Background: Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), which controls transcription of various proinflammatory cytokine genes, has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to investigate if NF-kappaB p65 antisense oligonucleotides may affect the expression of NF-kappaB p65 and cytokines in lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) from patients with UC.
Methods: LPMCs, which were isolated from intestinal mucosal biopsy specimens from patients with UC, were cultured with or without NF-kappaB p65 antisense oligonucleotides, missense oligonucleotides and dexamethasone. NF-kappaB p65 expression was determined by Western blot analysis. The expression of cytokine mRNA was studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: NF-kappaB p65 antisense oligonucleotides resulted in downregulation of NF-kappaB p65 expression, blocked the expression of IL-1beta mRNA and IL-8 mRNA, and strikingly reduced the production of IL-1beta and IL-8. These effects were greater than those of dexamethasone in cultured LPMCs from patients with UC (p <0.05).
Conclusions: Application of NF-kappaB p65 antisense oligonucleotides may serve as a novel molecular approach for the treatment of patients with UC.