Stress signaling pathways activated by weaning mediate intestinal dysfunction in the pig

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. G173-G181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam J. Moeser ◽  
Carin Vander Klok ◽  
Kathleen A. Ryan ◽  
Jenna G. Wooten ◽  
Dianne Little ◽  
...  

Weaning in the piglet is a stressful event associated with gastrointestinal disorders and increased disease susceptibility. Although stress is thought to play a role in postweaning intestinal disease, the mechanisms by which stress influences intestinal pathophysiology in the weaned pig are not understood. The objectives of these experiments were to investigate the impact of weaning on gastrointestinal health in the pig and to assess the role of stress signaling pathways in this response. Nineteen-day-old pigs were weaned, and mucosal barrier function and ion transport were assessed in jejunal and colonic tissues mounted on Ussing chambers. Weaning caused marked disturbances in intestinal barrier function, as demonstrated by significant ( P < 0.01) reductions in transepithelial electrical resistance and increases in intestinal permeability to [3H]mannitol in both the jejunum and colon compared with intestinal tissues from age-matched, unweaned control pigs. Weaned intestinal tissues exhibited increased intestinal secretory activity, as demonstrated by elevated short-circuit current that was sensitive to treatment with tetrodotoxin and indomethacin, suggesting activation of enteric neural and prostaglandin synthesis pathways in weaned intestinal tissues. Western blot analyses of mucosal homogenates showed increased expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor 1 in the jejunum and colon of weaned intestinal tissues. Pretreatment of pigs with the CRF receptor antagonist α-helical CRF(9–41), which was injected intraperitoneally 30 min prior to weaning, abolished the stress-induced mucosal changes. Our results indicate that weaning stress induces mucosal dysfunction mediated by intestinal CRF receptors and activated by enteric nerves and prostanoid pathways.

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. G647-G656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam J. Moeser ◽  
Prashant K. Nighot ◽  
Kory J. Engelke ◽  
Ryuji Ueno ◽  
Anthony T. Blikslager

Previous studies utilizing an ex vivo porcine model of intestinal ischemic injury demonstrated that prostaglandin (PG)E2 stimulates repair of mucosal barrier function via a mechanism involving Cl− secretion and reductions in paracellular permeability. Further experiments revealed that the signaling mechanism for PGE2-induced mucosal recovery was mediated via type-2 Cl− channels (ClC-2). Therefore, the objective of the present study was to directly investigate the role of ClC-2 in mucosal repair by evaluating mucosal recovery in ischemia-injured intestinal mucosa treated with the selective ClC-2 agonist lubiprostone. Ischemia-injured porcine ileal mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers, and short-circuit current ( Isc) and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) were measured in response to lubiprostone. Application of 0.01–1 μM lubiprostone to ischemia-injured mucosa induced concentration-dependent increases in TER, with 1 μM lubiprostone stimulating a twofold increase in TER (ΔTER = 26 Ω·cm2; P < 0.01). However, lubiprostone (1 μM) stimulated higher elevations in TER despite lower Isc responses compared with the nonselective secretory agonist PGE2 (1 μM). Furthermore, lubiprostone significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced mucosal-to-serosal fluxes of 3H-labeled mannitol to levels comparable to those of normal control tissues and restored occludin localization to tight junctions. Activation of ClC-2 with the selective agonist lubiprostone stimulated elevations in TER and reductions in mannitol flux in ischemia-injured intestine associated with structural changes in tight junctions. Prostones such as lubiprostone may provide a selective and novel pharmacological mechanism of accelerating recovery of acutely injured intestine compared with the nonselective action of prostaglandins such as PGE2.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binning Wu ◽  
Rohil Bhatnagar ◽  
Vijaya V. Indukuri ◽  
Shara Chopra ◽  
Kylie March ◽  
...  

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition, awaits safe and effective preventive strategies. Naturally occurring flavonoid compounds are promising therapeutic candidates against IBD due to their great antioxidant potential and ability to reduce inflammation and improve immune signaling mediators in the gut. In this study, we utilized two maize near-isogenic lines flavan-4-ols-containing P1-rr (F+) and flavan-4-ols-lacking p1-ww (F−) to investigate the anti-inflammatory property of flavan-4-ols against carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-induced low-grade colonic inflammation. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to either 1% CMC (w/v) or water for a total of 15 weeks. After week six, mice on CMC treatment were divided into four groups. One group continued on the control diet. The second and third groups were supplemented with F+ at 15% or 25% (w/w). The fourth group received diet supplemented with F− at 15%. Here we report that mice consuming F+(15) and F+(25) alleviated CMC-induced increase in epididymal fat-pad, colon histology score, pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 expression and intestinal permeability compared to mice fed with control diet and F−(15). F+(15) and F+(25) significantly enhanced mucus thickness in CMC exposed mice (p < 0.05). These data collectively demonstrated the protective effect of flavan-4-ol against colonic inflammation by restoring intestinal barrier function and provide a rationale to breed for flavan-4-ols enriched cultivars for better dietary benefits.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Xinxin Wang ◽  
Jiayang Wang ◽  
Tianyu Xie ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Di Wu ◽  
...  

Objectives. In Crohn’s disease (CD), the mechanisms underlying the regulation by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) of mucosal barrier function in the ileum are unclear. We analyzed the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation by GM-CSF of the mucosal barrier function. Methods. We examined the role of GM-CSF in the intestinal barrier function in CD at the molecular-, cellular-, and animal-model levels. Results. Macrophages directly secreted GM-CSF, promoting intestinal epithelial proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis, which maintained intestinal barrier function. Macrophages were absent in NSAID-induced ileitis, causing GM-CSF deficiency, increasing the apoptosis rate, decreasing the proliferation rate, increasing inter- and paracellular permeabilities, decreasing the TJP levels, and reducing the numbers of mesenteric lymph nodes, memory T cells, and regulatory T cells in Csf1op/op transgenic mice. Conclusions. GM-CSF is required for the maintenance of intestinal barrier function. Macrophages directly secrete GM-CSF, promoting intestinal epithelial proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 154 (6) ◽  
pp. S-695
Author(s):  
Kazuaki Norita ◽  
Kiyotaka Asanuma ◽  
Tomoyuki Koike ◽  
Tomoki Okata ◽  
Yasuaki Abe ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (10) ◽  
pp. 1837-1848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Chen ◽  
Xiangbing Mao ◽  
Jun He ◽  
Bing Yu ◽  
Zhiqing Huang ◽  
...  

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of fibre source on intestinal mucosal barrier function in weaning piglets. A total of 125 piglets were randomly allotted on the basis of their body weight and litters to one of five experimental diets, i.e. a control diet without fibre source (CT), and diets in which expanded maize was replaced by 10 % maize fibre (MF), 10 % soyabean fibre (SF), 10 % wheat bran fibre (WBF) or 10 % pea fibre (PF). The diets and water were fed ad libitum for 30 d. Piglets on the WBF and PF diets had lower diarrhoea incidence compared with the MF- and SF-fed animals. A higher ratio of villous height:crypt depth in the ileum of WBF-fed piglets and higher colonic goblet cells in WBF- and PF-fed piglets were observed compared with CT-, MF- and SF-fed piglets. In the intestinal digesta, feeding WBF and PF resulted in increased Lactobacillus counts in the ileum and Bifidobacterium counts in the colon. Lower Escherichia coli counts occurred in the ileum and colon of WBF-fed piglets than in SF-fed piglets. Tight junction protein (zonula occludens 1; ZO-1) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene mRNA levels were up-regulated in the ileum and colon of pigs fed WBF; however, feeding MF and SF raised IL-1α and TNF-α mRNA levels. Furthermore, higher diamine oxidase activities, transforming growth factor-α, trefoil factor family and MHC-II concentration occurred when feeding WBF and PF. In conclusion, the various fibre sources had different effects on the ileal and colonic barrier function. Clearly, WBF and PF improved the intestinal barrier function, probably mediated by changes in microbiota composition and concomitant changes in TLR2 gene expression.


2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (3) ◽  
pp. G352-G363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feli Smith ◽  
Jessica E. Clark ◽  
Beth L. Overman ◽  
Christena C. Tozel ◽  
Jennifer H. Huang ◽  
...  

Early life stress is a predisposing factor for the development of chronic intestinal disorders in adult life. Here, we show that stress associated with early weaning in pigs leads to impaired mucosal barrier function. Early weaning (15- to 21-day weaning age) resulted in sustained impairment in intestinal barrier function, as indicated by reductions in jejunal transepithelial electrical resistance and elevations in mucosal-to-serosal flux of paracellular probes [3H]mannitol and [14C]inulin measured at 5 and 9 wk of age, compared with that shown in late-weaned pigs (23- to 28-day weaning age). Elevated baseline short-circuit current was observed in jejunum from early-weaned pigs and was shown to be mediated via enhanced Cl− secretion. Jejunal barrier dysfunction in early-weaned pigs coincided with increased lamina propria immune cell density particularly mucosal mast cells. The mast cell stabilizer drug sodium cromoglycolate ameliorated barrier dysfunction and hypersecretion in early-weaned pigs, demonstrating an important role of mast cells. Furthermore, activation of mast cells ex vivo with c48/80 and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in pig jejunum mounted in Ussing chambers induced barrier dysfunction and elevations in short-circuit current that were inhibited with mast cell protease inhibitors. Experiments in which selective CRF receptor antagonists were administered to early-weaned pigs revealed that CRF receptor 1 (CRFr1) activation mediates barrier dysfunction and hypersecretion, whereas CRFr2 activation may be responsible for novel protective properties in the porcine intestine in response to early life stress.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Ma ◽  
Elias McComb ◽  
Pawel Gajer ◽  
Hongqiu Yang ◽  
Mike Humphrys ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIntestinal barrier immaturity, or “leaky gut,” is the proximate cause of susceptibility to necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates. However, the impact of intestinal microbiota development on intestinal mucosal barrier maturation has not been evaluated in this population. In this study, we investigated a longitudinally sampled cohort of 38 preterm infants monitored for intestinal permeability (IP) and fecal microbiota during the first two weeks of life. Rapid decrease in IP indicating intestinal barrier function maturation correlated with significant increase in community diversity. In particular, members of the Clostridiales and Bifidobacterium were highly transcriptionally active, and progressively increasing abundance in Clostridiales was significantly associated with decreased gut permeability. Further, neonatal factors previously identified to promote intestinal barrier maturation, including early exclusive breastmilk feeding and low antibiotic exposure, favor the early colonization of the gut microbiota by members of the Clostridiales, which altogether are associated with improved intestinal barrier function in preterm infants.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (6) ◽  
pp. G1257-G1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan D. Söderholm ◽  
Derrick A. Yates ◽  
Mélanie G. Gareau ◽  
Ping-Chang Yang ◽  
Glenda MacQueen ◽  
...  

Intestinal dysfunction is related to stress and early life events, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Our aim was to determine whether early trauma predisposes adult rats to intestinal mucosal dysfunction in response to stress. Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were individually separated from their mothers for 3 h/day at 4–21 days of age. Between days 80 and 90, separated and control rats were subjected to mild acute stress (30-min water avoidance) or sham stress. Mucosal barrier function and ion transport were assessed in colonic tissues mounted in Ussing chambers. Mild stress increased short-circuit current, conductance, and transepithelial transport of macromolecules in separated rats, while having minimal effects in controls. Pretreatment of the separated rats with a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) antagonist, the peptide α-helical CRH(9–41) injected intraperitoneally 20 min before stress, abolished the stress-induced mucosal changes. Our results indicate that neonatal trauma can induce phenotypic changes in adulthood, including enhanced vulnerability of the gut mucosa to stress via mechanisms involving peripherally located CRH receptors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 5751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Wang ◽  
Cuili Zhang ◽  
Chunmei Guo ◽  
Xinli Li

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been identified as one of the inflammatory diseases. Intestinal mucosal barrier function and microflora play major roles in UC. Modified-chitosan products have been consumed as effective and safe drugs to treat UC. The present work aimed to investigate the effect of chitosan (CS) on intestinal microflora and intestinal barrier function in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. KM (Kunming) mice received water/CS (250, 150 mg/kg) for 5 days, and then received 3% DSS for 5 days to induce UC. Subsequently, CS (250, 150 mg/kg) was administered daily for 5 days. Clinical signs, body weight, colon length, and histological changes were recorded. Alterations of intestinal microflora were analyzed by PCR-DGGE, expressions of TNF-α and tight junction proteins were detected by Western blotting. CS showed a significant effect against UC by the increased body weight and colon length, decreased DAI (disease activity index) and histological injury scores, and alleviated histopathological changes. CS reduced the expression of TNF-α, promoted the expressions of tight junction proteins such as claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 to maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier function for attenuating UC in mice. Furthermore, Parabacteroides, Blautia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella were dominant organisms in the intestinal tract. Blautia and Lactobacillus decreased with DSS treatment, but increased obviously with CS treatment. This is the first time that the effect of original CS against UC in mice has been reported and it is through promoting dominant intestinal microflora such as Blautia, mitigating intestinal microflora dysbiosis, and regulating the expressions of TNF-α, claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1. CS can be developed as an effective food and health care product for the prevention and treatment of UC.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (1) ◽  
pp. G7-G13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan D. Söderholm ◽  
Mary H. Perdue

The influence of stress on the clinical course of a number of intestinal diseases is increasingly being recognized, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This themes article focuses on recent findings related to the effects of stress on mucosal barrier function in the small intestine and colon. Experiments using animal models demonstrate that various types of psychological and physical stress induce dysfunction of the intestinal barrier, resulting in enhanced uptake of potentially noxious material (e.g., antigens, toxins, and other proinflammatory molecules) from the gut lumen. Evidence from several studies indicates that in this process, mucosal mast cells play an important role, possibly activated via neurons releasing corticotropin-releasing hormone and/or acetylcholine. Defining the role of specific cells and mediator molecules in stress-induced barrier dysfunction may provide clues to novel treatments for intestinal disorders.


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