scholarly journals Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 alleviates liver cirrhosis via improvement of the dysfunctional gut-liver axis in rats

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (11) ◽  
pp. G962-G972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Hang Gao ◽  
Shi-Lei Wen ◽  
Huan Tong ◽  
Chun-Hui Wang ◽  
Wen-Juan Yang ◽  
...  

Inflammatory transport through the gut-liver axis may facilitate liver cirrhosis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been considered as one of the important molecules that regulates intestinal epithelial barrier function. This study was aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of COX-2 by celecoxib might alleviate liver cirrhosis via reduction of intestinal inflammatory transport in thiacetamide (TAA) rat model. COX-2/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/EP-2/p-ERK integrated signal pathways regulated the expressions of intestinal zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and E-cadherin, which maintain the function of intestinal epithelial barrier. Celecoxib not only decreased the intestinal permeability to a 4-kDa FITC-dextran but also significantly increased expressions of ZO-1 and E-cadherin. When celecoxib greatly decreased intestinal levels of LPS, TNF-α, and IL-6, it significantly enhanced T cell subsets reduced by TAA. As a result, liver fibrosis induced by TAA was significantly alleviated in the celecoxib group. These data indicated that celecoxib improved the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier, blocked inflammatory transport through the dysfunctional gut-liver axis, and ameliorated the progress of liver cirrhosis.

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1457-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten E. Pijls ◽  
Daisy M. A. E. Jonkers ◽  
Elhaseen E. Elamin ◽  
Ad A. M. Masclee ◽  
Ger H. Koek

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1332-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Suraj K. Jaladanki ◽  
Lan Liu ◽  
Lan Xiao ◽  
Hee Kyoung Chung ◽  
...  

The disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier function occurs commonly in various pathologies, but the exact mechanisms responsible are unclear. TheH19long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulates the expression of different genes and has been implicated in human genetic disorders and cancer. Here, we report thatH19plays an important role in controlling the intestinal epithelial barrier function by serving as a precursor for microRNA 675 (miR-675).H19overexpression increased the cellular abundance of miR-675, which in turn destabilized and repressed the translation of mRNAs encoding tight junction protein ZO-1 and adherens junction E-cadherin, resulting in the dysfunction of the epithelial barrier. Increasing the level of the RNA-binding protein HuR in cells overexpressingH19prevented the stimulation of miR-675 processing fromH19, promoted ZO-1 and E-cadherin expression, and restored the epithelial barrier function to a nearly normal level. In contrast, the targeted deletion of HuR in intestinal epithelial cells enhanced miR-675 production in the mucosa and delayed the recovery of the gut barrier function after exposure to mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion. These results indicate thatH19interacts with HuR and regulates the intestinal epithelial barrier function via theH19-encoded miR-675 by altering ZO-1 and E-cadherin expression posttranscriptionally.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (4) ◽  
pp. C801-C810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Liu ◽  
Xin Guo ◽  
Jaladanki N. Rao ◽  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Lan Xiao ◽  
...  

The integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier depends on intercellular junctions that are highly regulated by numerous extracellular and intracellular factors. E-cadherin is found primarily at the adherens junctions in the intestinal mucosa and mediates strong cell-cell contacts that have a functional role in forming and regulating the epithelial barrier. Polyamines are necessary for E-cadherin expression, but the exact mechanism underlying polyamines remains elusive. The current study was performed to determine whether polyamines induce E-cadherin expression through the transcription factor c-Myc and whether polyamine-regulated E-cadherin plays a role in maintenance of the epithelial barrier integrity. Decreasing cellular polyamines reduced c-Myc and repressed E-cadherin transcription as indicated by a decrease in levels of E-cadherin promoter activity and its mRNA. Forced expression of the c- myc gene by infection with adenoviral vector containing c-Myc cDNA stimulated E-cadherin promoter activity and increased E-cadherin mRNA and protein levels in polyamine-deficient cells. Experiments using different E-cadherin promoter mutants revealed that induction of E-cadherin transcription by c-Myc was mediated through the E-Pal box located at the proximal region of the E-cadherin promoter. Decreased levels of E-cadherin in polyamine-deficient cells marginally increased basal levels of paracellular permeability but, remarkably, potentiated H2O2-induced epithelial barrier dysfunction. E-cadherin silencing by transfection with its specific small interfering RNA also increased vulnerability of the epithelial barrier to H2O2. These results indicate that polyamines enhance E-cadherin transcription by activating c-Myc, thus promoting function of the epithelial barrier.


2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (12) ◽  
pp. G981-G993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Rodríguez-Feo ◽  
Marta Puerto ◽  
Carolina Fernández-Mena ◽  
Cristina Verdejo ◽  
José Manuel Lara ◽  
...  

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an impaired intestinal barrier function. We aimed to investigate the role of reticulon-4B (RTN-4B/NOGO-B), a structural protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, in intestinal barrier function and IBD. We used immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, real-time PCR, and Western blotting to study tissue distribution and expression levels of RTN-4B/NOGO-B in control and IBD samples from mouse and humans. We also targeted RTN-4B/NOGO-B using siRNAs in cultured human intestinal epithelial cell (IECs). Epithelial barrier permeability was assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement. RTN-4B/NOGO-B is expressed in the intestine mainly by IECs. Confocal microscopy revealed a colocalization of RTN-4B, E-cadherin, and polymerized actin fibers in tissue and cultured IECs. RTN-4B mRNA and protein expression were lower in the colon of IL-10−/− compared with wild-type mice. Colocalization of RTN-4B/E-cadherin/actin was reduced in the colon of IL-10−/− mice. Analysis of endoscopic biopsies from IBD patients showed a significant reduction of RTN-4B/NOGO-B expression in inflamed mucosa compared with control. Treatment of IECs with H2O2 reduced TEER values and triggered phosphorylation of RTN-4B in serine 107 residues as well as downregulation of RTN-4B expression. Acute RTN-4B/NOGO-B knockdown by siRNAs resulted in a decreased TEER values and reduction of E-cadherin and α-catenin expression and in the amount of F-actin-rich filaments in IECs. Epithelial RTN-4B/NOGO-B was downregulated in human and experimental IBD. RTN-4B participates in the intestinal epithelial barrier function, most likely via its involvement in E-cadherin, α-catenin expression, and actin cytoskeleton organization at sites of cell-to-cell contacts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1340-1352
Author(s):  
Xuelei Cao ◽  
Lei Sun ◽  
Susana Lechuga ◽  
Nayden G Naydenov ◽  
Alex Feygin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Disruption of the gut barrier is an essential mechanism of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) contributing to the development of mucosal inflammation. A hallmark of barrier disruption is the disassembly of epithelial adherens junctions (AJs) driven by decreased expression of a major AJ protein, E-cadherin. A group of isoxazole compounds, such as E-cadherin-upregulator (ECU) and ML327, were previously shown to stimulate E-cadherin expression in poorly differentiated human cancer cells. This study was designed to examine whether these isoxazole compounds can enhance and protect model intestinal epithelial barriers in vitro. Methods The study was conducted using T84, SK-CO15, and HT-29 human colonic epithelial cell monolayers. Disruption of the epithelial barrier was induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. Barrier integrity and epithelial junction assembly was examined using different permeability assays, immunofluorescence labeling, and confocal microscopy. Epithelial restitution was analyzed using a scratch wound healing assay. Results E-cadherin-upregulator and ML327 treatment of intestinal epithelial cell monolayers resulted in several barrier-protective effects, including reduced steady-state epithelial permeability, inhibition of cytokine-induced barrier disruption and junction disassembly, and acceleration of epithelial wound healing. Surprisingly, these effects were not due to upregulation of E-cadherin expression but were mediated by multiple mechanisms including inhibition of junction protein endocytosis, attenuation of cytokine-induced apoptosis, and activation of promigratory Src and AKT signaling. Conclusions Our data highlight ECU and ML327 as promising compounds for developing new therapeutic strategies to protect the integrity and accelerate the restitution of the intestinal epithelial barrier in IBD and other inflammatory disorders.


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 637-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne A Snoek ◽  
Marleen I Verstege ◽  
Guy E Boeckxstaens ◽  
René M van den Wijngaard ◽  
Wouter J de Jonge

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 3701-3712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Lan Xiao ◽  
Jaladanki N. Rao ◽  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Lan Liu ◽  
...  

The AP-1 transcription factor JunD is highly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells, but its exact role in maintaining the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier remains unknown. The tight junction (TJ) protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1 links the intracellular domain of TJ-transmembrane proteins occludin, claudins, and junctional adhesion molecules to many cytoplasmic proteins and the actin cytoskeleton and is crucial for assembly of the TJ complex. Here, we show that JunD negatively regulates expression of ZO-1 and is implicated in the regulation of intestinal epithelial barrier function. Increased JunD levels by ectopic overexpression of the junD gene or by depleting cellular polyamines repressed ZO-1 expression and increased epithelial paracellular permeability. JunD regulated ZO-1 expression at the levels of transcription and translation. Transcriptional repression of ZO-1 by JunD was mediated through cAMP response element-binding protein-binding site within its proximal region of the ZO-1-promoter, whereas induced JunD inhibited ZO-1 mRNA translation by enhancing the interaction of the ZO-1 3′-untranslated region with RNA-binding protein T cell-restricted intracellular antigen 1-related protein. These results indicate that JunD is a biological suppressor of ZO-1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells and plays a critical role in maintaining epithelial barrier function.


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