scholarly journals Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Modulates Intestinal Barrier by Inhibiting Intestinal Epithelial Cells Apoptosis in Mice

2018 ◽  
pp. 475-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.-Y. ZHAO ◽  
W.-X. ZHANG ◽  
Q.-Q. QI ◽  
X. LONG ◽  
X. LI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Colonic Mucosa ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Integrity ◽  
Junction Proteins ◽  
Active Caspase

We aimed to investigate the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and alterations of intestinal barrier integrity using BDNF knock-out mice model. Colonic tissues from BDNF+/+ mice and BDNF+/- mice were prepared for this study. The integrity of colonic mucosa was evaluated by measuring trans-mucosa electrical resistance and tissue conductance in Ussing chamber. The colonic epithelial structure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis involvement was determined with TUNEL staining, active caspase-3 immunostaining and Western blotting for the protein expression of active caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2. The expression levels and distribution of tight junction proteins were evaluated by immunohistochemistry or Western blots. Compared with BDNF+/+ mice, BDNF+/- mice displayed impaired integrity and ultrastructure alterations in their colonic mucosa, which was characterized by diminished microvilli, mitochondrial swelling and epithelial cells apoptosis. Altered intestinal barrier function was linked to excessive apoptosis of IECs demonstrated by the higher proportion of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells and enhanced caspase activities in BDNF+/- mice. Increased expression of Bax and claudin-2 proteins and reduced Bcl-2 and tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1 and claudin-1) expression were also detected in the colonic mucosa of BDNF+/- mice. BDNF may play a role in the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity via its anti-apoptotic properties.

NF-κB-mediated IAP expression induces resistance of intestinal epithelial cells to apoptosis after polyamine depletion

2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (5) ◽  
pp. C1009-C1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Jaladanki N. Rao ◽  
Xin Guo ◽  
Lan Liu ◽  
Huifang M. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Necrosis Factor ◽  
Active Caspase

Apoptosis plays a crucial role in maintenance of intestinal epithelial integrity and is highly regulated by numerous factors, including cellular polyamines. We recently showed that polyamines regulate nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity in normal intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells and that polyamine depletion activates NF-κB and promotes resistance to apoptosis. The current study went further to determine whether the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins, c-IAP2 and XIAP, are downstream targets of activated NF-κB and play a role in antiapoptotic activity of polyamine depletion in IEC-6 cells. Depletion of cellular polyamines by α-difluoromethylornithine not only activated NF-κB activity but also increased expression of c-IAP2 and XIAP. Specific inhibition of NF-κB by the recombinant adenoviral vector containing IκBα superrepressor (Ad Iκ BSR) prevented the induction of c-IAP2 and XIAP in polyamine-deficient cells. Decreased levels of c-IAP2 and XIAP proteins by inactivation of NF-κB through Ad Iκ BSR infection or treatment with the specific inhibitor Smac also overcame the resistance of polyamine-depleted cells to apoptosis induced by the combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cycloheximide (CHX). Although polyamine depletion did not alter levels of procaspase-3 protein, it inhibited formation of the active caspase-3. Decreased levels of c-IAP2 and XIAP by Smac prevented the inhibitory effect of polyamine depletion on the cleavage of procaspase-3 to the active caspase-3. These results indicate that polyamine depletion increases expression of c-IAP2 and XIAP by activating NF-κB in intestinal epithelial cells. Increased c-IAP2 and XIAP after polyamine depletion induce the resistance to TNF-α/CHX-induced apoptosis, at least partially, through inhibition of the caspase-3 activity.

Polyamines are necessary for synthesis and stability of occludin protein in intestinal epithelial cells

2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. G1159-G1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Guo ◽  
Jaladanki N. Rao ◽  
Lan Liu ◽  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Kaspar M. Keledjian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Junction Proteins

Occludin is an integral membrane protein that forms the sealing element of tight junctions and is critical for epithelial barrier function. Polyamines are implicated in multiple signaling pathways driving different biological functions of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). The present study determined whether polyamines are involved in expression of occludin and play a role in intestinal epithelial barrier function. Studies were conducted in stable Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells (IEC-Cdx2L1) associated with a highly differentiated phenotype. Polyamine depletion by α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) decreased levels of occludin protein but failed to affect expression of its mRNA. Other tight junction proteins, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2, claudin-2, and claudin-3, were also decreased in polyamine-deficient cells. Decreased levels of tight junction proteins in DFMO-treated cells were associated with dysfunction of the epithelial barrier, which was overcome by exogenous polyamine spermidine. Decreased levels of occludin in polyamine-deficient cells was not due to the reduction of intracellular-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt), because either increased or decreased [Ca2+]cyt did not alter levels of occludin in the presence or absence of polyamines. The level of newly synthesized occludin protein was decreased by ∼70% following polyamine depletion, whereas its protein half-life was reduced from ∼120 min in control cells to ∼75 min in polyamine-deficient cells. These findings indicate that polyamines are necessary for the synthesis and stability of occludin protein and that polyamine depletion disrupts the epithelial barrier function, at least partially, by decreasing occludin.

scholarly journals Endocytosis and Recycling of Tight Junction Proteins in Inflammation

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Utech ◽  
Rudolf Mennigen ◽  
Matthias Bruewer
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Junctional Complex ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Recycling Endosomes ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
Apical Junctional Complex ◽  
Junction Proteins

A critical function of the epithelial lining is to form a barrier that separates luminal contents from the underlying interstitium. This barrier function is primarily regulated by the apical junctional complex (AJC) consisting of tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) and is compromised under inflammatory conditions. In intestinal epithelial cells, proinflammatory cytokines, for example, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), induce internalization of TJ proteins by endocytosis. Endocytosed TJ proteins are passed into early and recycling endosomes, suggesting the involvement of recycling of internalized TJ proteins. This review summarizes mechanisms by which TJ proteins under inflammatory conditions are internalized in intestinal epithelial cells and point out comparable mechanism in nonintestinal epithelial cells.

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