Inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration by antagonistic peptides that specifically bind to CCR5 via regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with colitis.

Introduction: CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and the NF-κB signaling pathway play important roles in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previously, we synthesized two peptides (GH and HY peptides) that specifically bind to the first and the second extracellular loops (ECL1 and ECL2, respectively) of CCR5 and preliminarily found an inhibitory effect of these peptides on colitis. However, the specific mechanism by which these two peptides regulate trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats remains unclear. Aim of the study was to further investigate the effect and mechanism of CCR5 binding peptides in rat colitis. Material and methods: Experimental colitis was induced by 5% TNBS. CCR5 antagonist peptides were administered intravenously once a day for a week. Histological evaluation, real-time PCR, western blotting and correlation analysis were performed to examine the effects of the CCR5 binding peptides on the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Results: Administration of GH and HY peptides ameliorated mucosal damage and reduced the infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages in experimental colitis ( Conclusions: Antagonistic peptides that specifically bind to ECL1 and ECL2 of CCR5 inhibit the infiltration of neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages in the colonic mucosa of Sprague-Dawley rats with TNBS-induced colitis via regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.