Sreekant Murthy

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily originally shown to play a critical role in adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis, has recently been implicated as a regulator of cellular proliferation and inflammatory responses. Colonic epithelial cells, which express high levels of PPAR-gamma protein, have the ability to produce inflammatory cytokines that may play a role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report here that PPAR-gamma ligands dramatically attenuate cytokine gene expression in colon cancer cell lines by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB via an IkappaB-alpha-dependent mechanism. Moreover, thiazolidinedione ligands for PPAR-gamma markedly reduce colonic inflammation in a mouse model of IBD. These results suggest that colonic PPAR-gamma may be a therapeutic target in humans suffering from IBD.

Cold plasma discharges have been shown to have medically-relevant therapeutic effects when applied to living tissues, including blood coagulation and wound healing; thus, plasma treatment of infl amed tissues in ulcerative colitis disease may be an effective approach to reduce adverse consequences if not cure the disease. Here we discuss results of the fi rst experimental study of cold plasma treatment of ulcerative colitis in a mouse model. As a plasma source, a cold spark discharge has been used. The results show that plasma treatment of experimental model of ulcerative colitis in mice has some benefi cial effects by suppressing the progression of the disease while no damage to colon tissues is observed; and these effects are comparable to standard therapy.