Rheumatoid arthritis induces enteric neurodegeneration and jejunal inflammation, and quercetin promotes neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions

Publication date: Available online 14 October 2019Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Gleison Daion Piovezana Bossolani, Bruna Thais Silva, Juliana Vanessa Colombo Martins Perles, Mariana Machado Lima, Flávia Cristina Vieira Frez, Sara Raquel Garcia de Souza, Camila Caviquioli Sehaber-Sierakowski, Ciomar Aparecida Bersani-Amado, Jacqueline Nelisis ZanoniAbstractAimsThe aim of our study was to study the pathological mechanisms induced by the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the Enteric Nervous System (ENS).Main methodsWe evaluated the effect of the chronic arthritis and its treatment with 50 mg/kg quercetin alone (AQ) and combined with 17.5 mg/kg ibuprofen (AIQ) for 60 days on neurons, glial cells and intestinal wall. Other groups were used: control (C), arthritic (A) and arthritic treated with 17.5 mg/kg ibuprofen (AI). After 60 days, the jejunum was removed and processed for immunohistochemical techniques. Immunostainings were performed for HuC/D and S100 (myenteric and submucosal plexuses), and GFAP (only myenteric plexus), while immunolabeling for CD45 and CD20 lymphocytes was performed using cryosections. Western blot was performed for GDNF, S100 and GFAP.Key findingsA group yielded a remarkable density decrease of the neurons and glial cells with morphometric changes in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses, reduction of the GDNF expression and GFAP-related parameters (GFAP expression, occupancy area and GFAP-expressing glial cells) and intestinal inflammation and atrophy...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research