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Effect of chemical modulation of toll-like receptor 4 in an animal model of ulcerative colitis

  • Pharmacodynamics
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Abstract

Purpose

The partial ineffectiveness and side effects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) current therapies drive basic research to look for new therapeutic target in order to develop new drug lead. Considering the pivotal role played by toll-like receptors (TLRs) in gut inflammation, we evaluate here the therapeutic effect of the synthetic glycolipid TLR4 antagonist FP7.

Methods

The anti-inflammatory effect of FP7, active as TLR4 antagonist, was evaluated on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) isolated from IBD patients, and in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis.

Results

FP7 strongly reduced the inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro, due to its capacity to compete with LPS for the binding of TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex thus inhibiting both the MyD88- and TRIF-dependent inflammatory pathways. Colitic mice treated with FP7 exhibit reduced colonic inflammation and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions

This study suggests that TLR4 chemical modulation can be an effective therapeutic approach to IBD. The selectivity of FP7 on TLR4 makes this molecule a promising drug lead for new small molecules-based treatments.

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Abbreviations

CD:

Crohn’s disease

DAMPs:

Danger-associated molecular patterns

DSS:

Dextran sulfate sodium

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel disease

IP:

Intraperitoneal

LBP:

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein

LPMCs:

Lamina propria mononuclear cells

MyD88:

Myeloid differentiation primary response gene(88)

N.S:

Non-stimulated

PAMPs:

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns

PBMCs:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PRRs:

Pattern recognition receptors

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

UC:

Ulcerative colitis

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Acknowledgments

The Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

Author contribution statement

Ivan Monteleone, Francesco Peri, Giovanni Monteleone, and Fabio A. Facchini designed the study. Fabio A. Facchini performed all the experimental work presented with the help of Davide Di Fusco and Simona Barresi. In particular, in vivo experimentation and processing of patients’ biopsy and specimens were performed with Davide Di Fusco, while western blot analysis was performed with the help of Simona Barresi and Francesca Granucci. Andrea Luraghi and Alberto Minotti synthesized the molecule FP7.

Funding

Project H2020-MSC-ETN-642157 TOLLerant.

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Author notes

  1. Francesco Peri and Ivan Monteleone contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Fabio Alessandro Facchini, Simona Barresi, Andrea Luraghi, Alberto Minotti, Francesca Granucci & Francesco Peri

  2. Department of Systems Medicine, University of “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Davide Di Fusco & Giovanni Monteleone

  3. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Ivan Monteleone

Authors
  1. Fabio Alessandro Facchini
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Correspondence to Francesco Peri or Ivan Monteleone.

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Facchini, F.A., Di Fusco, D., Barresi, S. et al. Effect of chemical modulation of toll-like receptor 4 in an animal model of ulcerative colitis. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 76, 409–418 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-019-02799-7

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