AUTHOR=Jang Hyosun , Lee Janet , Park Sunhoo , Kim Joong Sun , Shim Sehwan , Lee Seung Bum , Han Sung-Honn , Myung Hyunwook , Kim Hyewon , Jang Won-Suk , Lee Sun-Joo , Myung Jae kyung 

TITLE=Baicalein Mitigates Radiation-Induced Enteritis by Improving Endothelial Dysfunction

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.00892

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2019.00892

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background and Aims:</bold> Radiation-induced intestinal injury occurred in application of radiotherapy for abdominal and pelvic cancers or in nuclear accidents. Radiation-induced enteritis may be considered an ideal model of gastrointestinal inflammation. The endothelium is a crucial component of inflammation, and the endothelial dysfunction following radiation exposure induces the intestinal proinflammatory response and progression of radiation enteritis. Baicalein (5,6,7-trihydroxyflavonoid) is a flavonoid from <italic>Scutellaria baicalensis</italic> used in oriental herbal medicine. Baicalein has been found to have multiple beneficial properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-cancer activities. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of baicalein on endothelial dysfunction in radiation-induced intestinal inflammation.</p><p><bold>Materials and Methods:</bold> We performed histological analysis, bacterial translocation, and intestinal permeability assays and also assessed infiltration of leukocytes and inflammatory cytokine expression using a mouse model of radiation-induced enteritis. In addition, to investigate the effect of baicalein in endothelial dysfunction, we analyzed endothelial-derived adherent molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and irradiated intestinal tissue.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Histological damage such as shortening of villi length and impaired intestinal crypt function was observed in the radiation-induced enteritis mouse model. Intestinal damage was attenuated in baicalein-treated groups with improvement of intestinal barrier function. Baicalein inhibited the expression of radiation-induced adherent molecules in HUVECs and intestine of irradiated mouse and decreased leukocyte infiltration in the radiation-induced enteritis.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Baicalein could accelerate crypt regeneration <italic>via</italic> recovery of endothelial damage. Therefore, baicalein has a therapeutic effect on radiation-induced intestinal inflammation by attenuating endothelial damage.</p>