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Volume 6, Issue 7(Suppl) J Gastrointest Dig Syst 2016
ISSN: 2161-069X JGDS, an open access journal
Page 46
Notes:
Gastro Congress 2016
October 24-25, 2016
conferenceseries.com
October 24-25, 2016 Valencia, Spain
9th Euro Global
Gastroenterology Conference
The role of Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in colitis
Maitham Khajah*# , and Donna-Marie McCafferty*
Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait
University of Calgary, Canada
Background: GM-CSF is a well-established priming agent and exerts proliferative effects for hematopoietic cells. Recent
evidence suggests a potent chemotactic property towards neutrophils in vitro.
Aim: To examine the role of GM-CSF in neutrophil recruitment to the colon in vivo and its effect on modulating colitis
severity using the 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) model in mice.
Methods: Colitis was induced by a single intra rectal injection of TNBS (4mg, 20% ethanol) at day 1. Animals were treated
with a single i.p injection of neutralizing anti-GM-CSF antibody (100 µg/mouse) on day 1, or multiple injections on day 1,2,3,
and 4, and sacrificed on day 5 post-induction of colitis. Control mice were injected with i.p saline (vehicle) plus TNBS. On
another experimental setup, colitis was induced in GMCSFRβ-/- and compared to wild type (WT) mice. Results: enhanced GM-
CSF expression (at both gene and protein levels) was observed in colonic tissues at day 3 and 7 post colitis induction. A single
injection of GM-CSF antibody did not modulate colitis severity, while multiple injections significantly reduced colonic MPO
activity and colitis severity. In the GMCSFRβ-/- mice, colonic MPO activity was significantly reduced post colitis induction but
no improvement in colitis severity was observed compared to WT mice.
Conclusion: Anti-GM-CSF therapy significantly reduced neutrophil recruitment to the colon leading to reduced colitis
severity.
Biography
Maitham Khajah has completed his B. Pharm degree from Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University and obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Calgary,
Canada. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Kuwait University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics since January 2010. His
research interest focuses on studying new targets for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. He published various abstracts and peer reviewed manuscripts
in international journals. He co-supervised many students for the Molecular Biology Program. Since he joined Kuwait University, he got various grants as PI
and Co-I. He was awarded the Best young researcher award by Kuwait University for the year 2013 – 2014.
Maitham Khajah et al., J Gastrointest Dig Syst 2016, 6:7(Suppl)