5-Fluorouracil attenuates dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis in mice

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been predominantly used in the clinic for cancer chemotherapy. Previous studies have demonstrated that 5-FU has an anti-inflammatory function. In the current study, the potential therapeutic role of 5-FU in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute mouse colitis was investigated. Effects on the severity of colitis were studied via histochemical and immunohistochemical staining, cytokine levels were determined by reverse transcriptoin-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the effect of 5-FU on NF-κB was examined by western blotting. Administration of 5-FU ameliorated the severity of acute DSS-induced colitis. The disease activity score was significantly lower in the 5-FU + DSS-treated mice compared with the DSS-treated group (P