Telmisartan decreases inflammation by modulating TNF-α, IL-10, and RANK/RANKL in a rat model of ulcerative colitis

Abstract Background Telmisartan is an antihypertensive angiotensin II receptor blocker. This antihypertensive shows antiinflammatory activity. Purpose In this study, the antiinflammatory activity of telmisartan was tested in an acetic acid (10%) model of ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. Methods Rats were given 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg/day of telmisartan orally for 3 days before induction of UC. The same doses were also administered 2 and 24 h after induction. Rats from the non-colitis and non-treated colitis groups were administered vehicle (saline, 5 ml/kg) orally and another group received sulfasalazine (50 mg/kg/day). Colons tissue was analyzed by macroscopic, by histopathology, by the immunohistochemical examination of RANKL/RANK pathway; by ELISA analysis of the levels of IL-10, TNF-α, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malonaldehyde (MDA). Results Telmisartan at 5 mg/kg reduced levels of MPO, MDA, TNF-α and increased of IL-10 ( p Conclusion Telmisartan exerts beneficial effects in an acetic acid model of colitis in rats. These effects may be due to accelerated termination of the acute inflammatory phase, indicated by decreased TNF-α and increased production of IL-10 and low expression of RANKL and RANK.