Identification of gastrin-secreting cells and cholecystokinin-secreting cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the human fetus and adult man

Summary Gastrin-and cholecystokinin (C.C.K.)-containing cells were detected by using anti-gastrin and anti-C.C.K. sera in the gastrointestinal tract of human fetuses and premature infants and in the stomach and duodenum of adult man obtained by biopsy from eight patients with normal gastro-duodenal endoscopy. The specificity of immunocytological reactions was ascertained by studying the inhibition of the reaction by gastrin, C.C.K., secretin, somatostatin, glucagon, insulin, serotonin, histamin, caerulein and octapeptide of C.C.K. In adult man, the gastrin cells are located only in the antrum and juxtapyloric region; C.C.K. was detected in the duodenum. In the human fetus, the first gastrin cells are seen in the antrum at 14 weeks of age and in the duodenum as early as 10 weeks; the C.C.K. cells are seen in the small intestine at 10 weeks of age. Acknowledgements. The authors should like to thank Professors Magnin and Liaras, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, M. Dumont, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Notter et Garmier, Hôtel-Dieu, Bethenod, Hôpital Debrousse, Lyon, for their cooperation. We also thank Professor R. Guillemin, the Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, Doctor M.P. Dubois, I.N.R.A., Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction, Nouzilly, Mme Vagne, U. 45, I.N.S.E.R.M. and Professor Y. Minaire, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, for their donations. This work was supported by a grant from the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale     

Spantide: failure to antagonize bombesin-induced stimulation of gastrin secretion in dogs

Spantide ([d-Arg1, d-Trp7,9, Leu11] substance P) was shown to function not only as a substance P receptor antagonist but also as a bombesin receptor antagonist. This study examined the effects of spantide on intravenous bombesin-induced stimulation of gastrin and acid secretion. Dogs were infused with spantide (1 or 10 nmol kg 1 hr 1) or saline and bombesin (60 pmol kg-1 hr-1), and the gastric acid and plasma gastrin responses were monitored. Spantide did not significantly modify gastrin or gastric acid secretion induced by bombesin. It is concluded that spantide may not be a useful bombesin antagonist for in vivo studies.     

Enkephalins may act as sensory transmitters in earthworms

Summary Part of the sensory cells of the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) epidermis stain immunocytochemically with enkephalin antisera of different region specificities. The immunocytochemical results suggest the existence of peptides identical with or closely resembling met- and leu-enkephalin in these cells. The processes of enkephalin-immunoreactive cells become collected to form sensory nerves before entering the ventral ganglionic chain where they project as enkephalin-immunoreactive sensory bundles. Injections of the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone in earthworms inhibit their touch-induced withdrawal reflex. Recovery occurs within 2 hours. Moreover, anaesthesia of earthworms in dilute ethanol brings about abolishment of the withdrawal reflex as well as disappearance of enkephalin immunoreactivity from the cell bodies, but not from the sensory hairs. Together, these data suggest that opioid peptides, possibly enkephalins, act as sensory transmitters or modulators in earthworms.     

Investigation of bombesin peptide as a targeting ligand for the gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) receptor

Gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) receptor (GRPR), a bombesin family receptor, is overexpressed in many cancers including breast, prostate, pancreatic and lung. The targeting of therapeutics to GRPR can be achieved using the full-length (14 amino acid) GRP analogue Bombesin (BBN) or the truncated BBN(6–14) sequence, both of which bind GRPR with high affinity and specificity. In this study, we have investigated the level of GRPR expression in various cancerous (Caco-2, HeLa, LNCap, MDA-MB-231, and PC-3) and non-cancerous (WPMY-1) cell lines using a western blotting approach. Such information is currently lacking in the literature, and is therefore of importance for the in vitro assessment of GRPR targeted therapeutics. Of the cell lines assessed, the PC-3 (prostate cancer) and Caco-2 (colon cancer) cell lines demonstrated the highest and lowest levels of GRPR expression respectively. Using this information, we further investigated the cellular uptake of carboxyfluorescein-labelled BBN and BBN(6–14) peptides by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy using cell lines that express GRPR (Caco-2, HeLa, PC-3). The uptake of each of these peptides was similar, suggesting that the shorter BBN(6–14) peptide is sufficient for GRPR targeting. Further, the uptake of these peptides could be inhibited by competition with unlabelled BBN peptides, suggesting their cellular uptake is GRPR-mediated, while the level of BBN uptake (as measured by flow cytometry) was found to be directly proportional to the level of GRPR expression. Overall, the information obtained from these studies provides useful information for the in vitro assessment of GRPR targeted therapeutics.     

Effect of cholecystokinin and gastrin on human peripheral blood lymphocyte functions, implication of cyclic AMP and interleukin 2

The effects in vitro of sulphated and desulphated cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, and of gastrin-17 and gastrin-34 were studied at concentrations from 10⁻¹⁴ M to 10⁻⁶ M on several functions of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, i.e.: adherence to substrate, mobility (spontaneous and directed by a chemical gradient or chemotaxis), and spontaneous and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-mediated proliferation. All peptides, at concentrations from 10⁻¹⁰ M to 10⁻⁸ M, inhibited significantly the mobility capacity and PHA-induced proliferation, and increased the adherence and spontaneous proliferation. A dose-response relationship was observed, with a maximum response of lymphocyte functions at 10⁻¹⁰ M. These peptides induced a significant increase of intracellular cAMP levels at 30 and 60 sec. Because lymphoproliferation requires production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) by lymphocytes, we also measured the IL-2 production in the presence of the CCK and gastrin peptides, finding that this production was higher than in the respective controls. When peptides were added to samples containing PHA, the IL-2 production was significantly decreased with respect to samples incubated with PHA alone. These results suggest that the CCK and gastrin peptides are negative modulators of lymphocyte mobility (spontaneous mobility and chemotaxis), causing an inhibition of these activities through an increase of intracellular cAMP levels, and of PHA-induced lymphoproliferation, which is mediated by a diminution of the IL-2 production by lymphocytes.     

胃癌相关mir-148a靶向调控胃泌素受体CCKBR

目的：研究胃癌相关miR-148a与胃泌素受体CCKBR的调控关系,并分析其调控结合位点。方法生物信息学预测人CCKBR 3’ UTR上miR-148a 的结合位点;利用 PCR扩增 miR-148a 前体构建真核表达载体;Northern Blot检测miR-148a真核表达载体的表达;构建CCKBR 3’UTR野生型和突变型荧光素酶报告载体,并利用双荧光素酶活性分析检测分析miR-148a对CCKBR基因表达的调控和结合位点;Western Blot检测miR-148a过表达对CCKBR蛋白表达的作用。结果在人CCKBR 3’UTR上找到3个miR-148a的潜在结合位点;miR-148a真核表达载体构建成功,转染胃癌细胞后可显著过表达;miR-148a通过人CCKBR 3’UTR上423bp处的结合位点抑制CCKBR的基因表达;miR-148a过表达显著抑制胃癌细胞中CCKBR的蛋白表达。结论 CCKBR是胃癌相关miR-148a的靶基因,miR-148a通过其3’UTR上的结合位点抑制CCKBR的基因表达和蛋白合成,提示miR-148a可能通过调控CCKBR参与胃癌的发生发展。     

内镜下黏膜切除术治疗胃息肉的疗效及对血清ProGRP、PGI水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨内镜下黏膜切除术治疗胃息肉的疗效及对血清胃泌素释放肽前体（ProGRP）、胃蛋白酶原I（PGI）水平的影响。方法：选取我院2019年8月到2022年8月收治的120例胃息肉患者作为研究对象，依照手术方式的不同进行分组，其中将选择常规内镜下电凝切除术治疗的60例患者分为对照组，选择内镜下黏膜切除术治疗的60例患者分为观察组。对比两组患者不良反应发生情况与治疗费用，手术前与手术后血清ProGRP、PGI表达水平以及炎症因子表达水平，对比两组患者整体切除率和并发症发生情况。结果：两组患者总治疗费用对比无差异（P＞0.05），观察组患者术后不良反应发生率较对照组低（P＜0.05）；两组患者手术前血清ProGRP、PGI水平对比无差异（P＞0.05），治疗后两组患者均降低，且观察组较对照组低（P＜0.05）；两组患者手术前PCT、CRP、IL-6、IL-2对比无明显差异（P＞0.05），手术后两组患者PCT、CRP、IL-6、IL-2均升高，且观察组低于对照组（P＜0.05）；两组患者胃息肉均被完整切除，整体切除率对比无差异；且观察组穿孔、迟发性出血以及感染等并发症发生率虽低于对照组，但比较无差异（P＞0.05）。结论：对胃息肉患者采取内镜下黏膜切除术与常规内镜下电凝切除术均能够完整的切除胃息肉，且治疗费用相当。而应用内镜下黏膜切除术能够降低患者ProGRP、PGI水平，降低机体炎症因子反应，且并发症发生率较低，值得临床应用推广。     

小鼠萎缩性胃炎模型的构建及与血清胃泌素 17、白介素 8的关系

目的建立小鼠慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)模型;用此模型探讨胃泌素-17(gastrin-17,G-17)及白介素-8(IL-8)在CAG诊断和病程进展中的应用价值。方法选取SPF级、体质量22～24 g、5～7周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠40只,随机分为阴性对照组(A组,超纯水)、高盐组(B组,1.8%NaCl溶液)、H.pylori组(C组,H.pylori悉尼菌株SS1)和高盐+H.pylori组(D组,1.8%NaCl溶液+SS1菌株)4组,每组10只,分别对各组小鼠进行灌胃处理。于第16周和第24周每组分别处死5只小鼠,通过免疫组化观察H.pylori情况、胃黏膜病理组织学变化,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测小鼠血清G-17和IL-8的表达水平。结果灌胃处理16周可观察到B、D两组小鼠CAG造模成功,G-17表达水平差异无统计学意义(χ~2=6.591,P0.05);C、D两组小鼠IL-8表达水平较A、B两组明显升高(F=25.241,P0.05)。24周后可观察到B、C、D三个实验组均CAG造模成功:B、D组小鼠G-17表达水平较A组明显降低(χ~2=15.006,P0.05),C组G-17水平与A组差异无统计学意义(Z=-1.681,P0.05);H.pylori处理组(C、D)小鼠的IL-8水平明显升高(F=31.941,P0.05)。结论高盐饮食和胃黏膜H.pylori定植均可成功构建C57BL/6小鼠CAG模型,且高盐饮食可加快该模型的建立;血清G-17表达水平与CAG病情严重程度呈负相关,而IL-8的表达水平与是否H.pylori感染有关。     

Involvement of gastrin in gastric secretory and protective actions of N-alpha-methyl histamine

N alpha-methylhistamine (N alpha-MH) is one of an unusual metabolite of histamine that was found in Helicobacter pylori-infected stomachs and is believed to interact with specific histamine H(1), H(2) and H(3)-receptors to stimulate gastric acid secretion and gastrin release from isolated G-cells but the effects of N alpha-MH on gastric mucosal integrity have been little studied. This study was designed; (1) to compare the effect of exogenous N alpha-MH with that of standard histamine on gastric secretion and plasma gastrin levels in rats equipped with gastric fistula (series A); and (2) to assess the action of N alpha-MH on gastric lesions induced by 100% ethanol (series B) in rats with or without removal of antral portion of the stomach (antrectomy). Rats of series B were pretreated intragastrically (i.g.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with N alpha-MH or histamine (0.1-2 mg/kg) 30 min prior to 100% ethanol (1.5 ml, i.g.) with or without: (1) vehicle (saline); (2) RPR 102681 (30 mg/kg i.p.), to block CCK-B/gastrin receptors; and (3) ranitidine (40 mg/kg s.c.) to inhibit histamine H(2)-receptors. The area of gastric lesions was determined planimetrically, gastric blood flow (GBF) was assessed by H(2)-gas clearance method and venous blood was collected for determination of plasma gastrin levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA). N alpha-MH and histamine dose-dependently increased gastric acid output (series A); the dose increasing this secretion by 50% (ED(50)) being 2 and 5 mg/kg i.g or i.p., respectively, and this effect was accompanied by a significant rise in plasma gastrin levels. Both, N alpha-MH and histamine attenuated dose-dependently the area of gastric lesions induced by 100% ethanol (series B) while producing significant rise in the GBF and plasma immunoreactive gastrin increments. These secretory, protective, hipergastrinemic and hyperemic effects of N alpha-MH and histamine were completely abolished by antrectomy, whereas pretreatment with RPR 102681 attenuated significantly the N alpha-MH and histamine-induced protection against ethanol damage and accompanying hyperemia. Ranitidine, that produced achlorhydria and a further increase in plasma gastrin levels, failed to influence the N alpha-MH- and histamine-induced protection and accompanying rise in the GBF. We conclude that (1) N alpha-MH stimulates gastric acid secretion and exhibit gastroprotective activity against acid-independent noxious agents in the manner similar to that afforded by histamine; and (2) this protection involves an enhancement in the gastric microcirculation and release of gastrin acting via specific CCK-B/gastrin receptors but unexpectedly, appears to be unrelated to histamine H(2)-receptors.     

The anti-diabetic effects of GLP-1-gastrin dual agonist ZP3022 in ZDF rats

Aims/hypothesisCombination treatment with exendin-4 and gastrin has proven beneficial in treatment of diabetes and preservation of beta cell mass in diabetic mice. Here, we examined the chronic effects of a GLP-1-gastrin dual agonist ZP3022 on glycemic control and beta cell dysfunction in overtly diabetic Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats.MethodsZDF rats aged 11 weeks were dosed s.c., b.i.d. for 8 weeks with vehicle, ZP3022, liraglutide, exendin-4, or gastrin-17 with or without exendin-4. Glycemic control was assessed by measurements of HbA1c and blood glucose levels, as well as glucose tolerance during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Beta cell dynamics were examined by morphometric analyses of beta and alpha cell fractions.ResultsZP3022 improved glycemic control as measured by terminal HbA1c levels (6.2 ± 0.12 (high dose) vs. 7.9 ± 0.07% (vehicle), P < 0.001), as did all treatments, except gastrin-17 monotherapy. In contrast, only ZP3022, exendin-4 and combination treatment with exendin-4 and gastrin-17 significantly improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin levels during an OGTT. Moreover, only ZP3022 significantly enhanced the beta cell fraction in ZDF rats, a difference of 41%, when compared to the vehicle group (0.31 ± 0.03 vs. 0.22 ± 0.02%, respectively, P < 0.05).ConclusionThese data suggest that ZP3022 may have therapeutic potential in the prevention/delay of beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.