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Loss of Hepatocyte-Nuclear-Factor-1α Impacts on Adult Mouse Intestinal Epithelial Cell Growth and Cell Lineages Differentiation

ABSTRACT: Although hepatocyte-nuclear-factor-1α (Hnf1α) is crucial for pancreas and liver functions, it is believed to play a limited functional role for intestinal epithelial functions. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of abrogating Hnf1α on the maintenance of adult small intestinal epithelial functions. Methodology/Principal Findings An Hnf1α knockout mouse model was used. Assessment of histological abnormalities, crypt epithelial cell proliferation, epithelial barrier, glucose transport and signalling pathways were measured in these animals. Changes in global gene expression were also analyzed. Mice lacking Hnf1α displayed increased crypt proliferation and intestinalomegaly as well as a disturbance of intestinal epithelial cell lineages production during adult life. This phenotype was associated with a decrease of the mucosal barrier function and lumen-to-blood glucose delivery. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway was found to be overly activated in the small intestine of adult Hnf1α mutant mice. The intestinal epithelium of Hnf1α null mice displayed a reduction of the enteroendocrine cell population. An impact was also observed on proper Paneth cell differentiation with abnormalities in the granule exocytosis pathway. Conclusions/Significance Together, these results unravel a functional role for Hnf1α in regulating adult intestinal growth and sustaining the functions of intestinal epithelial cell lineages.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE23040 | GEO | 2011/01/01

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA131179

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background & Aims: HNF4Î± is an important transcriptional regulator of hepatocyte and pancreatic function. Hnf4Î± deletion is embryonically lethal with severe defects in visceral endoderm formation, liver maturation and colon development. However, the precise role of this transcription factor in maintaining homeostasis of the adult intestine remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the adult intestinal functions of Hnf4Î±. Methods: A conditional intestinal epithelial Hnf4Î± knockout mouse was generated. Histological abnormality of the colonic mucosa was assessed by immunodetection and Western. Changes in global gene expression and biological network were analyzed. Results: Hnf4Î± intestine null mice developed normally until reaching young adulthood. Crypt distortion became apparent in the Hnf4Î± null colon at 3 months of age followed by focal areas of crypt dropout, increased immune cell infiltrates, crypt hyperplasia and early signs of polyposis later in life. A gene profiling analysis identified cell death and cell cycle related to cancer as the most significant sets of genes altered in the Hnf4Î± colon null mice. Expression levels of the tight junction proteins claudin 4, 8 and 15 were altered early in the colon epithelium of Hnf4Î± mutants and correlated with increased barrier permeability to a molecular tracer that does not normally penetrate normal mucosa. Conclusion: These observations support a functional role for Hnf4Î± in protecting the colonic mucosa against the initiation of the changes resembling inflammatory bowel diseases and polyp formation. Experiment Overall Design: HNF4alpha was conditionally knockout in the mouse epithelial colon with the villin CRE. A total of 3 control and 3 mutant littermates individuals were sacrificed at 1 year of age. The colon was harvested and Total RNA was isolated from each individuals. Each RNA sample was independently used to generate probes to screen affymetrix chips.

Project description:The small intestinal epithelium mediates vital functions of nutrient absorption and host defense. The spatial organization of the epithelial cells along the crypt-villus axis segregates them into regions of specialized function. However, many of the mechanisms governing intestinal epithelial cell migration and the coordination of interactions with adjacent cells and the extracellular matrix are not fully understood. We have evaluated in vivo gene expression patterns of ileal epithelial cells in healthy human subjects, isolated by laser capture microdissection from either the villus epithelial or crypt cell regions of the small intestinal mucosa. Expression profiles in villus epithelium and Paneth cell lineages were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, DNA microarray, and immunohistochemistry based methods. Relative expression levels of selected epithelial biomarkers were compared between the ileum, jejunum, duodenum, colon, stomach, and esophagus. Previously established biomarkers as well as a novel and distinct set of genes believed to be linked to epithelial cell motility, adhesion, and differentiation were found to be enriched in each of the two corresponding cell populations. Additionally, high baseline expression levels of innate antimicrobials, alpha defensin 5 (HD5) and regenerating islet-derived 3 alpha (Reg3A), were detected exclusively within the small bowel, most notably in the ileum, in comparison to other sites along the gastrointestinal tract. Our findings provide new and important insights regarding the molecular machinery employed by small intestinal epithelial cells to mediate their function and spatial organization in vivo. Experiment Overall Design: Surgical specimens of human intestinal mucosa were obtained from 4 individuals undergoing surgery for colon cancer, bowel obstruction, or other non-inflammatory conditions. The samples were fixed overnight in 4% (w/v) paraformaldehyde, dehydrated in a graded alcohol series and paraffin-embedded. At least 500 epithelial cells from the crypt or upper villus regions were then captured by LCMD from unstained 6Âµm thick sections using a PALM MicroLaser System Total RNA was extracted for microarray-based gene expression analysis.

Project description:Genes encoding transcription factors function as hubs in gene regulatory networks because they encode DNA-binding proteins, which bind to promoters that carry their binding sites. In the present work we have studied gene regulatory networks defined by genes with transcripts belonging to different mRNA abundance classes in the small intestinal epithelial cell. The focus is the rewiring that occurs in transcription factor hubs in these networks during the differentiation of the small intestinal epithelial cell while it migrates along the crypt-villus axis and during its development from a fetal endodermal cell to a mature adult villus epithelial cell. We have generated transcriptome data for mouse small intestinal villus, crypt and fetal intestinal epithelial cells. In addition we have generated metabolome data from crypt and villus cells. Our results show that the intestinal crypt transcription factor hubs that are rewired during differentiation are involved in the cell cycle process (E2F, NF-Y) and stem cell maintenance (c-Myc). In contrast the villi are dominated by a HNF-4 villus hub, which is rewired during differentiation by the addition of network genes with relevance for lipoprotein synthesis and lipid absorption. Moreover, we have identified a villus NF-kB hub, which was revealed by comparison of the villus and endoderm transcriptomes. The rewiring of the NF-kB villus hub during intestinal development reflects transcriptional activity established by host and microflora interactions. To aid in the mining of our results we have developed a web portal (http://gastro.imbg.ku.dk/mousecv/) allowing easy linkage between the transcriptomic data, biological processes and functions. Experiment Overall Design: Four different sample categories were analyzed. Experiment Overall Design: 1) Small intestinal crypts isolated form 12-weeks old C57BL/6 mice. These samples are in triplicates. Experiment Overall Design: 2) Small intestinal villi isolated form 12-weeks old C57BL/6 mice. These samples are in triplicates. Experiment Overall Design: 3) Embryonic day 12 mesenchyme. These samples are in quadruplicate. each sample is derived from a pool of mesenchymes (10-40) Experiment Overall Design: 4) Embryonic day 12 endoderm. These samples are in quadruplicate. each sample is derived from a pool of endoderms (10-40)

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Loss of Hepatocyte-Nuclear-Factor-1α Impacts on Adult Mouse Intestinal Epithelial Cell Growth and Cell Lineages Differentiation

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