Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection inhibits intestinal serotonin transporter function and expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Serotonin transporter (SERT) plays a critical role in regulating serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) availability in the gut. Elevated 5-HT levels are associated with diarrheal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and enteric infections. Whether alteration in SERT activity contributes to the pathophysiology of diarrhea induced by the food-borne pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is not known. The present studies examined the effects of EPEC infection on SERT activity and expression in intestinal epithelial cells and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Caco-2 cells as a model of human intestinal epithelia and EPEC-infected C57BL/6J mouse model of infection were utilized. SERT activity was measured as Na(+) and Cl(-) depende

SUBMITTER: Esmaili A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3727418 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature