Research on the mechanism of 25-hydroxycholesterol in inflammatory bowel disease in mice

Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025, 07, v.60 1204-1212     font:big middle small

Fund programs: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82001747);Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2020A1515110562)

Authors:Li Yutong; Luo Xiaoqi; Tan Qifa; Chen Mingjie; Wu Changyou; Shen Juan

Keywords:interleukin-17; 25-hydroxycholesterol; inflammatory bowel disease; RORγt; γδT cells; mucosal damage;

DOI:10.19405/j.cnki.issn1000-1492.2025.07.006

〔Abstract〕 Objective To explore the role and mechanism of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) in inflammatory bow- el disease (IBD) in mice.Methods All mice were divided into three groups : the control group was fed normally ; the DSS model group was fed with 2. 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution ; the DSS + 25-HC experimental group was fed with 2. 5% DSS solution and he mice in the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with 25-HC.The symptom changes of the mice were evaluated by assessing the disease activity index(DAI) ,and the tis- sue changes were judged by histological scoring.The expression of interleukin-17 and its signaling pathways in the mice were detected by Western blot,qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry /fluorescence,and flow cytometry.Combined with the detection of tight junction proteins in the intestinal epithelium of the mice,the mechanism by which 25-HC affects IBD in mice was explored.Results In comparison to the DSS control group,The DSS + 25-HC experimen- tal group mice exhibited a reduction in body weight ( F = 30. 1,P <0. 000 1) ,a shortened colon ( F = 63. 8,P < 0. 05) ,and elevated DAI(F = 774. 5,P<0. 000 1) and histopathological scores(F = 141. 5,P<0. 05) .Addition- ally,the expression of tight junction-associated proteins(ZO-2,Occludin,JAM and Claudin-4) was found to be sig- nificantly reduced.The level of IL-17 significantly decreased,and its expression level was positively correlated with tight junction proteins.Conclusion 25-HC inhibited IL-17 production by colonic γδ T cells through the RORγt pathway,aggravated mucosal injury,and promoted the development of DSS-induced acute colitis in mice.