Figure 7

Guggulsterone derivative GG-52 attenuates NF-κB signals and MIP-2 secretion in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. (a and b) Mice were treated with vehicle (control), DSS, or DSS+guggulsterone derivative GG-52 (200 mg/kg q.d.), as described in the preventive model section of Materials and methods. Levels of phospho-NF-κB p65 (a) and MIP-2 (b) were analyzed by ELISA. Data of phospho-NF-κB p65 are expressed as mean-fold induction ±s.e.m. relative to untreated controls (n=3). ^*P<0.05 compared with DSS alone. Data of MIP-2 represent mean±s.e.m. (pg/mg tissue protein, n=3). (c and d) Histology (immunohistochemical staining for IKK; magnification, × 200) of colonic samples taken from mice receiving DSS+PBS or DSS+GG-52 (200 mg/kg q.d.). To measure the activity of IKK in tissue sections, specimens were stained immunohistochemically with anti-phospho-IKKα. In untreated mice with DSS-induced colitis, IKKα is heavily stained in both destructed epithelial cells and submucosal inflammatory cells (c). Treatment with GG-52 obviously attenuates the degree of phosphorylated IKKα staining in colon tissues (d). The results were representative of at least three separate examined sites.