Project description:Background and Aims: In inflammatory bowel disease, protein misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) potentiates epithelial barrier dysfunction and impairs mucosal healing. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a naturally occurring bile acid, acts as a chemical chaperone to reduce protein aggregation and colitis severity in preclinical models. We conducted an open label trial evaluating oral TUDCA as therapy in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Patients with moderate-to-severely active UC (Mayo score ≥6, endoscopic subscore ≥1) received oral TUDCA at 1.75 or 2 g/day for 6 weeks. Exclusion criteria included known hepatic disorders or change in UC therapy within 60 days. Clinical disease activity questionnaires, endoscopy with biopsy, blood, and stool were collected at enrollment and after 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was change in ER stress markers while safety, tolerability and change in UC disease activity were secondary outcomes. Results: Thirteen participants completed the study with eleven evaluable for clinical response. TUDCA was well-tolerated with transient dyspepsia being the most common side effect. Mucosal biopsies revealed significant reductions in ER stress and inflammation as well as an increase in markers of epithelial restitution. Clinical, endoscopic, and histologic disease activity were significantly improved at week 6 (mean total Mayo Score: 9 to 4.5, p<0.001). Conclusions: Six weeks of oral TUDCA promoted mucosal healing, lessened ER stress, and reduced UC clinical disease activity. TUDCA was safe and well-tolerated in patients with active UC. A randomized controlled trial of adjunctive TUDCA therapy in patients with UC is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04114292).
Project description:Cells respond to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through activation of signaling pathways such as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) which improve the ER folding environment capacity upon changes in misfolded protein burden. Small molecules termed chemical chaperones can attenuate the UPR under stress conditions and improve folding and trafficking of specific mutant proteins. One such compound is the bile acid tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). Despite promising results in multiple models of protein folding diseases, TUDCA’s mechanism of action remains unclear. To better define how TUDCA attenuate ER stress, we leveraged the genetically tractable budding yeast, S. cerevisiae. Consistent with properties described for TUDCA, we found it significantly improves growth of yeast subjected to ER stress caused by the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin (Tm) independently of activity of the UPR. In addition to other data, transcriptomics of strains treated with TUDCA link its ability to resuce Tm-induced stress with cell wall remodeling.
Project description:Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an endogenous neuroprotective bile acid and a metabolic regulator, stimulates NSC proliferation and enhances adult NSC pool in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we dissected the mechanism triggered by this proliferation-inducing molecule, namely in mediating metabolic reprogramming. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry based detection of differential proteomics revealed that TUDCA reduces the mitochondrial levels of the long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD), an enzyme crucial for β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (FA).
Project description:The series was designed to identify the different methylated single CpGs involved in the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis. A cohort of n=20 monozygotic twins, discordant for ulcerative colitis was selected. Illumina and Nimblegen platforms were used.
Project description:Through laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis combined with slightly modified RNA extraction and amplification. we could analyze the subtle differential expression between colon normal cell and ulcerative colitis. Keywords: Ulcerative Colitis, amplification, microdissection