Faculty Bibliography

UNLABELLED:A challenge in obstetrics is to distinguish pathological symptoms from those associated with normal changes of pregnancy, typified by the need to differentiate whether gestational pruritus of the skin is an early symptom of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or due to benign pruritus gravidarum. ICP is characterized by raised serum bile acids and complicated by spontaneous preterm labor and stillbirth. A biomarker for ICP would be invaluable for early diagnosis and treatment and to enable its differentiation from other maternal diseases. Three progesterone sulfate compounds, whose concentrations have not previously been studied, were newly synthesized and assayed in the serum of three groups of ICP patients and found to be significantly higher in ICP at 9-15 weeks of gestation and prior to symptom onset (group 1 cases/samples: ICP n = 35/80, uncomplicated pregnancy = 29/100), demonstrating that all three progesterone sulfates are prognostic for ICP. Concentrations of progesterone sulfates were associated with itch severity and, in combination with autotaxin, distinguished pregnant women with itch that would subsequently develop ICP from pruritus gravidarum (group 2: ICP n = 41, pruritus gravidarum n = 14). In a third group of first-trimester samples all progesterone sulfates were significantly elevated in serum from low-risk asymptomatic women who subsequently developed ICP (ICP/uncomplicated pregnancy n = 54/51). Finally, we show mechanistically that progesterone sulfates mediate itch by evoking a Tgr5-dependent scratch response in mice. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our discovery that sulfated progesterone metabolites are a prognostic indicator for ICP will help predict onset of ICP and distinguish it from benign pruritus gravidarum, enabling targeted obstetric care to a high-risk population. Delineation of a progesterone sulfate-TGR5 pruritus axis identifies a therapeutic target for itch management in ICP.

Neurotensin (NT) triggers signaling in human colonic epithelial cells by activating the G protein-coupled receptor, the neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR1). Activated NTR1 traffics from the plasma membrane to early endosomes, and then recycles. Although sustained NT/NTR1 signaling requires efficient NTR1 recycling, little is known about the regulation of NTR1 recycling. We recently showed that NT/NTR1 signaling increases expression of miR-133α. Herein, we studied the mechanism of NT-regulated miR-133α expression and examined the role of miR-133α in intracellular NTR1 trafficking in human NCM460 colonocytes. We found that NT-induced miR-133α upregulation involves the negative transcription regulator, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1. Silencing of miR-133α or overexpression of aftiphilin (AFTPH), a binding target of miR-133α, attenuated NTR1 trafficking to plasma membrane in human colonocytes, without affecting NTR1 internalization. We localized AFTPH to early endosomes and the trans-Golgi network (TGN) in unstimulated human colonic epithelial cells. AFTPH overexpression reduced NTR1 localization in early endosomes and increased expression of proteins related to endosomes and the TGN trafficking pathway. AFTPH overexpression and de-acidification of intracellular vesicles increased NTR1 expression. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of GPCR trafficking in human colonic epithelial cells by which a microRNA, miR-133α regulates NTR1 trafficking through its downstream target AFTPH.

Differential regulation of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), a G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein)-coupled receptor, contributes to the clinically limiting effects of opioid analgesics, such as morphine. We used biophysical approaches to quantify spatiotemporal MOR signaling in response to different ligands. In human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressing MOR, morphine caused a Gβγ-dependent increase in plasma membrane-localized protein kinase C (PKC) activity, which resulted in a restricted distribution of MOR within the plasma membrane and induced sustained cytosolic extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. In contrast, the synthetic opioid peptide DAMGO ([d-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin) enabled receptor redistribution within the plasma membrane, resulting in transient increases in cytosolic and nuclear ERK activity, and, subsequently, receptor internalization. When Gβγ subunits or PKCα activity was inhibited or when the carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation sites of MOR were mutated, morphine-activated MOR was released from its restricted plasma membrane localization and stimulated a transient increase in cytosolic and nuclear ERK activity in the absence of receptor internalization. Thus, these data suggest that the ligand-induced redistribution of MOR within the plasma membrane, and not its internalization, controls its spatiotemporal signaling.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) enable cells to detect and respond to changes in their extracellular environment. With over 800 members, the GPCR family includes receptors for a diverse range of agonists including olfactants, neurotransmitters and hormones. Importantly, GPCRs represent a major therapeutic target, with approximately 50 % of all current drugs acting at some aspect of GPCR signalling (Audet and Bouvier 2008). GPCRs are widely expressed by all cell types in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and are major regulators of every aspect of gut function. Many GPCRs are internalised upon activation, and this represents one of the mechanisms through which G protein-signalling is terminated. The latency between the endocytosis of GPCRs and their recycling and resensitization is a major determinant of the cell's ability to respond to subsequent exposure to agonists.

UNLABELLED:Recent studies implicate TRPV4 receptors in visceral pain signaling and intestinal inflammation. Our aim was to evaluate the role of TRPV4 in the control of gastrointestinal (GI) motility and to establish the underlying mechanisms. We used immunohistochemistry and PCR to study TRPV4 expression in the GI tract. The effect of TRPV4 activation on GI motility was characterized using in vitro and in vivo motility assays. Calcium and nitric oxide (NO) imaging were performed to study the intracellular signaling pathways. Finally, TRPV4 expression was examined in the colon of healthy human subjects. We demonstrated that TRPV4 can be found on myenteric neurons of the colon and is co-localized with NO synthase (NOS-1). In vitro, the TRPV4 agonist GSK1016790A reduced colonic contractility and increased inhibitory neurotransmission. In vivo, TRPV4 activation slowed GI motility and reduced stool production in mouse models mimicking pathophysiological conditions. We also showed that TRPV4 activation inhibited GI motility by reducing NO-dependent Ca(2+) release from enteric neurons. In conclusion, TRPV4 is involved in the regulation of GI motility in health and disease. KEY MESSAGES/CONCLUSIONS:• Recent studies implicate TRPV4 in pain signaling and intestinal inflammation. • Our aim was to characterize the role of TRPV4 in the control of GI motility. • We found that TRPV4 activation reduced colonic contractility. • Our studies also showed altered TRPV4 mRNA expression in IBS-C patients. • TRPV4 may be a novel pharmacological target in functional GI diseases.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels of peripheral sensory pathways are important mediators of pain, itch, and neurogenic inflammation. They are expressed by primary sensory neurons and by glial cells in the central nervous system, but their expression and function in satellite glial cells (SGCs) of sensory ganglia have not been explored. SGCs tightly ensheath neurons of sensory ganglia and can regulate neuronal excitability in pain and inflammatory states. Using a modified dissociation protocol, we isolated neurons with attached SGCs from dorsal root ganglia of mice. SGCs, which were identified by expression of immunoreactive Kir4.1 and glutamine synthetase, were closely associated with neurons, identified using the pan-neuronal marker NeuN. A subpopulation of SGCs expressed immunoreactive TRP vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) and responded to the TRPV4-selective agonist GSK1016790A by an influx of Ca(2+) ions. SGCs did not express functional TRPV1, TRPV3, or TRP ankyrin 1 channels. Responses to GSK1016790A were abolished by the TRPV4 antagonist HC067047 and were absent in SGCs from Trpv4(-/-) mice. The P2Y1-selective agonist 2-methylthio-ADP increased [Ca(2+)]i in SGCs, and responses were prevented by the P2Y1-selective antagonist MRS2500. P2Y1 receptor-mediated responses were enhanced in TRPV4-expressing SGCs and HEK293 cells, suggesting that P2Y1 couples to and activates TRPV4. PKC inhibitors prevented P2Y1 receptor activation of TRPV4. Our results provide the first evidence for expression of TRPV4 in SGCs and demonstrate that TRPV4 is a purinergic receptor-operated channel in SGCs of sensory ganglia.