weight loss,
diarrhea,
hematochezia, and colon contraction.
Alloferon was injected 4 days after DSS administration. We found that
alloferon improved the pathogenesis of IBD based on the reduced disease activity index (DAI) and colon contraction.
Edema, epithelial erosion, and immune cell infiltration were found in mice administered DSS, but the phenomena were reduced following
alloferon treatment. The plasma level of
IL-6, a classical pro-inflammatory
cytokine in
colitis, was also decreased by
alloferon. Moreover,
alloferon inhibited the TNF-α-induced degradation and phosphorylation of IκB in Colo205
colon cancer cells. Taken together, these results show that
alloferon has anti-inflammatory effects and attenuates DSS-induced
colitis.