UR-1505, a salicylate able to selectively block T-cell activation, shows intestinal anti-inflammatory activity in the chronic phase of the DSS model of rat colitis.

Background: UR-1505 is a novel salicylate derivative compound that has been demonstrated to selectively down-regulate T-cell activation. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of UR-1505 in 2 protocols of a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model of rat colitis: acute and established colitis.

Methods: The first protocol consisted of incorporating DSS into the drinking water at a concentration of 5% (w/v) for 5 days (acute initial colitis). In the second protocol, once the acute colitis had been induced, the concentration of DSS was reduced to 2% (w/v) and maintained for 10 days (established colitis).

Results: The results obtained demonstrated that although UR-1505 did not exert a significant intestinal anti-inflammatory effect in ameliorating the initial steps of the intestinal inflammation induced by DSS, it had a beneficial effect on ongoing inflammation, most probably through inhibiting activation of T lymphocytes, thus avoiding perpetuation of the inflammatory process.

Conclusions: These results suggest that this compound is a good candidate for inducing remission or maintaining therapies in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, the different results obtained by UR-1505 in these 2 protocols of colitis induction (acute initial colitis versus established colitis) confirm the importance of selection and optimization of the experimental model to evaluate the drugs to be used in IBD therapy.