Abstract. Our previous study revealed that fermented brown rice and rice bran (FBRA) suppresses rat colorectal carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane, the colon-specific carcinogen. In the present study, we examined the suppressive effect of FBRA on colon carcinogenesis in Apc Min/+ mouse, a mouse model for human familial adenomatous polyposis. In contrast to previous findings with the carcinogen-induced model, administration of 5 and 10% FBRA had no effect on the tumor development in the colon of Apc Min/+ mice, suggesting that the modifying effects of FBRA on colorectal carcinogenesis are different depending on rodent models for colorectal carcinogenesis. However, when FBRA is administrated in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-exposed Apc Min/+ mouse, a mouse model for the inflammation-related colorectal carcinogenesis, FBRA significantly suppressed the multiplicity of colon tumors in comparison with control diet group. FBRA administration suppressed the cell proliferative index, which is accompanied by the significantly decreased mRNA expressions of Cox2 and iNos in colonic mucosa exposed to DSS (p<0.04 and 0.02, respectively). These findings indicate that FBRA has chemopreventive effects specifically against inflammation-related tumorigenesis in the colon. Our findings also suggest that anti-inflammatory activity is one of the underlying mechanisms by which FBRA suppresses tumorigenesis in the colon.
IntroductionInflammation has been recognized as a major factor in the pathogenesis of several common diseases, including cancer. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) (1). The molecular alterations in colitis-associated CRC are thought to be similar to the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in sporadic colorectal carcinoma, including the loss of function of the APC, p53 and K-ras gene. However, it is suggested that the timing and frequency of these genetic alterations in colitis-associated CRC occur differently from sporadic colorectal carcinomas (2-4).Animal models of experimental colitis have been developed and are often used to evaluate new treatments for IBD (4). As the onset of inflammation is immediate and the procedure is relatively straightforward, chemically induced models of intestinal inflammation, such as the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model, belong to the most commonly used IBD animal models (5,6). Importantly, when Apc Min/+ mice, which harbor a germline mutation in the Apc gene, are exposed to DSS, colitis markedly accelerates the development of dysplasia and cancer in the colon of Apc Min/+ mice (7). Therefore, it is now regarded that DSS-treated Apc Min/+ mouse is one of rodent models for inflammation-related colorectal tumorigenesis.Epidemiological studies and experimental evidence have suggested a potential relationship between components of the diet and several diseases, including . A large number of experimental studies have shown that high intake of dietary fiber, vegetables, fruits ...