Colonic Epithelial Cell Line HT-29 Research Articles

Artemisinin analog SM934 alleviates epithelial barrier dysfunction via inhibiting apoptosis and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in experimental colitis

Intestinal barrier disruption due to the intestinal epithelial cells’ (IECs) death is one of the critical pathological features of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). SM934, an artemisinin analog, has previously been proven to ameliorate colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice by suppressing inflammation response. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of SM934 on the epithelial barrier and the underlying mechanism in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice. We demonstrated that SM934 restored the body weight and colon length, and improved the intestine pathology. Furthermore, SM934 treatment preserved the intestinal barrier function via decreasing the intestinal permeability, maintaining epithelial tight junction (TJ) protein expressions, and preventing apoptosis of epithelial cells, which were observed both in the colon tissue and the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. Specifically, SM934 reduced the pyroptosis of IECs exposed to pathogenic signaling and inhibited pyroptosis-related factors such as NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), adapter apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteine protease-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin (GSDMD), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) both in colon tissue and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) co-stimulated HT-29 cells in vitro. Moreover, SM934 interdicted pyroptosis via blocking the transduction of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling pathways. In conclusion, SM934 protected TNBS-induced colitis against intestinal barrier disruption by inhibiting the apoptosis and pyroptosis of epithelial cells via the NLRP3/NF-κB/MAPK signal axis, and intestinal barrier protection in company with an anti-inflammatory strategy might yield greater benefits in IBD treatment.

WIPF2 promotes Shigella flexneri actin-based motility and cell-to-cell spread.

Shigella flexneri is an intracellular pathogen that disseminates in colonic epithelial cells through actin-based motility and formation of membrane protrusions at cell-cell contacts, that project into adjacent cells and resolve into vacuoles, from which the pathogen escapes, thereby achieving cell-to-cell spread. Actin nucleation at the bacterial pole relies on the recruitment of the nucleation-promoting factor N-WASP, which activates the actin nucleator ARP2/3. In cells, the vast majority of N-WASP exists as a complex with WIP. The involvement of WIP in N-WASP-dependent actin-based motility of various pathogens, including vaccinia virus and S. flexneri, has been highly controversial. Here, we show that WIPF2 was the only WIP family member expressed in the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29, and its depletion impaired S. flexneri dissemination. WIPF2 depletion increased the number of cytosolic bacteria lacking actin tails (non-motile) and decreased the velocity of motile bacteria. This correlated with a decrease in the recruitment of N-WASP to the bacterial pole, and among N-WASP-positive bacteria, a decrease in actin tail-positive bacteria, suggesting that WIPF2 is required for N-WASP recruitment and activation at the bacterial pole. In addition, when motile bacteria formed protrusions, WIPF2 depletion decreased the number of membrane protrusions that successfully resolved into vacuoles.

Ciprofloxacin Affects Host Cells by Suppressing Expression of the Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides Cathelicidins and Beta-Defensin-3 in Colon Epithelia.

Antibiotics exert several effects on host cells including regulation of immune components. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), e.g., cathelicidins and defensins display multiple functions in innate immunity. In colonic mucosa, cathelicidins are induced by butyrate, a bacterial fermentation product. Here, we investigated the effect of antibiotics on butyrate-induced expression of cathelicidins and beta-defensins in colon epithelial cells. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that ciprofloxacin and clindamycin reduce butyrate-induced transcription of the human cathelicidin LL-37 in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. Suppression of LL-37 peptide/protein by ciprofloxacin was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that ciprofloxacin suppresses the rabbit cathelicidin CAP-18 in rectal epithelia of healthy and butyrate-treated Shigella-infected rabbits. Ciprofloxacin also down-regulated butyrate-induced transcription of the human beta-defensin-3 in HT-29 cells. Microarray analysis of HT-29 cells revealed upregulation by butyrate with subsequent down-regulation by ciprofloxacin of additional genes encoding immune factors. Dephosphorylation of histone H3, an epigenetic event provided a possible mechanism of the suppressive effect of ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, LL-37 peptide inhibited Clostridium difficile growth in vitro. In conclusion, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin exert immunomodulatory function by down-regulating AMPs and other immune components in colonic epithelial cells. Suppression of AMPs may contribute to the overgrowth of C. difficile, causing antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Expression of Toll-like receptor-3 is enhanced in active inflammatory bowel disease and mediates the excessive release of lipocalin 2

Anti-microbial peptides might influence the pathogenesis and course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to clarify the role of the anti-microbial glycoprotein lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in the colon by determining its localization and regulation in IBD. Following a microarray gene expression study of colonic biopsies from a large IBD population (n = 133), LCN2 was localized using immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization. Moreover, we examined the regulation of LCN2 in HT-29 cells with a panel of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and sought evidence by immunohistochemistry that the most relevant PRR, the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, was indeed expressed in colonic epithelium in IBD. LCN2 was among the 10 most up-regulated genes in both active ulcerative colitis (UCa) and active Crohn's disease (CDa) versus healthy controls. LCN2 protein was found in both epithelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils, while mRNA synthesis was located solely to epithelial cells, indicating that de-novo synthesis and thus regulation of LCN2 as measured in the gene expression analysis takes place in the mucosal epithelial cells. LCN2 is a putative biomarker in faeces for intestinal inflammation, different from calprotectin due to its epithelial site of synthesis. LCN2 release from the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 was enhanced by both interleukin (IL)-1β and the TLR-3 ligand poly(I:C), and TLR-3 was shown to be expressed constitutively in colonic epithelial cells and markedly increased during inflammation.

Clostridium difficile Toxin A Inhibits Erythropoietin Receptor-Mediated Colonocyte Focal Adhesion Through Inactivation of Janus Kinase-2

Previously, we demonstrated that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is present on fibroblasts, where it regulates focal contact. Here, we assessed whether this action of EpoR is involved in the reduced cell adhesion observed in colonocytes exposed to Clostridium difficile toxin A. EpoR was present and functionally active in cells of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29 and epithelial cells of human colon tissues. Toxin A significantly decreased activating phosphorylations of EpoR and its downstream signaling molecules JAK-2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5). In vitro kinase assays confirmed that toxin A inhibited JAK 2 kinase activity. Pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 (with AG490) abrogated activating phosphorylations of EpoR and also decreased focal contacts in association with inactivation of paxillin, an essential focal adhesion molecule. In addition, AG490 treatment significantly decreased expression of occludin (a tight junction molecule) and tight junction levels. Taken together, these data suggest that inhibition of JAK2 by toxin A in colonocytes causes inactivation of EpoR, thereby enhancing the inhibition of focal contact formation and loss of tight junctions known to be associated with the enzymatic activity of toxin A.

Induction of Lipocalin-2 in Colonic Epithelial Cells in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In our gene expression analysis on colonic biopsies from an IBD cohort we found Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) to be among the most upregulated genes in inflamed mucosa compared to un-inflamed mucosa of both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD). The protein LCN2 acts as an acute phase protein and has antimicrobial properties, making it a part of the innate immune system. We sought to identify localization and regulation of LCN2 in the colonic mucosa and also quantify LCN2 in serum. Microarray of colonic biopsies from an IBD population (n = 133) was done using Illumina Bead Chip technology. Immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization of colonic biopsies was done on a subset of biopsies to identify cellular sources of LCN2. We studied release of LCN2 from colonic epithelial cell lines HT-29 and SW620, upon pattern recognition receptor stimulation (PRR). LCN2 was quantified in serum using ELISA and hsCRP quantified using immunoturbidometric method. LCN2 mRNA was among the 10 most upregulated gene in inflamed vs uninflamed mucosa of UC and CD. LCN2 is located to the epithelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils in inflamed mucosa. The LCN2 mRNA synthesis is found solely in epithelial cells indicating the de novo synthesis to take place in the epithelium. LCN2 is abundantly and constitutively released from the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 and its release is enhanced by both IL1b and the TLR3 ligand polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)). Serum LCN2 correlates with hsCRP. LCN2 is among the most upregulated genes in active IBD. The epithelial cells of colonic mucosa are an important source of LCN2. LCN2 seems to be released into the intestinal lumen and has a potential role in shaping the intestinal bacterial flora. The synthetic dsRNA analog poly(I:C) increased synthesis and release of LCN2 for colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 and the TLR3 mediates this release, supporting a role of TLR3 in intestinal homeostasis and mucosal inflammation.

Effects of quercetin studied in colonic HT‐29/B6 cells and rat intestine in vitro

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of quercetin on intestinal barrier function using the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29/B6 and rat small and large intestine in vitro. Rat native ileum and late distal colon were incubated in Ussing chambers, and the total resistance (R(T) ) was measured, and expression of tight junction proteins was characterized in immunoblots. By simulating inflammatory conditions with TNF-α, we examined the barrier-preventive effects of quercetin. Incubation with TNF-α led to a decrease of R(T) in HT-29/B6 cell monolayers, which could be partially inhibited by quercetin. In accordance with cell culture experiments, quercetin increased mucosal resistance of rat ileum and late distal colon. Thus, barrier disturbance in late distal colon specimens induced by TNF-α and IFN-γ could be partially prevented by coincubation with quercetin. These findings demonstrate that quercetin enhances barrier function in rat small and large intestine and possesses protective effects on cytokine-induced barrier damage.

Complex c-di-GMP Signaling Networks Mediate Transition between Virulence Properties and Biofilm Formation in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

Upon Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection of the gut, an early line of defense is the gastrointestinal epithelium which senses the pathogen and intrusion along the epithelial barrier is one of the first events towards disease. Recently, we showed that high intracellular amounts of the secondary messenger c-di-GMP in S. typhimurium inhibited invasion and abolished induction of a pro-inflammatory immune response in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 suggesting regulation of transition between biofilm formation and virulence by c-di-GMP in the intestine. Here we show that highly complex c-di-GMP signaling networks consisting of distinct groups of c-di-GMP synthesizing and degrading proteins modulate the virulence phenotypes invasion, IL-8 production and in vivo colonization in the streptomycin-treated mouse model implying a spatial and timely modulation of virulence properties in S. typhimurium by c-di-GMP signaling. Inhibition of the invasion and IL-8 induction phenotype by c-di-GMP (partially) requires the major biofilm activator CsgD and/or BcsA, the synthase for the extracellular matrix component cellulose. Inhibition of the invasion phenotype is associated with inhibition of secretion of the type three secretion system effector protein SipA, which requires c-di-GMP metabolizing proteins, but not their catalytic activity. Our findings show that c-di-GMP signaling is at least equally important in the regulation of Salmonella-host interaction as in the regulation of biofilm formation at ambient temperature.

Effects of some essential oils and saponins on lysozyme activity in human monocytes and epithelial cells

Lysozyme is one of the most important factors of innate immunity, possessing antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor and immune modulatory activities. Human lysozyme is produced by phagocytic cells and a variety of epithelial cells. In a recent study we have investigated the effect of some essential oils and saponins on the secretion and expression of lysozyme activity in the human monocytic cell line THP-1, and the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. The selection of these natural substances was based on their antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory or immune-stimulating properties. The influence on lysozyme secretion, as an important defense molecule of the human innate immune system, may provide a new mechanism which could explain these properties. Lysozyme activity was determined using highly sensitive fluorescence-based assay [1]. Some saponins from natural origin had stimulating effects on lysozyme activity secretion within one-hour-incubation in both monocytic and epithelial cells. Primulic acid, ginsenosid-Rd, quillaja and gypsophila saponins were proved to induce lysozyme activity secretion in both cell lines. Aescin could stimulate lysozyme activity secretion only in the monocytic cells, while it had no effect when incubated with the epithelial cells. Stimulating effect of essential oils on lysozyme activity in both monocytic and epithelial cell lines could be less frequently observed. Orange blossom oil had stimulating effect on lysozyme activity secretion in both cell lines. Inducing effect on lysozyme activity could also be detected by tea tree oil and majoran oil when incubated with the epithelial cells, whereas no effect or inhibitory effect was observed in the monocytic cells.

PU.1 and bacterial metabolites regulate the human gene CAMP encoding antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in colon epithelial cells

Mammalian antimicrobial peptides contribute to the protective barrier against microbes at epithelial surfaces. This study focuses on the promoter of the human CAMP gene, encoding the antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and induction of the gene in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. CAMP promoter segments were inserted in front of a luciferase reporter in order to identify regulatory regions. A transcription promoting region was identified and the transcription factor PU.1 of the Ets family was recruited to this region as shown by ChIP analysis. This ties PU.1 to the regulation of human innate epithelial defences for the first time. In addition, the conserved second intron was found to exert a transcription enhancing effect in cooperation with the 3′ end of the proximal promoter, and the importance of two upstream AUG codons was examined. Moreover, we here demonstrate that lithocholic acid enhances CAMP transcription, and does so additively with butyrate. Thus, a crosstalk between bacteria and host epithelia of the gut could be partially mediated via these two bacterial products to obtain gut homeostasis.

Adiponectin Deficiency Protects Mice From Chemically Induced Colonic Inflammation

Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine that regulates insulin sensitivity and is anti-inflammatory in atherosclerosis. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of APN in intestinal inflammation. APN knockout (KO) mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates received dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce intestinal inflammation. Clinical and histologic scores and proliferation of epithelial cells were assessed. Cytokines and APN levels were measured. Expression of APN and heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Expression of APN and its receptors, HB-EGF, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) messenger RNA was assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Association of serum APN with HB-EGF and bFGF was studied by coimmunoprecipitation. APN KO mice are protected from chemically induced colitis; administration of APN restores inflammation. APN is expressed in the colon, luminal APN associates with colonic epithelial cells. In vitro, APN increases production of proinflammatory cytokines from colonic tissue. Expression of colonic APN overlaps with that of bFGF and HB-EGF, which play a protective role in colitis. Circulating APN binds to bFGF and HB-EGF, likely inhibiting their protective activity. Inhibition of EGF receptor signaling, which is required for biologic activity of HB-EGF, restores inflammation in APN KO mice. APN deficiency is associated with protection from chemically induced colitis. APN exerts proinflammatory activities in the colon by inducing production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting bioactivity of protective growth factors. Thus, in colitis, APN exerts an opposite role compared with atherosclerosis.

Inhibition of interleukin-8 production in the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 by 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid

Interleukin (IL)-8 plays a central role in the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory responses in the inflammatory bowel disease. The proinflammatory cytokine-mediated production of IL-8 requires activation of various kinases, which leads to the I kappa B degradation and NF-kappa B activation. We investigated the role of 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a saponin isolated from licorice roots, on TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 production in human colonic epithelial cells. HT29 cells were stimulated with TNF-alpha in the presence or absence of GA (1, 5 or 10 microM). IL-8 production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation and I kappa B alpha degradation were determined by Western blot analysis. GA suppressed TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 production in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, GA inhibited TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK), I kappa B alpha degradation, and NF-kappa B activation. These results suggest that GA has the inhibitory effects on TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 production in the intestinal epithelial cells through blockade in the phosphorylation of MAPKs, following I kappa B alpha degradation and NF-kappa B activation.

Natriuretic peptides up-regulate aquaporin 3 in a human colonic epithelial cell line.

Several specialized channels termed aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate water transport in the gastrointestinal tract. AQP3 localizes to epithelial cells in the human small intestine and colon. However, the regulatory mechanisms responsible for AQP3 function in the gastrointestinal tract are not well understood. To characterize the regulation of AQP3 expression by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), we studied mRNA expression by Northern blotting, protein expression by Western blotting and DNA binding activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29. We also used several inhibitors to investigate signal transduction. AQP3 mRNA was up-regulated in addition to ANP (>100 nM) and BNP (>10 nM). The expression of AQP3 protein was enhanced at 1 h after the addition of ANP and BNP. The combination of protein kinase-A (PK-A) and protein kinase-G (PK-G) inhibitors completely inhibited the expression of AQP3 mRNA enhanced by ANP or BNP to its basal level. The EMSA of the cyclic-AMP response element (CRE) in HT-29 cells revealed a single band. These results indicate that ANP and BNP up-regulated the expression of AQP3 mRNA and protein, and both PK-A and PK-G dependent pathways mediated this effect.

Differential regulation of prostaglandin E biosynthesis by interferon-gamma in colonic epithelial cells.

1. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and activity in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha and IFN gamma was evaluated in the colonic epithelial cell line HT29 and the airway epithelial cell line A549. 2. TNF alpha induced concentration- and time-dependent upregulation of COX-2 mRNA, protein and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) synthesis. 3. Co-stimulation of TNF alpha with IFN gamma resulted in reduced COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. 4. IFN gamma had no effect on the stability of TNF alpha-induced COX-2 mRNA. 5. TNF alpha-induced PGE(2) biosynthesis was significantly enhanced by the simultaneous addition of IFN gamma and was COX-2 dependent. 6. The combination of IFN gamma and TNF alpha induced the microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES), comensurate with the enhanced PGE(2) synthesis. 7. These results suggest that, in terms of PGE(2) biosynthesis, IFN gamma plays a negative regulatory role at the level of COX-2 expression and a positive regulatory role at the level of mPGES expression. This may have important implications for the clinical use of IFN gamma in inflammatory diseases.

Accessory cell function of a human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 for bacterial superantigens.

The expression and up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules on a human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29, and the peripheral blood T lymphocyte proliferation responses to bacterial superantigens presented by this cell line were investigated, compared with peripheral blood monocytes. In HT-29 cells, there was constitutive expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3) at a low level, but no constitutive expression of HLA-DR, LFA-1, B7-1 and B7-2 molecules. After stimulation with the supernatants of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells for 48 h, there was significant up-regulation of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules (both > 90% positive). However, this stimulation had no effect on the expression of LFA-1, B7-1, B7-2 and LFA-3 molecules. In the presence of all tested superantigens SEB, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and streptococcal pyogenic exotoxin A, stimulated HT-29 cells caused significant T cell proliferation. When monocytes were used as antigen-presenting cells (APC), the MoAbs against HLA-DR, B7-2 and LFA-3 showed a significant inhibition of SEB-induced T cell proliferation. Anti-ICAM-1 MoAb had no effect on this response. On the other hand, when stimulated HT-29 cells were used as APC, the MoAbs against HLA-DR and ICAM-1 significantly inhibited SEB-induced T cell proliferation. In contrast to monocytes, anti-B7-2 and anti-LFA-3 had no effect on this response. SEB could not induce HT-29 cells to produce IL-8 directly; however, SEB significantly induced the stimulated HT-29 cells to produce IL-8 in the presence of T cells. Thus these data demonstrate that the products of superantigen-stimulated T cell activation can increase the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules on HT-29 cells significantly. Stimulated HT-29 cells can serve as APC to bacterial superantigens. This response is an HLA-DR- and ICAM-1-dependent, but B7-2- and LFA-3-independent process, which was different from professional APC monocytes.

Inhibition of interleukin-8 release in the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 by cannabinoids

We have investigated the effects of cannabinoid agonists and antagonists on tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced secretion of interleukin-8 from the colonic epithelial cell line, HT-29. The cannabinoid receptor agonists {(−)-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethyl-heptyl)-phenyl]4-[3-hydroxypropyl]cyclo-hexan-1-ol} (CP55,940); Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; [ R(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl) methyl] pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthyl) methanone mesylate} (WIN55,212-2) and 1-propyl-2-methyl-3-naphthoyl-indole (JWH 015) inhibited TNF-α induced release of interleukin-8 in a concentration-dependent manner. The less active enantiomer of WIN55212-2, [ S(−)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthyl) methanone mesylate (WIN55212-3), and the cannabinoid CB 1 receptor agonist arachidonoyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA) had no significant effect on TNF-α-induced release of interleukin-8. The cannabinoid CB 1 receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1,4-pyrazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride (SR141716A; 10 −6 M) antagonised the inhibitory effect of CP55,940 (pA 2=8.3±0.2, n=6) but did not antagonise the inhibitory effects of WIN55212-2 and JWH 015. The cannabinoid CB 2 receptor antagonist N-(1,S)-endo1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo(2,2,1)heptan-2-yl)-5(4-chloro-3-methyl-phenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528; 10 −6 M) antagonised the inhibitory effects of CP55,940 (pA 2=8.2±0.8, n=6), WIN55212-2 (pA 2=7.1±0.3, n=6) and JWH 015 (pA 2=7.6±0.3, n=6) , respectively. Western immunoblotting of HT-29 cell lysates revealed a protein with a size that is consistent with the presence of cannabinoid CB 2 receptors. We conclude that in HT-29 cells, TNF-α-induced interleukin-8 release is inhibited by cannabinoids through activation of cannabinoid CB 2 receptors.

Keratinocyte growth factor promotes goblet cell differentiation through regulation of goblet cell silencer inhibitor.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is an epithelial cell-specific growth factor. Previous reports demonstrated that KGF induces differentiation of epithelial cells of gastrointestinal tract in vivo, especially goblet cell-specific lineage stimulation. Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) is selectively expressed in intestinal goblet cells and its expression correlates with intestinal goblet cell differentiation. In this study, we analyzed the mechanism of KGF modulation of goblet cell differentiation through characterization of its effects on ITF gene expression. Subclone H2 of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29, which can be induced to intestinal goblet cells, was treated with KGF and characterized by Northern and Western blot analyses, transient transfection assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). KGF promoted differentiation of H2 cells to goblet cells as reflected by induced ITF expression. Transient transfection assays revealed that KGF regulates mouse ITF transcription through the goblet cell silencer inhibitor (GCSI) element, which is essential for goblet cell-specific expression of ITF. EMSAs showed that KGF induces GCSI binding protein (GCSI-BP). KGF promotes goblet cell differentiation through the induction of GCSI-BP, a goblet cell-specific transcription factor. GCSI-BP may play a central role in intestinal goblet cell differentiation.

Mechanisms of epithelial barrier impairment in HIV infection.

Diarrhea and malabsorption due to intestinal dysfunction are common symptoms in HIV infection. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of these alterations are often not known, and the role of HIV per se is still controversially discussed. We measured the epithelial transport and barrier function by means of a miniaturized Ussing chamber system in the duodenum of HIV-infected patients in different disease stages, determined by the CD4 cell count in the serum as well as symptoms in patients with and without diarrhea. We could show that diarrhea induced by HIV per se is caused by a leak flux mechanism due to impaired epithelial barrier function. Antisecretory therapy does not seem to be useful in these patients, because we did not find increased active ion secretion. Along the course of the HIV infection, the epithelial transport and barrier function varies with HIV disease stage (expressed by CD4 cell status). In addition, an in vitro model was studied to characterize the effect of HIV-infected human immune cells on the epithelial barrier function using the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29/B6. HIV infection of human immune cells induced an increase in cytokine release--for example, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IFN-alpha, and IFN-gamma--downregulating the epithelial barrier function of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT-29/B6. Taken together we postulate a specific stage-dependent cytokine pattern released from HIV-infected immune cells in the mucosa, which, corresponding to the HIV disease stage, is responsible for the variation in epithelial function.

Tumour necrosis factor-A induced cyclooxygenase 2 expression is down regulated by Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29

Tumour necrosis factor-A induced cyclooxygenase 2 expression is down regulated by Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29

The effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and activity in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29

The effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid on inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and activity in the colonic epithelial cell line HT-29