－109－ Investigation of liposome-conjugated Nuclear Factor-κB Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide in a Mouse Model of Dextran Sodium Sulphate-induced Colitis

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Double strand nuclear factor-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (NF-κB-Decoy) had been investigated as a potential therapeutic approach in ulcerative colitis. Here we confirm that NF-κB-Decoy inhibits inflammatory cytokines production in vitro, and report initial studies of the use of liposome-conjugated NF-κB-Decoy to treat dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODS: (1) Peripheral blood samples or cultured Colo 205, colon cancer cels were pretreated with NF-κB-Decoy and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. (2) Eight-weeks-old female BALB/C mice were fed 4 % DSS in drinking water for 7 days. Intra-colonic administration of liposome-conjugated NF-κB-Decoy started at the same time as DSS treatment, and continued for 14 days. RESULTS: (1) In the peripheral blood, NF-κB-Decoy significantly inhibited interleukin (IL)-6 production (Tukey test, p<0.05). In the cultured cels, NF-κB-Decoy significantly reduced IL-8 production (t-test, p<0.01). (2) During administration of DSS, mortality rate between NF-κB-Decoy treated and control mice (72.4 % and 57.6% respectively) was not significantly diferent, and body weight loss and histopathological dameges were similar in both groups. But, after discontinuation of DSS, NF-κB-Decoy-treated mice regained body weight significantly earlier than did control mice. CONCLUSIONS: NF-κB-Decoy actualy inhibited IL-6 and IL-8 production in vitro. Although liposome-conjugated NF-κB-Decoy could not show amelioration in DSS mice model, NF-κB-Decoy treated mice showed earlier regain of body weight