Caractérisation et modulation pharmacologique de l'inflammation intestinale induite par les rayonnements ionisants

The use of radiotherapy to treat abdominal and pelvic malignancies often causes early side-effects which are due to intestinal mucosal damage, involving in part inflammatory processes, on healthy intestinal tissues. With a rat model of colorectal fractionated radiation, we have shown a gradual development of a colonic inflammation during radiation planning, and this, without evident tissue injury. An abdominal radiation in the rat induces an ileum inflammation and an immune imbalance resulting in a Th2-type profile. The treatment of rats with an immunomodulator compound, the caffeic acid phenetyl ester, has the potential to reduce ileal mucosal inflammation and also to inhibit the radio-induced Th2 status. We have also demonstrated that the prophylactic treatment with a PPAR ligand, the 5-aminosalicylic acid, limits the radio-induced acute inflammation of colon mucosa.