Heat stress protection against mesenteric I/R-induced alterations in intestinal mucosa in rats.

Prior induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) mucosal injury, but the ability of HSP70 to affect I/R-induced alterations in epithelial cell function is unknown. Rats subjected to whole body hyperthermia (41.5-42 degrees C for 6 min) increased HSP70 and heat shock factor 1 mRNA expression, reaching a maximum 2 h after heat stress and declining thereafter. HSP70 production was maximally elevated at 4 h after heat stress and remained elevated until after 12 h. Heat stress alone had no effect on mucosal function except to enhance secretion in response to ACh. Heat stress provided complete morphological protection against I/R-induced mucosal injury but did not confer a similar protection against I/R-induced decreases in mucosal resistance, sodium-linked glucose absorption, or tachykinin-mediated chloride secretion. Heat stress, however, attenuated the I/R-induced suppression of ACh response, and this effect was dependent on enteric nerves. Thus induction of heat shock protein 70 is associated with the preservation of mucosal architecture and attenuation of some specific functional alterations induced by I/R.     

Endothelin receptor A antagonism attenuates renal medullary blood flow impairment in endotoxemic pigs

Background

Endothelin-1 is a potent endogenous vasoconstrictor that contributes to renal microcirculatory impairment during endotoxemia and sepsis. Here we investigated if the renal circulatory and metabolic effects of endothelin during endotoxemia are mediated through activation of endothelin-A receptors.

Methods and Findings

A randomized experimental study was performed with anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs subjected to Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion for five hours. After two hours the animals were treated with the selective endothelin receptor type A antagonist TBC 3711 (2 mg⋅kg⁻¹, n = 8) or served as endotoxin-treated controls (n = 8). Renal artery blood flow, diuresis and creatinine clearance decreased in response to endotoxemia. Perfusion in the cortex, as measured by laser doppler flowmetry, was reduced in both groups, but TBC 3711 attenuated the decrease in the medulla (p = 0.002). Compared to control, TBC 3711 reduced renal oxygen extraction as well as cortical and medullary lactate/pyruvate ratios (p<0.05) measured by microdialysis. Furthermore, TBC 3711 attenuated the decline in renal cortical interstitial glucose levels (p = 0.02) and increased medullary pyruvate levels (p = 0.03). Decreased creatinine clearance and oliguria were present in both groups without any significant difference.

Conclusions

These results suggest that endothelin released during endotoxemia acts via endothelin A receptors to impair renal medullary blood flow causing ischemia. Reduced renal oxygen extraction and cortical levels of lactate by TBC 3711, without effects on cortical blood flow, further suggest additional metabolic effects of endothelin type A receptor activation in this model of endotoxin induced acute kidney injury.     

DNA attenuates enterocyte Toll-like receptor 4-mediated intestinal mucosal injury after remote trauma

Intestinal mucosal injury occurs after remote trauma although the mechanisms that sense remote injury and lead to intestinal epithelial disruption remain incompletely understood. We now hypothesize that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling on enterocytes after remote injury, potentially through the endogenous TLR4 ligand high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), could lead to intestinal dysfunction and bacterial translocation and that activation of TLR9 with DNA could reverse these effects. In support of this hypothesis, exposure of TLR4-expressing mice to bilateral femur fracture and systemic hypotension resulted in increased TLR4 expression and signaling and disruption of the ileal mucosa, leading to bacterial translocation, which was not observed in TLR4-mutant mice. TLR4 signaling in enterocytes, not immune cells, was required for this effect, as adenoviral-mediated inhibition of TLR4 in enterocytes prevented these findings. In seeking to identify the endogenous TLR4 ligands involved, the expression of HMGB1 was increased in the intestinal mucosa after injury in wild-type, but not TLR4-mutant, mice, and administration of anti-HMGB1 antibodies reduced both intestinal mucosal TLR4 signaling and bacterial translocation after remote trauma. Strikingly, mucosal injury was significantly increased in TLR9-mutant mice, whereas administration of exogenous DNA reduced the extent of TLR4-mediated enterocyte apoptosis, restored mucosal healing, and maintained the histological integrity of the intestinal barrier after remote injury. Taken together, these findings identify a novel link between remote injury and enterocyte TLR4 signaling leading to barrier injury, potentially through HMGB1 as a ligand, and demonstrate the reversal of these adverse effects through activation of TLR9.     

Endothelin system in intestinal villi: A possible role of endothelin-2/vasoactive intestinal contractor in the maintenance of intestinal architecture

The endothelin system consists of three ligands (ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3) and at least two receptors (ETA and ETB). In mice ET-2 counterpart is a peptide originally called "vasoactive intestinal contractor" (VIC) for this reason, this peptide is frequently named ET-2/VIC. In intestinal villi, fibroblasts-like cells express endothelin's receptors and response to ET-1 and ET-3 peptides, changing their cellular shape. Several functions have been attributed to these peptides in the "architecture" maintenance of intestinal villi acting over sub-epithelial fibroblasts. Despite this, ET-2/VIC has not been analyzed in depth. In this work we show the intestine gene expression and immunolocalization of ET-1, ET-2 and the ETA and ETB receptors from duodenum to rectus and in the villus-crypt axis in mice, allowing a complete analysis of their functions. While ET-1 is expressed uniformly, ET-2 had a particular distribution, being higher at the bottom of the villi of duodenum, ileum and jejunum and reverting this pattern in the crypts of colon and rectus, where the higher expression was at the top. We postulated that ET-2 would act in a cooperative manner with ET-1, giving to the villus the straight enough to withstand mechanical stress.     

The role of prostaglandins in the regulation of gastric mucosal blood flow

It has been postulated that endogenous gastric prostaglandin activity contributes to the maintenance of non-stimulated gastric mucosal blood flow. Prostacyclin and PGE₂ increase mucosal blood flow in the non-stimulated canine stomach. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by aspirin or indomethacin causes a reduction of 30% to 50% in non-stimulated gastric mucosal blood flow in dog and rat. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous prostaglandin activity within the gastric mucosa contributes to the maintenance of its blood flow.Also it has been postulated that endogenous prostaglandins may, in part, mediate the vasodilation associated with stimulated gastric acid secretion. Exogenous prostacyclin and PGE₂ inhibit stimulated acid secretion while increasing mucosal blood flow. Indomethacin and aspirin-inhibited endogenous prostaglandin synthesis has been reported to increase stimulated acid secretion and reduce mucosal blood flow in anesthetized rat and dog. In gastric secretory fluid, prostaglandins have been detected during gastrin stimulation by some investigators and a dose response relationship between rate of secretion and fluid prostaglandin output has been observed. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that endogenous prostaglandins may, in part, contribute to the regulation of mucosal blood flow during stimulated acid secretion. Further studies, directly measuring specific endogenous prostaglandins and their metabolic products within the gastric mucosa during stimulated and inhibited acid secretion will be necessary to prove or disprove this hypothesis.     

Endogenous prostaglandins: its role in gastric mucosal blood flow and ethanol ulceration in rats

The involvement of endogenous prostaglandins (PGs) in modulating gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) is still unclear. The present study was designed to demonstrate the role of this autacoid in the basal GMBF and the restoration of blood flow after restriction of blood supply to the stomach. The ex-vivo gastric chamber was prepared and the GMBF was measured by a laser Doppler technique. 20% ethanol incubation for 10 min in the chamber increased the basal GMBF and lessened the reduction of blood flow induced by absolute ethanol. It also decreased lesion formation caused by ethanol. Indomethacin 5 mg/kg, given s.c 60 min before experimentation had the opposite effects. Ligation of the gastric artery for 20 min which reduced the GMBF by 60%, worsened ethanol ulceration. There was a marked rebound of the GMBF after the ligation was released. Indomethacin totally abolished the blood flow rebound and aggravated ethanol ulceration. However, 20% ethanol incubation significantly potentiated such a rebound in blood flow and reduced lesion formation. Indomethacin pretreatment reversed these actions, whereas misoprostol administration produced the similar effects as 20% ethanol. It is concluded that GMBF plays an important role in ethanol ulceration and both basal and rebound GMBF is probably modulated by endogenous PGs.     

Gastric mucosal blood flow changes in Helicobacter pylori infection and NSAID-induced gastric injury

Background. The impact of H. pylori infection on gastric mucosal blood flow and NSAID‐induced gastric damage is unclear. Aim. To study the effects of H. pylori infection on gastric mucosal blood flow, both at basal conditions and after NSAID exposure, and its relation with mucosal damage and nitric oxide production. Methods. Gastric mucosal blood flow, nitric oxide production and gastric damage were assessed in time after H. pylori SS1 or E. coli inoculation in mice. Experiments were conducted in basal conditions or after oral exposure to indomethacin (20 mg/kg). Results. H. pylori infected mice exhibited a significant increase in gastric blood flow and gastric nitric oxide production 1 week after infection, but those parameters returned to basal levels by 4 weeks. NSAID challenge elicited a similar reduction in gastric blood flow [25–35%] in H. pylori‐infected and control animals. However, only 1 week H. pylori‐infected mice, which exhibited a significant baseline hyperemia, were able to maintain gastric blood flow values within the normal range after NSAID exposure. NSAID‐induced gastric damage was increased in H. pylori‐infected mice by 4 weeks, but not 1 week after infection. Conclusions. Underlying H. pylori infection aggravates acute NSAID‐induced gastric damage. However, at early phases, gastric hyperemia associated with increased nitric oxide production may exert some protective role.     

Ibuprofen reduces ethchlorvynol lung injury: possible role of blood flow distribution.

The role of cyclooxygenase products in acute lung injury was determined by pretreatment of dogs with ibuprofen before injury with intravenous ethchlovynol (ECV). In animals given ECV only, lung injury resulted in extravascular lung water of 18.9 ml/kg after 2 h, which was significantly higher than the 14.8 ml/kg in the group pretreated with ibuprofen. The comparison of gravimetric and indicator-dilution measurements of edema fluid indicates that edema fluid could not be reliably detected after treatment with ibuprofen because of diversion of flow from injured areas. Venous admixture increased from 6% at baseline to 32% 120 min after ECV in the vehicle-pretreated group compared with an increase from 4% at baseline to 7% in the ibuprofen-pretreated group. The regression analysis of the relationship between venous admixture and extravascular lung water indicated that, at any level of edema, venous admixture was significantly less in the group treated with ibuprofen than in the untreated group. Measurement of plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid indicated that ibuprofen inhibited cyclooxygenase activity without affecting lipoxygenase activity. These results suggest that in intact dogs ibuprofen has a protective effect on both pulmonary gas transfer and pulmonary edema formation in ECV-injured lungs, which is consistent with limiting blood flow to injured segments of the lung.     

Lung edema formation following inhalation injury: role of the bronchial blood flow

We investigated the contribution of the bronchial blood flow to the lung lymph flow (QL) and lung edema formation after inhalation injury in sheep (n = 18). The animals were equally divided into three groups and chronically prepared by implantation of cardiopulmonary catheters and a flow probe on the common bronchial artery. Groups 1 and 2 sheep were insufflated with 48 breaths of cotton smoke while group 3 received only room air. Just before injury, the bronchial artery of group 2 animals was occluded. The occlusion was maintained for the duration of the 24-h study period. At the end of the investigation, samples of lung were taken for determination of blood-free wet weight-to-dry weight ratio (W/D). Inhalation injury induced a sevenfold increase in QL in group 1 (7 +/- 1 to 50 +/- 9 ml/h; P less than 0.05) but only a threefold increase in group 2 (10 +/- 2 to 28 +/- 7 ml/h; P less than 0.05). The mean W/D value of group 1 animals was 23% higher than that of group 2 (5.1 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.2; P less than 0.05). Our data suggest that the bronchial circulation contributes to edema formation in the lung that is often seen after the acute lung injury with smoke inhalation.     

Gastric mucosal integrity: gastric mucosal blood flow and microcirculation. An overview

The stomach is in a state of continuous exposure to potentially hazardous agents. Hydrochloric acid together with pepsin constitutes a major and serious threat to the gastric mucosa. Reflux of alkaline duodenal contents containing bile and pancreatic enzymes are additional important injurious factors of endogenous origin. Alcohol, cigarette smoking, drugs and particularly aspirin and aspirin-like drugs, and steroids are among exogenous mucosal irritants that can inflict mucosal injury. The ability of the stomach to defend itself against these noxious agents has been ascribed to a number of factors constituting the gastric mucosal defense. These include mucus and bicarbonate secreted by surface epithelial cells, prostaglandins, sulfhydryl compounds and gastric mucosal blood flow. The latter is considered by several researchers to be of paramount importance in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity. The aim of this paper is to review the experimental and clinical data dealing with the role of mucosal blood flow and in particular the microcirculation in both damage and protection of the gastric mucosa.     

NO-flurbiprofen maintains duodenal blood flow,enhances mucus secretion contributing to lower mucosal injury

This study investigates possible mechanisms behind the reduced gastrointestinal ulcerogenicity of nitric oxide (NO)-flurbiprofen compared with flurbiprofen. The duodenal mucosa of Inactin-anaesthetised rats was exteriorized for intravital microscopy. Blood flow was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF), mucus thickness with micropipettes, ICAM-1 and P-selectin expression with dual-labeled antibody technique, and mucosal integrity by (51)Cr-EDTA permeability. Exposure of the duodenum to flurbiprofen (1.0 mg/ml) for 90 min significantly reduced LDF to 70 +/- 4%, whereas NO-flurbiprofen (1.3 mg/ml) had no significant effect. Mucus accumulation after 60-min exposure was 75 +/- 23 microm (control), -1 +/- 17 microm (flurbiprofen), and 104 +/- 35 microm (NO-flurbiprofen). Mucosal permeability to (51)Cr-EDTA was unchanged in the control and NO-flurbiprofen groups but increased significantly from 1.0 +/- 0.2 to 3.7 +/- 0.7 microl x min(-1) x g(-1) after 90-min exposure to flurbiprofen. Expression of ICAM-1 was significantly increased after oral flurbiprofen but not by NO-flurbiprofen. Positive effects of NO-flurbiprofen compared with flurbiprofen on mucus formation, blood flow, and adhesion molecule expression likely contribute to the reduced mucosal injury observed with NO-flurbiprofen.     

Novel role of the vitamin D receptor in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier

Emerging evidence supports a pathological link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To explore the mechanism we used the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model to investigate the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mucosal barrier homeostasis. While VDR(+/+) mice were mostly resistant to 2.5% DSS, VDR(-/-) mice developed severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and marked body weight loss, leading to death in 2 wk. Histological examination revealed extensive ulceration and impaired wound healing in the colonic epithelium of DSS-treated VDR(-/-) mice. Severe ulceration in VDR(-/-) mice was preceded by a greater loss of intestinal transepithelial electric resistance (TER) compared with VDR(+/+) mice. Confocal and electron microscopy (EM) revealed severe disruption in epithelial junctions in VDR(-/-) mice after 3-day DSS treatment. Therefore, VDR(-/-) mice were much more susceptible to DSS-induced mucosal injury than VDR(+/+) mice. In cell cultures, 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] markedly enhanced tight junctions formed by Caco-2 monolayers by increasing junction protein expression and TER and preserved the structural integrity of tight junctions in the presence of DSS. VDR knockdown with small interfering (si)RNA reduced the junction proteins and TER in Caco-2 monolayers. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) can also stimulate epithelial cell migration in vitro. These observations suggest that VDR plays a critical role in mucosal barrier homeostasis by preserving the integrity of junction complexes and the healing capacity of the colonic epithelium. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency may compromise the mucosal barrier, leading to increased susceptibility to mucosal damage and increased risk of IBD.     

Laser-Doppler measurement of tracheal mucosal blood flow: comparison with tracheal arterial flow

Blood flow in the tracheal mucosa (Qm) has been measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized sheep and dogs. The values have been compared with tracheal arterial inflow (Qtr) by use of an electromagnetic flow probe and with tracheal arterial perfusion pressure (Ptr) produced by mechanical perfusion. Changes in blood flow were caused by injections of methacholine, phenylephrine, and histamine into the perfusion circuit. These interventions produced a range of measurements for each animal. Correlations of Qm against Qtr were significant in two of five animals (R = 0.03-0.93); correlations of Qm against Ptr were significant in two of four animals (R = 0.56-0.96). Percent changes in Qtr were generally much larger than those of Qm, and there was considerable variability between Qm and either Qtr or Ptr. Qm reflected the same vascular changes as Ptr or Qtr in 28 interventions and showed an opposing change in 4 cases. In 11 interventions, changes measured by Ptr or Qtr were not reflected by any changes in Qm. Thus qualitative changes in tracheal perfusion measured with these methods were usually the same; quantitatively the three methods showed great differences. These differences may reflect different regulatory mechanisms in various components of the tracheal vasculature or different technical aspects of the methods used.     

The role of autophagy in maintaining intestinal mucosal barrier

The intestinal mucosal barrier is the first line to defense against luminal content penetration and performs numerous biological functions. The intestinal epithelium contains a huge surface that is lined by a monolayer of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). IECs are dominant mediators in maintaining intestinal homeostasis that drive diverse functions including nutrient absorption, physical segregation, secretion of antibacterial peptides, and modulation of immune responses. Autophagy is a cellular self-protection mechanism in response to various stresses, and accumulating studies have revealed its importance in participating physiological processes of IECs. The regulatory effects of autophagy depend on the specific IEC types. This review aims to elucidate the myriad roles of autophagy in regulating the functions of different IECs (stem cells, enterocytes, goblet cells, and Paneth cells), and present the progress of autophagy-targeting therapy in intestinal diseases. Understanding the involved mechanisms can provide new preventive and therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal dysfunction and diseases.     

Endothelin and its receptor interactions: role of extracellular receptor domain and length of peptide ligands

Human endothelin B receptor and its domain-truncated forms were cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. Ligand binding studies with expressed proteins were carried out using biotinylated endothelins. Competitive binding and liposome incorporation studies showed that the extracellular region is essential for ligand binding and that longer peptides have higher affinity.     

Endothelin redistributes blood flow through the lamellae of rainbow trout gills

The lamellae of the fish gill are the primary sites for oxygen uptake from the water. Here, only two very thin layers of cells separate the blood from the water. Therefore, energetically costly ion-fluxes will also occur between blood and water, and it has been hypothesised that the blood flow within the lamellae can be regulated through vasoconstriction, but evidence for this has been lacking. Through direct observations of the lamellae of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in vivo, using epi-illumination microscopy, we show here that an endothelium-derived vasoactive peptide, endothelin-1 (ET-1, 0.2 μg kg⁻¹ or 1.0 μg kg⁻¹), is able to completely constrict the vascular sheet in the lamellae, probably by inducing contraction of pillar cells. This coincided with a dose-dependent increase in ventral aortic blood pressure (rising from 6.6 kPa to 12.0 kPa in response to the high ET-1 dose). However, blood continued to flow through the marginal channel that circumvents each lamella. Thus, ET-1 caused an intralamellar blood shift from the lamellar sheet towards the marginal channels. Vasoconstriction in the lamellae is likely to provide the fish with a mechanism for matching its respiratory surface area with its respiratory needs, thereby minimising ion-fluxes. Accepted: 8 September 1998     

miRNA‐182/Deptor/mTOR axis regulates autophagy to reduce intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury

It had been reported miR‐182 was down‐regulated after intestinal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage. However, its role and potential mechanisms are still unknown. This study was aimed to elucidate the function of miR‐182 in intestinal I/R injury and the underlying mechanisms. The model of intestinal injury was constructed in wild‐type and Deptor knockout (KO) mice. Haematoxylin‐eosin staining, Chiu's score and diamine oxidase were utilized to detect intestinal damage. RT‐qPCR assay was used to detected miR‐182 expression. Electronic microscopy was used to detect autophagosome. Western blot was applied to detect the expression of Deptor, S6/pS6, LC3‐II/LC3‐I and p62. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the relationship between miR‐182 and Deptor. The results showed miR‐182 was down‐regulated following intestinal I/R. Up‐regulation of miR‐182 reduced intestinal damage, autophagy, Deptor expression and enhanced mTOR activity following intestinal I/R. Moreover, suppression of autophagy reduced intestinal damage and inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin aggravated intestinal damage following intestinal I/R. Besides, damage of intestine was reduced and mTOR activity was enhanced in Deptor KO mice. In addition, Deptor was the target gene of miR‐182 and was indispensable for the protection of miR‐182 on intestine under I/R condition. Together, our research implicated up‐regulation of miR‐182 inhibited autophagy to alleviate intestinal I/R injury via mTOR by targeting Deptor.