Effect of treatment with safflower solution on expression of VEGF and bFGF in ulcerative colitis in rats

AIM:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of safflower solution on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced ulcerative colitis in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms by observing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and basal fibroblast growth factor(bFGF).METHODS:Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group and safflower group.Ulcerative colitis was induced in the safflower group and model group with TNBS by enema.Rats of the safflower group were intraperitoneally injected with safflower solution.After ten days,all rats were killed.Disease activity index(DAI),colon macroscopic damage score(CMDS) and histological damage score were evaluated.Pathological changes in the colonic mucosa were examined by HE staining.The expression of VEGF and bFGF in the colonic mucosa was detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry(IHC).RESULTS:Compared to normal controls,the DAI,CMDS and histological damage scores in model rats were significantly increased(all P<0.01).Compared to the model group,the above parameters were significantly improved in the safflower group(all P<0.05).Compared to normal controls,the expression levels of VEGF and bFGF in model rats were increased signif icantly(all P<0.01).Treatment with safflower solution significantly decreased the expression levels of VEGF mRNA and protein in ulcerative colitis(both P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Treatment with safflower solution could reduce inflammatory injury in a rat model of ulcerative colitis possibly by reducing the expression of VEGF and inhibiting pathologic angiogenesis in the colonic mucosa.