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Background and Purpose: Kinins are pro-inflammatory peptides that are released during tissue injury, including that caused by inflammatory bowel disease. Herein, we assessed the role and underlying mechanisms through which the absence of kinin B(1) receptors exacerbates the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.Experimental Approach: B(1) and B(2) receptor antagonists and B(1) receptor knockout mice (B1(-/-) ) were used to assess the involvement of B(1) and B(2) receptor signalling in a DSS-colitis. B(1) receptor, B(2) receptor, occludin and claudin-4 expression, cytokine levels and cell permeability were evaluated in colon from wild-type (WT) and B1(-/-) mice.Key Results: DSS-induced colitis was significantly exacerbated in B1(-/-) compared with WT mice. IL-1β, IFN-γ, keratinocyte-derived chemokine and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 were markedly increased in the colon from DSS-treated B1(-/-) compared with DSS-treated WT mice. Treatment of WT mice with a selective B(1) receptor antagonist, DALBK or SSR240612, had no effect on DSS-induced colitis. Of note, B(2) receptor mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated in colonic tissue from the B1(-/-) mice after DSS administration. Moreover, treatment with a selective B(2) receptor antagonist prevented the exacerbation of colitis in B1(-/-) mice following DSS administration. The water- or DSS-treated B1(-/-) mice showed a decrease in occludin gene expression, which was partially prevented by the B(2) receptor antagonist.Conclusions and Implications: A loss of B(1) receptors markedly exacerbates the severity of DSS-induced colitis in mice. The increased susceptibility of B1(-/-) may be associated with compensatory overexpression of B(2) receptors, which, in turn, modulates tight junction expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: alpha- and beta-amyrin are pentacyclic triterpenes found in plants and are known to exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we evaluated the effects of a 1:1 mixture of alpha- and beta-amyrin (alpha,beta-amyrin) on an experimental model of colitis in mice.Experimental Approach: Colitis was induced in Swiss male mice by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) and followed up to 72 h; animals were treated systemically with alpha,beta-amyrin, dexamethasone or vehicle. Macro- and microscopic damage, myeloperoxidase activity and cytokine levels were assessed in colons. Histological sections were immunostained for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factor, phospho-p65 nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and phospho-cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB).Key Results: TNBS-induced colitis was associated with tissue damage, neutrophil infiltration and time-dependent increase of inflammatory mediators. Treatment with alpha,beta-amyrin (3 mg x kg(-1), i.p.) or dexamethasone (1 mg x kg(-1), s.c.) consistently improved tissue damage scores and abolished polymorphonuclear cell infiltration. alpha,beta-Amyrin, like dexamethasone, significantly diminished interleukin (IL)-1beta levels and partially restored IL-10 levels in colon tissues 72 h after colitis induction, but only alpha,beta-amyrin reduced vascular endothelial growth factor expression by immunohistochemistry. The colonic expression of COX-2 at 24 h and that of phospho-NF-kappaB and phospho-CREB (peaking at 6 h) after colitis induction were consistently inhibited by both alpha,beta-amyrin and dexamethasone.Conclusions and Implications: Systemic administration of alpha,beta-amyrin exerted a marked and rapid inhibition of TNBS-induced colitis, related to the local suppression of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 levels, possibly via inhibition of NF-kappaB and CREB-signalling pathways. Taken together, our data suggest a potential use of alpha,beta-amyrin to control inflammatory responses in bowel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose:Receptor subtypes involved in PGE2-induced nociception are still controversial. The present study investigated the prostanoid E receptor (EP) subtypes and the protein kinase (PK) pathways involved in the nociception induced by PGE2 injection in the mouse paw.Experimental approach:Paw-licking and mechanical allodynia were measured in vivo and protein kinase activation ex vivo by Western blots of extracts of paw skin.Key results:Intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of PGE2 into the mouse paw caused nociceptive behaviour of short duration with mean ED50 of 1.43 nmol. PGE2 produced a longer-lasting mechanical allodynia, with an ED50 of 0.05 nmol. Intraplantar injection of antagonists at EP3 or EP4, but not at EP1 or EP2 receptors inhibited PGE2-induced paw-licking. Paw-licking caused by PGE2 was blocked by an inhibitor of PKA but only partially decreased by inhibition of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK). Selective inhibitors of PKC, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) or p38, all failed to affect PGE2-induced paw-licking. An EP3 antagonist inhibited PGE2-induced mechanical allodynia. However, inhibitors of PKA, PKC or ERK, but not p38 or JNK, also partially inhibited PGE2-induced mechanical allodynia. Western blot analyses confirmed that i.pl. injection of PGE2 activated PKA, PKCα, and mitogen activated kinases (MAPKs) in the paw. Co-treatment with EP3 or EP4 receptor antagonists reduced PGE2-induced PKA and ERK, but not PKCα activation.Conclusions and Implications:The present results indicate that the nociceptive behaviour and mechanical allodynia caused by i.pl. PGE2 are mediated through activation of distinct EP receptors and PK-dependent mechanisms.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 727–737. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707149; published online 19 February 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]