Pharmacological correction of ulcerative colitis with dalargin

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic colonic disease with frequent relapses, affecting mainly people of active age. The effectiveness of existing treatment methods remains low. Dalargin has the following pharmacological effects: antioxidant, membrane-stabilizing and immunomodulatory, which are important in treating ulcerative colitis. The aim of the studywas to increase the effectiveness of pharmacological correction of ulcerative colitis with dalargin. Materials and Methods: Ulcerative colitis was simulated by replacing drinking water with a 5% solution of dextran sodium sulfate for 5 days. The mice were killed on the 5th, 7th and 28thdays; the colon was removed. Dalargin was dissolved in a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, injected subcutaneously daily at a dose of 100 μg/kg once a day for 7 days. Sulfasalazine was used as a reference drug. Results and Discussion: The dalargin administration decreased disease activity index, pathological colonic shortening, prevalence of ulcers and infiltrates in colon, increased goblet cell number, acid and neutral mucins concentrations in mice with ulcerative colitis. The mechanisms of pharmacological dalargin effect include: drop in proinflammatory interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17) and matrix metalloproteinases concentration, TGF-β, arising in anti-inflammatory interleukins, epidermal growth factor, inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-2 content. Dalargincorrected phagocytes activity and leukocyte indices. Dalargin action in ulcerative colitis is higher than that of sulfasalazine. Conclusion: Pharmacological dalargin effect on ulcerative colitis development was explained by its effect on opioid μ-receptors on macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes of the colonic wall. The therapeutic action involves antioxidant effect and endothelial dysfunction correction.