Effect of grape seeds on the IL-10 and IL-12 in the trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid model of rat colitis

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not completely understood, a loss of immune tolerance toward the enteric flora it is mediated by different molecules. Among this molecules are included the cytokines that are key signals in the intestinal immune system and are important in the pathogenesis of IBD [1]. Grape seeds (GS) have been reported to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic effects including antiinflammatory activity [2]. In this context, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of GS administration on reduction of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) and anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) production in TNBS model of rat colitis. Three groups of rats were used (n=8); non-colitic (NC) and control groups (C) did not receive treatment, and the treated groups were given orally GS at 5g/rat/day. After two weeks, colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of TNBS (10mg), and, one week after, biochemical parameters (IL-10 and IL-12) were evaluated. The administration of the GS reduced the IL-12 expression when compared of TNBS group (182±10 vs. 115±11 pg/p tissue; p<0.001). In addition, GS treatment significantly increased production of the IL-10 (111±16 vs. 164±9 pg/g tissue; p<0.01). The efficacy of GS treatment for the reduction of intestinal inflammation in rats is a result of both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity.

Acknowledgements: Fapesp

References: [1] Andoh, A. et al. (2008) World J. Gastroenterol. 14:5851–5856.

[2] de la Lastral, C.A. and Villegas, I. (2007) Biochem. Soc. T. 35:1156–1160.