Lipoic Acid Decreases Colon Damage and Modulates IL-17A/IL-23 in a Mouse Model of Acute Ulcerative Colitis

Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of lipoic acid (LA) on the inflammatory processes and disease progression in the mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Methods: Acute DSS colitis was induced in BALB/c male mice by administration of 4% (w/v) DSS in drinking water for 5 days, followed by 2 days of normal drinking water. Mice were treated with LA at a dose of 25 or 50 mg/kg i.p. daily for 14 days (preventive model) or for 7 days (curative model) followed by 5 days of 4% DSS. Results: In the preventive model of colitis, LA significantly decreased total colon damage and improved stool score compared with the DSS alone group (p<0.05) and significantly increased serum and tissue IL-17A and IL-23 (p<0.05). In the curative model, LA significantly reduced total colon damage (p<0.05), increased MPO activity (7.51 ± 2.44 and 6.18 ± 1.18 U/mg tissue for 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively vs. 2.69 ± 0.52 U/mg tissue for DSS alone, P<0.01), but did not influence IL-17A and IL-23 concentration. Conclusion: Our study indicates that LA administration improves the macroscopic colon damage score in mice with DSS-induced colitis. However, LA also increases MPO activity, as well as IL-17A and IL-23 levels in the mouse colon. LA may have a pro-inflammatory role when used at higher doses, thus further studies on the mechanism of its action are necessary.