Abstract
Colitis is a multifactorial disorder that mostly occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite improvements in mucosal inflammation research, little is known regarding the small bioactive molecules that are beneficial for regulating T cells and colon cell activity. 6,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone (THF) is a flavanone that possesses anti-osteoclastogenesis activity and exerts protective effects against methamphetamine-induced immunotoxicity. Whether THF mitigates intestinal inflammation by regulating T cells and colon cell activity remains unknown. In the present study, Jurkat and HT-29 cells were used for in vitro experiments, and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice was used for in vivo experiment. We observed that THF did not have a negative effect on the viability of Jurkat and HT-29 cells. Quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that THF regulates the activity of Jurkat cells and HT-29 cells via the NFκB and MAPK pathways under stimulated conditions. In the DSS-induced colitis model, oral administration of THF attenuated the manifestations of DSS-induced colitis, including a reduction in body weight, shrinkage of the colon, and enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. These data suggest that THF alleviates DSS-induced colitis by modulating the activity of T cells and colon cells in vivo.