DISRUPTION OF ENDOGENOUS ITACONATE PRODUCTION EXACERBATES EXPERIMENTAL COLITIS

Abstract Background Inflammation is a hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease and alterations in tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) metabolism have been identified as major regulators of immune cell phenotype during inflammation and hypoxia. The TCA cycle metabolite, itaconate, is produced by the enzyme aconitate decarboxylase 1 (Acod1) and is highly upregulated during classical macrophage activation and during experimental colitis. Itaconate and cell permeable derivatives have robust anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages, therefore we hypothesized that Acod1-produced itaconate has a protective, anti-inflammatory effect during experimental colitis. Methods and Results Wild type (WT) control and Acod1-/- mice were administered 3% Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) in water for 7 days to induce experimental colitis. After DSS was discontinued, Acod1-/- mice had significantly reduced body weight recovery with increased macroscopic disease severity, and upon dissection had decreased colon length and more severe inflammation. To determine if myeloid cells are the critical Acod1/itaconate-producing cell types, we generated myeloid-specific Acod1 deficient mice, however no differences in weight loss, colon length or inflammatory gene expression were detected compared to WT controls. To test whether supplementation with exogenous itaconate could ameliorate colitis, WT mice were treated with the cell-permeable form of itaconate, dimethyl itaconate (DMI). Administration of DMI significantly improved recovery after 7 days of DSS treatment and significantly reduced inflammatory gene expression in the colon. Conclusion Our data suggest that Acod1-produced itaconate has an important role in the regulation of inflammation during experimental colitis. Although myeloid cells have been thought to be major producers of Acod1 and itaconate, our data indicate that other cell types are involved. These results highlight the importance of this immunometabolic pathway and suggest that preservation or enhancement of this pathway with natural metabolites or metabolite derivatives could have beneficial effects during colitis.