Acute stress disrupts intestinal homeostasis via GDNF-RET

Lin Lin, Bingcheng Feng, Ruchen Zhou, Yi Liu, Lixiang Li, Kairuo Wang, Yanbo Yu, Chao Liu, Xin Long, Xiang Gu, Bing Li, Xiaojie Wang, Xiaoyun Yang, Yingzi Cong, Xiuli Zuo, Yanqing Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: Enterochromaffin (EC) cells have been associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS. Recently, we found that glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-rearranged during transfection (RET) localized in EC cells in human colonic epithelia. Here, we examine the role of GDNF-RET in the pathophysiology of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Materials and Methods: GDNF was assessed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry in biopsies from IBS-D patients and healthy controls. Stress was induced by using a wrap-restraint stress (WRS) procedure to serve as an acute stress-induced IBS model. The function of GDNF-RET axis to intestinal stem cell (ISC) homeostasis, and EC cell numbers were assessed in vivo and in vitro. Results: GDNF-RET was expressed in EC cells in human colon. GDNF was significantly increased in IBS-D patients. WRS mice showed increased GDNF-RET levels in colon. WRS induced visceral hypersensitivity by expanding of ISC and differentiation of EC cell via GDNF-RET. Furthermore, GDNF-treated mice recapitulated the phenotype of WRS mice. In vitro, GDNF treatment amplified Wnt signal and increased serotonin levels in colonic organoids in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: We identified GDNF-RET was presented in colonic epithelium of patients with IBS-D. GDNF-RET played important roles in regulating ISC and EC cell differentiation. Our findings, thus, provide RET inhibitor as new therapeutic targets for treatment of patients with IBS-D.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12889
JournalCell Proliferation
Volume53
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

Keywords

  • enterochromaffin cell
  • intestinal stem cell niche
  • neurotrophic factor
  • visceral hypersensitivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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