The beneficial effect of combination therapy with sulfasalazine and valsartan in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Authors

  • Fereshteh Asgharzadeh Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-3722
  • Atieh Yaghoubi Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2577-796X
  • Seyedeh Elnaz Nazari Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4471-0162
  • Alireza Hashemzadeh Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-3312
  • Seyed Mahdi Hassanian Department of Medical Biochemistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9486-0778
  • Amir Avan Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4968-0962
  • Ali Javandoost Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5962-3534
  • Gordon A. Ferns Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0957-8349
  • Saman Soleimanpour Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: soleimanpours@mums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8416-3792
  • Majid Khazaei Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: Khazaeim@mums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7979-5699

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3370

Keywords:

combination therapy, valsartan, angiotensin II receptor blocker, colitis, inflammation

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined by the chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is one of the most prevalent chronic IBDs. The increase in the mucosal expression of angiotensin II (AT-II) in colitis suggests a possible role of AT-II in colitis-associated inflammation. Here, we examined the potential therapeutic effects of combination therapy regarding valsartan (Val), as an AT-II receptor blocker, with sulfasalazine (SSZ) in a murine colitis model. DSS induced colitis was initiated by the administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in male C57BL/6 mice for 1 week. Val (160 mg/kg/day, gavage) was given on the third day and continued for seven days. SSZ (100 mg/kg/day) was used as reference drug and also used in combination in one group (Val; 160 mg/kg/day and/or SSZ; 100 mg/kg/day). Colonic mucosal inflammation was evaluated clinically, biochemically, and histologically. The disease activity index in DSS-treated mice, including weight loss, stool consistency, and rectal bleeding, were significantly lower in the group of mice receiving the combination of valsartan and sulfasalazine compared to the DSS-treated group. Valsartan and sulfasalazine treatment was associated with a lower reduction in colon length, diminished colon weight, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein level in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Valsartan and sulfasalazine also reduced markers of oxidative stress after DSS administration. Our findings demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities of a combination therapy with sulfasalazine and valsartan in experimentally induced colitis, indicating its value as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of colitis.

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Published

2021-02-05

How to Cite

Asgharzadeh, F. ., Yaghoubi, A. ., Nazari, S. E. ., Hashemzadeh, A. ., Hassanian, S. M. ., Avan, A. ., … Khazaei, M. (2021). The beneficial effect of combination therapy with sulfasalazine and valsartan in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. EXCLI Journal, 20, 236–247. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3370

Issue

Vol. 20 (2021)

Section

Original articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Fereshteh Asgharzadeh, Atieh Yaghoubi, Seyedeh Elnaz Nazari, Alireza Hashemzadeh, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian, Amir Avan, Ali Javandoost, Gordon A. Ferns, Saman Soleimanpour, Majid Khazaei

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