Echinochrome A Reduces Colitis in Mice and Induces In Vitro Generation of Regulatory Immune Cells
Su-Jeong Oh,
Yoojin Seo,
Ji-Su Ahn,
Ye Young Shin,
Ji Won Yang,
Hyoung Kyu Kim,
Jin Han,
Natalia P. Mishchenko,
Sergey A. Fedoreyev,
Valentin A. Stonik,
Hyung-Sik Kim
Affiliations
Su-Jeong Oh
Department of Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Yoojin Seo
Dental and Life Science Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Ji-Su Ahn
Department of Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Ye Young Shin
Department of Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Ji Won Yang
Dental and Life Science Institute, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Hyoung Kyu Kim
National Research Laboratory for Mitochondrial Signaling, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center (CMDC), Inje University, Busan 614-735, Korea
Jin Han
National Research Laboratory for Mitochondrial Signaling, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center (CMDC), Inje University, Busan 614-735, Korea
Natalia P. Mishchenko
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
Sergey A. Fedoreyev
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
Valentin A. Stonik
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
Hyung-Sik Kim
Department of Life Science in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Korea
Echinochrome A (Ech A), a natural pigment extracted from sea urchins, is the active ingredient of a marine-derived pharmaceutical called ‘histochrome’. Since it exhibits several biological activities including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, it has been applied to the management of cardiac injury and ocular degenerative disorders in Russia and its protective role has been studied for other pathologic conditions. In the present study, we sought to investigate the therapeutic potential of Ech A for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using a murine model of experimental colitis. We found that intravenous injection of Ech A significantly prevented body weight loss and subsequent lethality in colitis-induced mice. Interestingly, T cell proliferation was significantly inhibited upon Ech A treatment in vitro. During the helper T (Th) cell differentiation process, Ech A stimulated the generation regulatory T (Treg) cells that modulate the inflammatory response and immune homeostasis. Moreover, Ech A treatment suppressed the in vitro activation of pro-inflammatory M1 type macrophages, while inducing the production of M2 type macrophages that promote the resolution of inflammation and initiate tissue repair. Based on these results, we suggest that Ech A could provide a beneficial impact on IBD by correcting the imbalance in the intestinal immune system.