The Efficiacy Of Mesalazine In The Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis And The Role Of Nuclear Factor -κB(NF-κB) In The Anti-inflammatory Treatment

The efficiacy of mesalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the anti-inflammatory treatment Objective : To investigate the effects mesalazine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in comparison with sulphasalazine and the role of NF-κB in the anti-inflammatory treatment . Methods:41 patients with endoscopy confirmed mild or moderate UC were included in the study . They were randomly allocated to mesalazine(n=19) or sulphasalazine(n=22) both in a dose of 1.0 gram four times one day for 8 weeks.After that they were evaluated by endoscopy and histological examination as well as side effects. Results show the difference between the effects of mesalazine and sulphasalazine. Ten pieces of intestinal mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained from each patient during the treatment . NF-κB DNA binding activity was evaluated with electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA). Results: The obvious improvement rate in mesalazine group at the end of the eighth week is higher compared with sulphasalazine group . Cure rate confirmed by endoscopy at the end of the eighth week is 89.5% in mesalazine group, compared with 72.7% in sulphasalazine group(p<0 .05). Improvement of histological examination is 89.5% in mesalazine group, compared with 72.7% in sulphasalazine group(p<0 .05). The incidence of side effects of two groups shows no significant difference (p>0.05). Both mesalazine and sulphasalazine strongly inhibited NF-κB activation in the intestinal mucosa of patients with UC. Conclusion: Mesalazine shows better effects for treatment of UC in comparison with sulphasalazine. As a kind of important transcription factor , NF-κB can regulate the expression of cytokines involved in UC , and plays an essential role in the course of immune reaction and inflammation . Mesalazine and sulphasalazine strongly inhibited NF-κB activation and expression . The inhibition of NF-κB may be a central part of anti-inflammatory action of mesalazine and sulphasalazine. NF-κB will be an important target for cytokine-based therapy of UC .