Use of butyrate or glutamine in enema solution reduces inflammation and fibrosis in experimental diversion colitis

Figure 7 Cytokine production by the colonic mucosa of the diverted segment, obtained at 8 wk. Cytokines in 24 h organ cultures were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and presented in pg/mL of culture supernatant, normalized to the protein content of tissues. A: High levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) measured in saline-treated colitis were restored to normal values following treatment with glutamine or butyrate; B, C: The high levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) detected in supernatants of saline-treated colitis decreased significantly after treatment with butyrate. Horizontal bars represent medians, boxes represent the 25th and 75th percentiles, and vertical bars represent ranges. Significant differences are noted (n = 6 in each group).