Background & aims: Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by oxidative and nitrosative stress, leukocyte infiltration, and up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression in the colon. Recent data show that oxidative and nitrosative stress in isolated enterocytes produces DNA single-strand breaks that activate the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS), resulting in depletion of intracellular energetics and increased paracellular permeability. The aim of the present study was to examine the in vivo relevance of this injury pathway.
Methods: Colitis was induced by rectal instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) in mice with a genetic deficiency of PARS (PARS-/-) and in wild-type littermates.
Results: In wild-type mice, TNBS treatment resulted in colonic erosion and ulceration that was maintained up to 7 days. Neutrophil infiltration (indicated by myeloperoxidase activity in the mucosa) was associated with up-regulation of ICAM-1 and high levels of malondialdehyde and nitrotyrosine. TNBS-treated PARS-/- mice experienced a similar colonic injury that was, however, completely resolved by 6 days. Resolution of the damage was associated with absence of ICAM-1 up-regulation, reduction of neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, and nitrosative damage.
Conclusions: These data show that PARS plays a critical role in colonic inflammation possibly by regulating ICAM-1 expression, neutrophil recruitment, and the subsequent oxidant generation.