Project description:We aimed to investigate the role of Mfge8 and Cd36 in intestinal lipid metabolism. We looked at the effect of the genetic deletion of Mfge8 and Cd36 in the small intestine by 3' Tag RNA sequencing.
Project description:BACKGROUND & AIMS: The scavenger receptor CD36 has versatile immuno-metabolic actions. CD36 is abundantly expressed in the small intestinal epithelium but its impact on gut homeostasis is unknown. METHODS: Wild type (WT) and CD36-null (CD36KO) mice were fed a chow diet and small intestinal morphology assessed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy (EM). Inflammation was evaluated from neutrophil infiltration, expression of cytokines and toll-like receptors. Barrier integrity was determined using FITC-dextran and circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Enterocyte (Ent-CD36KO) and endothelial (EC-CD36KO) CD36 null mice were generated to test contribution of epithelial versus endothelial CD36 to the intestinal phenotype. RESULTS: The small intestine of CD36KO mice fed a chow diet showed abnormal remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with altered expression of ECM and junction proteins. Hypertrophy of cell junctions and basement membranes was observed by EM. The CD36KO intestines displayed neutrophil infiltration, inflammation and compromised barrier function. Systemic leukocytosis and neutrophilia were present in CD36KO mice and there was 80% reduction of anti-inflammatory Ly6Clow monocytes important for ECM regulation and tissue repair. Bone marrow transplants supported primary contribution of tissue injury in initiation of inflammation. Studies with Ent-CD36KO mice did not support a major contribution of enterocyte CD36 while endothelial CD36 deficiency associated with neutrophil infiltration, aberrant expression of tight junctions and inflammation in the small intestine. CONCLUSION: CD36 is important for maintenance of barrier function in the small intestine. CD36 deletion causes ECM remodeling with collagen accumulation, depletion of the Ly6Clow monocyte subset and chronic inflammation. Endothelial but not enterocyte CD36 loss is a significant contributor to the spontaneous inflammation.
Project description:The NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is essential for the functioning of microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) monoxygenases. The biological functions of the CPR-dependent enzymes in the intestine are not known, despite the vast knowledge available on the biochemical properties of the various oxygenases. A mouse model with intestinal epithelium (IE)-specific Cpr-knockout (IE-Cpr-null) was recently generated in this laboratory (Zhang et al., Drug Metab. Dispos., 37, 651-657, 2009). The IE-Cpr-null mice did not display any obvious abnormalities in growth, development, or reproduction, and their intestines appeared to have a normal structure. Despite the absence of observable phenotypes, we hypothesized that loss of the enterocyte CPR expression will impact homeostasis of endogenous compounds, and expression of genes, that have critical biological function in the small intestine. In the present study, we have performed genomic analyses for enterocytes from IE-Cpr-null mice and their wild-type littermates, using Affymetrix Mouse Expression Set 430A 2.0 GeneChip Arrays. Our aim was to identify small intestinal gene-expression changes, which may shed light on potential biological roles of CPR and CPR-dependent enzymes in the small intestine. Our analysis revealed significant expression increases in P450s, transporters, cholesterol biosynthesis, and (unexpectedly) antigen presentation/processing. Further genomic and biochemical analyses revealed potential mechanisms linking CPR-dependent enzymes and the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II genes in the small intestine.
Project description:The NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is essential for the functioning of microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) monoxygenases. The biological functions of the CPR-dependent enzymes in the intestine are not known, despite the vast knowledge available on the biochemical properties of the various oxygenases. A mouse model with intestinal epithelium (IE)-specific Cpr-knockout (IE-Cpr-null) was recently generated in this laboratory (Zhang et al., Drug Metab. Dispos., 37, 651-657, 2009). The IE-Cpr-null mice did not display any obvious abnormalities in growth, development, or reproduction, and their intestines appeared to have a normal structure. Despite the absence of observable phenotypes, we hypothesized that loss of the enterocyte CPR expression will impact homeostasis of endogenous compounds, and expression of genes, that have critical biological function in the small intestine. In the present study, we have performed genomic analyses for enterocytes from IE-Cpr-null mice and their wild-type littermates, using Affymetrix Mouse Expression Set 430A 2.0 GeneChip Arrays. Our aim was to identify small intestinal gene-expression changes, which may shed light on potential biological roles of CPR and CPR-dependent enzymes in the small intestine. Our analysis revealed significant expression increases in P450s, transporters, cholesterol biosynthesis, and (unexpectedly) antigen presentation/processing. Further genomic and biochemical analyses revealed potential mechanisms linking CPR-dependent enzymes and the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II genes in the small intestine. Adult (2.5-3.0 month-old) male IE-Cpr-null and WT litermates were used for all experiments. RNA was collected from eight mice of each genotype and RNA from two mice of the same genotype was pooled prior to hybridization to the microarray to create a total of four samples for each genotype.
Project description:To define changes in gene expression resulting from loss of hnf4 in the small intestine. Experiment Overall Design: hnf4 null intestines were generated by breeding hnf4loxp mice to vill-cre mice. Animals appeared to be healthy. Gene arrays were performed on two null and two control intestines.
Project description:The objective of this study was to identify changes in gene expression levels between wild-type and NKCC1-knockout small intestine. 6 wild-type and 6 NKCC1-knockout small intestine RNA samples were compared. Total RNA was collected from both male and female 8-week old wild-type and NKCC1-null mice on an inbred FVB\N background. All comparisons were done between wild-type and NHE4-null samples from age- and gender-matched mice.