Therapeutic Effects of Novel Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Agonist W-061 in Murine DSS Colitis

Although IL-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine reportedly involved in various autoimmune inflammatory disorders, its role remains unclear in murine models of colitis. Acute colitis was induced by 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment for 5 days. A novel sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist W-061, a prototype of ONO-4641, was orally administered daily, and histopathological analysis was performed on the colon. The number of lymphocytes and their cytokine production were also evaluated in spleen, mesenteric lymph node, Peyer's patch and lamina propria of the colon. Daily administration of W-061 resulted in improvement of DSS-induced colitis, and significantly reduced the number of CD4+ T cells in the colonic lamina propria. Numbers of both Th17 and Th1 cells were reduced by W-061 treatment. W-061, however, had no influence on the number of Treg cells in lamina propria. Thus, Th17 and Th1 cells in lamina propria were thought to be the key subsets in the pathogenesis of DSS-induced colitis. In conclusion, W-061 may be a novel therapeutic strategy to ameliorate acute aggravation of inflammatory bowel diseases

The Risks of Using Personally Imported Traditional Chinese Drugs (Decoction)

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系In Chinese herbal drugs, different drugs have the same name, causing confusion of drug origin which might cause harmful effects when clinically applied. We examined a 19-year-old female who acquired Chinese herbs syndrome (aristolochia nephropathy) induced by a mixture of crude Chinese drugs. She had imported the Chinese drug (decoction) consisting of approximately 20 natural elements and taken it for atopic dermatitis over a course of approximately 3 years. We identified "Guan Mutong" of Aristolochiaceae as analyzed by means of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We confirmed aristolochic acid, a known nephrotoxin, from stem slices of "Guan Mutong" in her drug. It is not known if "Guan Mutong" was intentionally included in her imported Chinese drugs or put in by mistake. However, the present study has suggested the possibility that the Chinese herb "Guan Mutong" which is potentially nephrotoxic, might be accidentally delivered in the plant fraction of the Chinese drug. The possible adverse effects of crude Chinese drugs should be emphasized for patients who self-administer them