Inhibition of glycolipid biosynthesis by N-(5-adamantane-1-yl-methoxy-pentyl)-deoxynojirimycin protects against the inflammatory response in hapten-induced colitis.

Since glycolipid biosynthesis is potentially involved in immunological and inflammatory responses, we tested the effect of a novel inhibitor of intracellular glycolipid biosynthesis N-(5-adamantane-1-yl-methoxy-pentyl)-deoxynojirimycin (AMP-DNM) in two hapten-induced colitis models: trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)- and oxazolone (4-ethoxymethylene-2phenyl-2oxazoline-5-one; Oxa)-induced colitis. AMP-DNM was given either by intraperitoneal injection or orally via the diet. Mice treated with AMP-DNM had less severe colitis and a more rapid weight recovery, less edema and less wall thickness. Cellular infiltration, goblet cell loss and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were reduced in colons of AMP-DNM-treated animals. Intralesional IFN-gamma and IL-18 production were lower in mice of the AMP-DNM-treated groups. Furthermore, AMP-DNM treatment reduced the serum anti-TNBS and anti-Oxa antibody levels. Our findings show that the glycolipid biosynthesis inhibitor AMP-DNM has a strong anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive activity on both TNBS- and Oxa-induced colitis. The data also provide evidence that glycolipid biosynthesis is involved in the inflammatory cascade in these inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) models.