Neutrophils augment recovery of porcine ischemia-injured ileal mucosa by an IL-1beta- and COX-2-dependent mechanism

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play a critical role in intestinal mucosal injury and repair. To study effects of PMNs on acutely injured mucosa, we applied PMNs isolated from circulation or peritoneal fluid from animals with chemically induced peritonitis to ischemia-injured porcine ileal mucosa. In preliminary experiments, PMNs enhanced recovery of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), and this action was inhibited by pretreatment with the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethacin. Because COX-2 is upregulated by inflammatory mediators such as IL-1beta, which is released by PMNs, we postulated that PMNs enhance recovery of ischemia-injured mucosa by a pathway involving IL-1beta and COX-2. Application of 5 x 10(6) PMNs to the serosal surface of ischemia-injured mucosa significantly enhanced recovery of TER (P < 0.05), an effect that was inhibited by the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (5 microM) and by an IL-1beta receptor antagonist (0.1 mg/ml). Addition of 10 ng/ml IL-1beta to the serosal surface of injured tissues caused a significant increase in TER (P < 0.05) that was inhibited by pretreatment with NS-398. Western blot analysis of mucosal homogenates revealed dramatic upregulation of COX-2 in response to IL-1beta or peritoneal PMNs, and the latter was inhibited by an IL-1beta receptor antagonist. Real-time PCR revealed that increased mRNA COX-2 expression preceded increased COX-2 protein expression in response to IL-1beta. We concluded that PMNs augment recovery of TER in ischemia-injured ileal mucosa via IL-1beta-dependent upregulation of COX-2.