Folic acid protects and heals gastric mucosa: role of acid output, inflammatory cytokines, angiogenic and growth factors

Abstract

Background Folic acid modulates gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders via a number of suggested gastroprotective mechanisms. Gastric acid, inflammation, cell proliferation and angiogenesis play significant role in gastroprotection and restoration of gastrointestinal mucosal integrity following injury. This two-section-study assessed (1) acid output, parietal cell mass, neutrophil infiltration and inflammation after 6 h pyloric ligation, and (2) healing via inflammation, mucosa cell proliferation and angiogenesis in acetic acid induced gastric ulcer in albino Wistar rats upon pre-treatment with Folic acid (FA). Results Folic acid significantly lessens the mucosa injury associated with pylorus ligation in a dose-dependent manner. Acid output, parietal cell mass and neutrophil infiltration reduced significantly when compared with the control group. In the acetic acid ulcer group, FA equally reduced ulcer severity (p < 0.05). Moreover, EGFR and Ki-67 were enhanced, while CD31 and Factor VIII were significantly enhanced only on day 10. Also, EGF and VEGF were enhanced, but TNF-α and IL-1β were suppressed in favour of IL-4 and IL-10 dose-dependently in both studies. Conclusion These results suggest that folic acid supplementation protects the stomach mucosa with reduced gastric acid and inflammation, and also accelerates the healing of ulcers via enhanced mucosal cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

Neuropeptide W facilitates chronic gastric ulcer healing by the regulation of cyclooxygenase and NF-κB signaling pathways

“…Ulcer healing consists of various physiological and structural mechanisms, such as angiogenesis and re-epithelialization, as well as oxidative stress and inflammation that include the upregulated activities of cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandins (Kangwan et al 2014 ; Yamane et al 2022 ). Acetic acid-induced gastric injury is characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the gastric tissue accompanied by an increase of lipid peroxides and a decrease of antioxidant capacity (Ajeigbe et al 2022 ; Eamlamnam et al 2006 ; Xue et al 2019 ), making suppression of oxidative stress and inflammatory process a main target for the healing process of gastric ulcer. In accordance with the literature, the current results also demonstrated that neutrophil infiltration, lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and upregulation of COX enzymes and prostaglandins are evident in the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer.…”

Hematological Alterations Occurring in Culinary Exposure of Wistar Rats to Some Indigenous Plants

“…Anemia can be evaluated using mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Low levels of these indicators are said to be a sign of anemia 23 . The current study clearly shows that Mangifera indica (M.I) at 30% concentration decreases the value of MCHC and MCH while increasing it at 70% concentration.…”

Causal Association of Folic Acid Supplementary Therapy and Gastric Ulcer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

“…Secondly, folate can promote the proliferation of mucosal cells and angiogenesis, accelerating the healing of ulcers. A recent study demonstrated that folate supplementation enhanced the expression of angiogenesis-related factors such as EGF and VEGF, increased the expression of Ki-67 related to cell proliferation, and reduced the severity of ulcers in mice with GU [21]. In addition, folate can protect gastric mucosa from ethanolinduced acute damage through anti-in ammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms [20].…”

“…However, the potential impact of folic acid on gastric mucosa has received little attention. Several studies have demonstrated that pretreatment with folic acid can effectively prevent the formation of gastric ulcers [17][18][19][20][21]. Nevertheless, most of these studies have been limited to the animal and cellular level and lack of clinical and genetic evidence, which limits their reliability.…”