The Physiologic Roles of the Subepithelial Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor α-positive Cells in the Colon (Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2013;304:G823-G834)

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) exist in epithelial cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts of animals and play roles in cell proliferation, survival and migration.1 It is composed of 4 subtypes (A, B, C and D), and their receptors (PDGFRs) have 2 subtypes (α and β). Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α-positive cells (PDGFRα+ cells) in the gastrointestinal tract is known as fibroblast-like cells. Recently, it is noted, the PDGFRα+ cells in the muscle layers of the gastrointestinal tract are involved in purinergic motor neurotransduction. However, PDGFRα+ cells are distributed at all subepithelial lesion and the physiologic role is not yet established. Recently, Kurahashi et al2 evaluated the distribution in subepithelial cells in the mouse and human colon, and the phenotype and potential role of those cells. They assessed the subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells connected to each other and located just beneath the colonic epithelium, with its pericryptal sheaths from the base to the top of crypts being sparse at the bottom of crypts. Subepithelial α-smooth muscle actin-positive (α-SMA+) cells (myofibroblasts) were adjacent to, but distinct from, subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells, were always located at the mesenchymal side of subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells, and were distinct from smooth muscle myosin-positive cells. They performed the double labeling of PDGFRα with protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and α-SMA with PGP9.5. PGP9.5 immunoreactive fibers were found at the mesenchymal surface of subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells, and some fibers were found at the epithelial side of the myofibroblasts. This data show that the promoter driving pdfgra expression is active in subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells but not in subepithelial myofibroblasts. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed on cDNAs obtained frome sorted PDGFRα+ cells and unsorted cells respresenting all cell types dispersed from the mucosa. These data showed that transcripts of pdgfra were significantly enriched in PDGFRα+ cells, and subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells also expressed Toll-like receptors (Tlr4, Tlr5 and Tlr9), purine receptors (P2ry1, P2ry2 and P2ry4), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (Htr4) more strongly compared with the other cell types in mucosa. Htr3a and Htr3b expressions were much lower in PDGFRα+ cells than in other mucosal cells. Other qPCR analysis data revealed that subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells expressed hedgehog signaling molecules (Ptch1 and Gli1) at much greater levels than other cell types. They concluded that PDGFRα is a unique immunolabel for a population of cells that might correspond to the cells identified by electron microscopy as pericryptal fibroblasts. Subepithelial PDGFRα+ cells form a sheath just beneath the epithelium and cover crypts from their base to the luminal surface of epithelium. The roles of these cells in physiological and pathophysiological processes are unknown, but the labeling techniques and the use of a reporter strain that we have characterized will make comprehensive studies of these cells possible for the first time. Several key transcripts are expressed by these cells in mouse, suggesting these cells may have modulatory functions in immune and sensory responses and in the maintenance of mucosal homeostasis.