Analysis of intestinal fibrosis in chronic colitis in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium

Fibrogenic mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts and myofibroblasts play a key role in intestinal fibrosis, however, their precise role is largely unknown. To investigate their role in intestinal fibrosis, we analyzed the lesions of chronic colitis in C57BL/6 (B6) mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). B6 mice exposed to single cycle administration of DSS for 5 days developed acute colitis that progressed to severe chronic inflammation with dense infiltrates of mononuclear cells, irregular epithelial structure, thickening of colonic wall, and persistent deposits of collagen. Increased mRNA expressions of proinflammatory cytokines are correlated with extensive cellular infiltration, and the mRNA expressions of collagen 1, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and matrix metalloproteinases were also enhanced in the colon. In the colon of chronic DSS colitis, fibroblasts (vimentin+, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA)-) were increased in both mucosal and submucosal layers, while myofibroblasts (vimentin+, alpha-SMA+) were increased in mucosal but not in submucosal layers. Primary mouse subcutaneous fibroblast cultures experiments revealed that exogenously added TGF-beta 1 substantially augmented the expressions of both vimentin and alpha-SMA proteins with increased production of collagen. In conclusion, profibrogenic mesenchymal cells play an important role in the development of intestinal fibrosis in this chronic DSS-induced colitis model.