Therapeutic effect of ribbon-type nuclear factor-κB decoy oligonucleotides in a rat model of inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves local expression of inflammatory cytokines, some of which are coordinated by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Several reports documented the therapeutic potential of double-stranded phosphorothioated decoy oligonucleotides (S-ODNs) targeting NF-κB in IBD models. However, S-ODNs are easily degraded by endonucleases. In this study, we employed newly developed nonchemically modified ribbon-type NF-κB decoy ODNs (R-ODNs) with loop ends that increase the stability, and investigated their therapeutic effect in rats with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We administered R-ODN, S-ODN, or scrambled ODN (Scr-ODN) to rats with DSS-induced IBD using ultrasound with contrast microbubbles to enhance the transfection efficiency of ODN. Until day 10 after DSS treatment, the rats showed a decrease in body weight and survival rate and an increase in the disease activity index (DAI). In rats treated with S-ODN or R-ODN, the survival rate, colon length, and DAI were significantly improved. In addition, DSS-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß was significantly decreased. Of importance, treatment with R-ODN was more effective to improve disease conditions as compared to S-ODN. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that intracolonic administration of R-ODN may be effective to treat DSS-induced colitis.

Cilnidipine, but not amlodipine, ameliorates osteoporosis in ovariectomized hypertensive rats through inhibition of the N-type calcium channel.

Both osteoporosis and high blood pressure are major diseases in aging populations. Recent studies demonstrated that some antihypertensive drugs reduced the risk of bone fracture in elderly patients. Although calcium channel blockers (CCB) are widely used as first-line antihypertensive agents, there is no evidence that they prevent osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of two types of CCB on bone metabolism: cilnidipine (L-/N-type CCB), which suppresses norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve, and amlodipine (L-type CCB). In ovariectomized female spontaneous hypertensive rats, administration of cilnidipine, but not amlodipine, resulted in a significant increase in the ratio of alkaline phosphatase to tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and a decrease in the number of osteoclasts, as assessed by TRAP staining in the proximal tibia. Bone mineral density, moreover, was significantly higher in the cilnidipine group as compared with the amlodipine group and was associated with a significant decrease in a urinary collagen degradation product (deoxypyridinoline). The degree of prevention of osteoporosis by cilnidipine was similar to that of carvedilol (a ß-blocker) because ß-blockers reduce fracture risks though the inhibition of osteoclast activation. Interestingly, these effects cannot be attributed to the reduction of blood pressure because all three drugs significantly decreased blood pressure. In contrast, both cilnidipine and carvedilol, but not amlodipine, significantly decreased heart rate, indicating that both cilnidipine and carvedilol suppressed sympathetic nervous activity. Overall, our present data showed that cilnidipine (L-/N-type CCB) ameliorated osteoporosis in ovariectomized hypertensive rats. These pleiotropic effects of antihypertensive drugs such as cilnidipine and carvedilol might provide additional benefits in the treatment of hypertensive postmenopausal women.