Melatonin reduces inflammatory injury through inhibiting NF-κB activation in rats with colitis

Proinflammatory mediators are important in the pathogenesis of NF-kappa B, which are regulated by activation of NF-kappa B. The aim of this study was to investigate whether melatonin reduces inflammatory injury and inhibits proinflammatory molecule and NF-kappa B in rats with colitis. Rat colitis model was established by TNBS enema. NF-kappa B p65, TNF-alpha, ICAM-1, and I kappa B alpha in colon tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry, EMSA, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. Expression of proinflammatory molecule and activation of NF-kappa B were upregulated and I kappa B level decreased in rats with colitis. Melatonin reduces colonic inflammatory injury through downregulating proinflammatory molecule mediated by NF-kappa B inhibition and blockade Of I kappa B alpha degradation.