scholarly journals Effect of Neutrophils on Gallbladder Interstitial Cajal-Like Cells in Guinea Pig Model of Acute Cholecystitis

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 2033-2043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-peng Huang ◽  
Hu Qiu ◽  
Yan Yang ◽  
Bao-ping Yu

Background: Acute cholecystitis is a common condition in gallbladder motility disorder. Interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs) in the gallbladder are known as one of the players in the complex motility mechanisms affecting gallbladder motility. Aim: This study explored morphological symptoms and molecular mechanisms underlying gallbladder ICLC changes induced by acute cholecystitis. Materials and Methods: Fifteen adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group (healthy controls) and 2 experimental groups wherein these guinea pigs were subjected to common bile duct ligation to induce acute cholecystitis. Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of sham-operated animals and from the experimental animals at 24 and 48 h after surgery, and co-cultured with gallbladder ICLCs. The morphology of gallbladder ICLCs was examined by laser confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptosis, and western blot and real-time PCR were performed to detect stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Results: No morphological differences in the gallbladder ICLCs were observed between single-culture and co-culture with healthy control neutrophil groups. However, the ICLCs in all co-culture groups with acute inflammation were impaired. In the co-culture groups, the rate of ICLC apoptosis was significantly higher than that in the single-culture group. SCF and c-kit protein and mRNA expression levels decreased in all co-culture groups as well. Conclusion: We demonstrated that the neutrophils are involved in gallbladder ICLC injury in acute cholecystitis cases and associated with gallbladder motility disorder.

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-peng Huang ◽  
Hu Qiu ◽  
Bao-ping Yu

Background/Aims: Acute cholecystitis is a common gastrointestinal disorder, often characterized by acute cholecystitis with gallbladder motility disorder. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells of gut motility in the gastrointestinal tract. Disruption of ICC function is related to motility disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ICCs in acute cholecystitis and after the resolution of acute inflammation. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into five groups: a sham-administered group (control group); two groups that were intraperitoneally administered an anti-polyclonal neutrophil (PMN) antibody 24 h before common bile duct ligation (CBDL); and two groups of guinea pigs that were subjected to CBDL without receiving the PMN antibody. Guinea pigs that underwent CBDL were held for 24 h or 48 h after surgery before being subjected to laparotomy and cholecystectomy. Immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assays, western blotting, and real-time PCR were performed to determine ICC morphology and density, to detect ICC apoptosis, and to examine stem cell factor (SCF) and c-kit protein expression and SCF and c-kit mRNA levels, respectively. Results: Both hematoxylin-eosin staining and histological inflammation scores in the PMN groups were lower than those in the control groups (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in ICC morphology between groups. During acute cholecystitis, ICCs numbers were reduced. Conversely, the density of ICCs increased after inflammation was relieved (P < 0.01). In addition, SCF and c-kit protein and mRNA expression levels decreased during acute cholecystitis (P < 0.05) and increased after inflammation was relieved (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ICC apoptosis increased during acute cholecystitis and decreased after resolution of acute cholecystitis (P < 0.01). Conclusions: In acute cholecystitis, ICC injury may be related to gallbladder motility disorder.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1775-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-peng Huang ◽  
Hu Qiu ◽  
Yan Yang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Acute cholecystitis is common in gallbladder motility disorder. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the gallbladder are involved in the regulation of gallbladder motility. The aim of this study was to explore the change of gallbladder ICCs in acute cholecystitis. Methods: Thirty adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: a sham-operated group (healthy controls) and 2 study groups. The animals in the study group were subjected to bile duct ligation and then to laparotomy and cholecystectomy at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Immunohistochemistry, immunohistofluorescence, and laser confocal microscopy were performed to observe the shape, size, morphology, and density of gallbladder ICCs. Western blot and real-time PCR were performed to detect stem cell factor and c-kit protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Results: There were no differences in the shape, size, and morphology of the gallbladder ICCs in the control and the two acute cholecystitis groups. Density of gallbladder ICCs, SCF level, and c-kit protein and mRNA expression all decreased in the acute cholecystitis groups. Further, SCF level and c-kit protein and mRNA expression decreased with progress of acute cholecystitis (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acute cholecystitis can decrease ICCs through repression of SCF and c-kit expression and that ICCs loss play a role in acute cholecystitis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ferrigno ◽  
Giuseppina Palladini ◽  
Alberto Bianchi ◽  
Vittoria Rizzo ◽  
Laura G. Di Pasqua ◽  
...  

We investigated the effects of obstructive cholestasis in different hepatic lobes by evaluating asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), protein methyltransferase (PRMT) and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) (enzymes involved, resp., in its synthesis and degradation), the cationic transporter (CAT), and metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Sixteen male Wistar rats underwent a 3-day cholestasis by common bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham operation. Blood samples and hepatic biopsies from left lobe (LL), median lobe (ML), and right lobe (RL) were collected. Serum hepatic enzymes, tissue ADMA, DDAH activity, CAT-2 protein, mRNA expression of DDAH and PRMT, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity were monitored. Cholestasis was confirmed by altered serum hepatic enzymes. Higher levels of tissue ADMA were detected in RL and ML as compared with LL. PRMT mRNA expression and DDAH activity did not differ among the lobes after BDL. CAT-2 levels are higher in the RL and ML in the sham-operated group. Higher activity in MMP-2 and MMP-9 was found in RL. In conclusion, after cholestasis an increase in hepatic ADMA in RL and ML was detected as well as tissue MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation in RL, supporting the evidence of functional heterogeneity among the liver lobes also occurring in an obstructive cholestasis model.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-239
Author(s):  
A. Ziolkowska ◽  
J. Mlynarczuk ◽  
J. Kotwica

Abstract Cortisol stimulates the synthesis and secretion of oxytocin (OT) from bovine granulosa and luteal cells, but the molecular mechanisms of cortisol action remain unknown. In this study, granulosa cells or luteal cells from days 1-5 and 11-15 of the oestrous cycle were incubated for 4 or 8 h with cortisol (1x10-5, 1x10-7 M). After testing cell viability and hormone secretion (OT, progesterone, estradiol), we studied the effect of cortisol on mRNA expression for precursor of OT (NP-I/OT) and peptidyl glycine-α-amidating mono-oxygenase (PGA). The influence of RU 486 (1x10-5 M), a progesterone receptor blocker and inhibitor of the glucocorticosteroid receptor (GR), on the expression for both genes was tested. Cortisol increased the mRNA expression for NP-I/OT and PGA in granulosa cells and stimulated the expression for NP-I/OT mRNA in luteal cells obtained from days 1-5 and days 11-15 of the oestrous cycle. Expression for PGA mRNA was increased only in luteal cells from days 11-15 of the oestrous cycle. In addition, RU 486 blocked the cortisol-stimulated mRNA expression for NP-I/OT and PGA in both types of cells. These data suggest that cortisol affects OT synthesis and secretion in bovine ovarian cells, by acting on the expression of key genes, that may impair ovary function.


2006 ◽  
Vol 339 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salil K. Das ◽  
Diptendu Chatterjee ◽  
Shyamali Mukherjee ◽  
Angela Grimes ◽  
Yingnian Shen ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Yang ◽  
Chunming Guo ◽  
Ping Zhu ◽  
Wenjiao Li ◽  
Leslie Myatt ◽  
...  

The amount of cortisol available to its receptors is increased by the pre-receptor enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) which converts cortisone to cortisol. We examined the molecular mechanisms of the feedback effect of cortisol on 11β-HSD1 mRNA expression in human amnion fibroblasts. Our data showed that cortisol-induced 11β-HSD1 mRNA expression dose dependently in amnion fibroblasts, which could be completely blocked both by the mRNA transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside and by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486, and partially blocked by global inhibition of CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) with transfection of C/EBP-specific dominant-negative expression CMV500 plasmid (AC/EBP) into the cells. Likewise, the induction of the promoter activity by cortisol could also be completely blocked by RU486 and partially by AC/EBP transfection. Progressive 5′ deletion of the 11β-HSD1promoter located the region responsible for cortisol’s induction within −204 bp upstream to the transcription start site. Specific nucleotide mutations of the putative glucocorticoid responsive element or CCAAT in this promoter region attenuated the induction by cortisol. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that GR and C/EBPα but not C/EBPβ could bind this promoter region upon cortisol stimulation of amnion fibroblasts. In conclusion, we demonstrated that GR and C/EBPα were involved in cortisol-induced 11β-HSD1 mRNA expression via binding to 11β-HSD1 promoter in amnion fibroblasts, which may cast a feed-forward production of cortisol in the fetal membranes at the end of gestation.


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