There are several pathophysiologic conditions in which intestinal inflammation is associated with enhanced mucosal permeability, fluid loss, and epithelial cell injury. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-derived oxidants on ileal mucosal permeability in vivo as well as electrolyte transport and epithelial cell viability in vitro. Using blood-to-lumen clearance of [51Cr]EDTA as a measure of mucosal permeability, we found that luminal perfusion with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), or monochloramine (NH2Cl) produced a dose-dependent increase in mucosal permeability. Perfusion with 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM, and 1.0 mM oxidant produced a 2 +/- 1, 5 +/- 2, and 11 +/- 5-fold increase in mucosal permeability for H2O2, a 2 +/- 1, 8 +/- 3, and 36 +/- 12-fold increase for HOCl, and a 3 +/- 1, 11 +/- 2, and 30 +/- 7-fold increase for NH2Cl. Taurine monochloramine (TauNHCl) was ineffective in enhancing the blood-to-lumen clearance of [51Cr]EDTA. Furthermore, 0.01 mM and 0.1 mM NH2Cl and H2O2 produced significant increases in short-circuit current across rat ileum in vitro, whereas HOCl and TauNHCl were without effect. Tissue resistance and potential difference were not altered, suggesting that NH2Cl, HOCl, and H2O2 were not cytotoxic under these conditions. Cultured intestinal epithelial cells exposed to NH2Cl and HOCl were injured in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, whereas H2O2 and Tau NHCl were nontoxic. Taken together, our data suggest that PMN-derived oxidants may mediate the enhanced mucosal permeability, electrolyte transport, and epithelial cell injury associated with acute inflammation of the bowel.
The gastrointestinal epithelium is continuously exposed to reactive oxygen metabolites that are generated within the lumen. In spite of this exposure, the healthy epithelium appears unaffected, suggesting efficient mechanisms for protection against these potentially cytotoxic oxidants. The objective of this study is to characterize the interaction between purified gastric mucin and hydroxyl radicals generated from the interaction between ferric iron and ascorbic acid. We found that both native and pronase-treated mucin effectively scavenged hydroxyl radical and that the scavenging properties were not significantly different. The effective concentration of mucin required for a 50% reduction in malondialdehyde production was approximately 10 mg/ml for both native and pronase-treated mucin. In addition, the iron-ascorbic system produced a dramatic decrease (greater than 50%) in the specific viscosity of mucin that was inhibited by catalase, deferoxamine, and mannitol. Superoxide dismutase had no effect. These data suggest that hydroxyl radicals derived from the iron-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide are responsible for the depolymerization of native mucin. We propose that mucin may provide protection to the surface epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract by scavenging oxidants produced within the lumen; however, it does so at the expense of its viscoelastic properties.
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