Enhanced effect of κ-carrageenan on TNBS-induced inflammation in mice

• The synergistic effect of κ-carrageenan linked to the induction of an imbalance in the expression of intestinal inflammatory cytokines.
• κ-carrageenan significantly aggravated TNBS-induced inflammation in BALB/c mice.
• κ-carrageenan might serve as a potential inflammatory agent to magnify the existing intestinal inflammation under the intestinal inflammatory state.

BackgroundAs a sulfated polysaccharide, carrageenan has been widely used as common food additive.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated the effects of κ-carrageenan on TNBS-induced gut inflammation in mice. BALB/c mice were pretreated with κ-carrageenan for 14 days prior to the administration of TNBS.ResultsOur results showed that κ-carrageenan pretreatment aggravated the loss of body weight and further increased the mortality rate. Histological and morphological analyses revealed that the TNBS-induced colonic inflammation was deteriorated by the κ-carrageenan administration. The ratio of CD4+ CD25+ CD127dim/CD4+ of the κ-carrageenan + TNBS groups was significantly lower than that of the TNBS group. The expression of IL-2, TNF-α and IL-6 was significantly increased, whereas the expression of IL-10 was significantly decreased in the κ-carrageenan + TNBS groups. In addition, κ-carrageenan, together with TNBS, decreased the enzyme activity of SOD and GSH-px and up-regulated the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, p-ERK, p-JNK, p-Jun., IL-8 and MDA in the colonic mucosa.Conclusionsκ-Carrageenan aggravated the TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation, and such an effect could be associated with the oxidative stress and activation of TLR4-NF-κB and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway.

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