The activation of A3AR by 2-Cl-IB-MECA significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-1β production and attenuated the NF-κB p65 activation in colonic tissues from patients with UC.
Furthermore, IL-8 and TNF-alpha expression and nuclear phosphorylated NF-kappaB p65 expression could be immunohistochemically confirmed in inflamed epithelium with cryptitis or crypt abscess in UC patients.
In collagenous and ulcerative colitis, as opposed to uninflamed bowel, IKKbeta activity and strong NFkappaB DNA binding gave rise to activation of identical NFkappaB subunits and recruitment of transcriptionally active p65 to the iNOS promoter.
The patients were evaluated clinically, endoscopically and histologically after 2 mo of treatment or in case of relapse of UC. p65 and IkappaB expressions were determined by Western blot analysis.
The expression of NF-kappaB p65 and NF-kappaB DNA binding activity were significantly higher in patients with UC than in the control (P < 0.05), and were correlated with the degree of inflammation.
Western blot studies showed an increased expression of the p50 and c-rel subunits of NF-kappa B; however, the most striking finding was an increased expression level of NF-kappa B p65 in patients with CD and UC.