Co-administration of polyethylene glycol with binge ethanol reduces markers of intestinal and hepatic inflammation in C57BL/6J mice by diminishing ethanol absorption through the intestinal wall

Background: Therapeutic options for managing intestinal and hepatic inflammation associated with alcohol consumption, a prevalent health problem worldwide, remain unavailable. This study examines the potential efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in mitigating the intestinal and hepatic damage, employing a mouse model for assessment.

Methods: First, the mixture of ethanol (4 g/kg body weight) and PEG (2 g/kg body weight) or an equivalent volume of vehicle was administered orally alcohol consumption.

Results: Acute alcohol consumption was found to damage not only the liver but also the small intestine, as evidenced by histological findings and mRNA expression analysis of inflammatory cytokines. We also identified impaired motor function in the mouse model of binge drinking. Interestingly, PEG significantly mitigated both the impaired motor function and the injury and inflammation of the small intestine following binge drinking in mice. Furthermore, PEG exhibited hepatoprotective effects, as indicated by reduced hepatic enzyme levels in serum, less liver injury observed through H & E staining, and decreased neutrophil infiltration within the liver.

Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that co-administration of PEG with binge ethanol could serve as an effective therapeutic strategy to prevent intestinal and hepatic inflammation.