Favorable response to subcutaneous administration of infliximab in rats with experimental colitis

AIM： To investigate the influence of infliximab （Remicade） on experimental colitis produced by 2,4,6,trinitrobenzene sulfonic add （TNBS） in rats. METHODS： Thirty-six Wistar rats were allocated into four groups （three groups of six animals each and a fourth of 12 animals）. Six more healthy animals served as normal controls （Group 5）. Group 1： colitis was induced by intracolonic installation of 25 mg of TNBS dissolved in 0.25 mL of 50% ethanol and infliximab was subcutaneously administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW; Group 2： colitis was induced and infliximab was subcutaneously administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW; Group 3： colitis was induced and infliximab was subcutaneously administered at a dose of 15 mg/kg BW; Group 4： colitis was induced without treatment with infliximab. Infliximab was administered on d 2-6. On the 7^th d, all animals were killed. The colon was fixed in 10% buffered formalin and examined by light microscopy for the presence and activity of colitis and the extent of tissue damage. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were also measured. RESULTS： Significant differences concerning the presence of reparable lesions and the extent of bowel mucosa without active inflammation in all groups of animals treated with infliximab compared with controls were found. Significant reduction of the tissue levels of TNF-α in all groups of treated animals as compared with the untreated ones was found （0.47＋0.44, 1.09＋0.86, 0.43＋0.31 vs 18.73＋10.53 respectively）. Significant reduction in the tissue levels of MDA was noticed in group 1 as compared to group 4, as well as between groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSION： Subcutaneous administration of infliximab reduces the inflammatory activity as well as tissue TNF-α and MDA levels in chemical colitis in rats. Infliximab at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW achieves better histological results and produces higher reduction of the levels of TNF-α than at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW. Infliximab at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW produces higher reduction of tissue MDA levels than at a dose of 15 mg/ kg BW.

Cytomegalovirus in human brain tumors:Role in pathogenesis and potential treatment options

During the last years increasing evidence implies that human cytomegalovirus(CMV) can be attributed to human malignancies arising from numerous tissues. In this perspective, we will review and discuss the potential mechanisms through which CMV infection may contribute to brain tumors by affecting tumor cell initiation, progression and metastasis formation. Recent evidence also suggests that anti-CMV treatment results in impaired tumor growth of CMV positive xenografts in animal models and potentially increased survival in CMV positive glioblastoma patients. Based on these observations and the high tumor promoting capacity of this virus, the classical and novel antiviral therapies against CMV should be revisited as they may represent a great promise for halting tumor progression and lower cancer deaths.