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Polyethylene glycol enhances colonic barrier function and ameliorates experimental colitis in rats

  • Original Article
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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been suggested to protect against pathogen colonization by improving colonic barrier function. We aimed to establish whether PEG 4000 affects colonic barrier function and the development of colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats.

Materials and methods

PEG was included in the drinking water for a period of 48 h before intracolonic administration of TNBS.

Results and discussion

PEG increased colonic surface hydrophobicity and diminished luminal bacterial load. Moreover, PEG markedly reduced mucosal damage and inflammation induced by TNBS. This protection effect appeared to be independent of its laxative properties since the laxatives mannitol or senna extracts had no effect on TNBS colitis. Using everted colonic sacs, pretreatment with PEG produced a lasting reduction in epithelial permeability to mannitol and dextran-70 K that correlated with decreased surface hydrophobicity.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the protective effect of PEG on TNBS colitis is associated with reinforcement of the epithelial barrier.

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Abbreviations

PEG:

group of rats treated with polyethylene glycol 4000

MANN:

group of rats treated with mannitol

SENN:

group of rats treated with senna extracts A and B

TNBS:

2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid

LTB4 :

leukotriene B4

KB:

krebs buffer

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (C03/02), Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (SAF 2003-05262), and Generalitat de Catalunya (RE: 2001SGR00389).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive System Research Unit, Hospital General Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

    Sebastián Videla, Aurelia Lugea, Jaime Vilaseca, Francisco Guarner, Carlos Medina & Juan R. Malagelada

  2. Department of Pathology, Hospital Mutua, Terrassa, Spain

    Francesc Treserra & Antonio Salas

  3. Department of Microbiology, Hospital General Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

    Ernesto Crespo

  4. Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, University of Texas—Health Science Center at Houston, 6770 Bertner Ave., Delton A Cooley Building, c950B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Carlos Medina

Authors
  1. Sebastián Videla
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  2. Aurelia Lugea
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  3. Jaime Vilaseca
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  4. Francisco Guarner
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  5. Francesc Treserra
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  6. Antonio Salas
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  7. Ernesto Crespo
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  8. Carlos Medina
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  9. Juan R. Malagelada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Medina.

Additional information

Sebastián Videla and Aurelia Lugea contributed equally to this study.

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Videla, S., Lugea, A., Vilaseca, J. et al. Polyethylene glycol enhances colonic barrier function and ameliorates experimental colitis in rats. Int J Colorectal Dis 22, 571–580 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-006-0232-4

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