Chronic increases in leptin concentration may enhance the growth of colonic cancers via MAPK and PI3-K pathways. These effects of leptin could provide a link between obesity and colonic cancer, and may represent a target for anticancer drug development.

Bile acid epimers and side-chain homologues are present in the human colon. To test whether such bile acids possess secretory activity, cultured T84 colonic epithelial cells were used to quantify the secretory properties of synthetic epimers and homologues of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). In our study, chloride secretion was measured as changes in short-circuit current (DeltaI(sc), in microA/cm2) with the use of voltage-clamped monolayers of T84 cells mounted in Ussing chambers. Bile acids were added at 0.5 mM, a concentration that did not alter transepithelial resistance. Data were expressed as peak DeltaI(sc) (means +/- SD). When added bilaterally, DCA stimulated a DeltaI(sc) response of 15.7 +/- 12.5 microA/cm2. The 12beta-OH epimer of DCA was less potent (DeltaI(sc) = 8.0 +/- 1.7 microA/cm2), whereas its 3beta-OH epimer had no effect. CDCA stimulated secretion (DeltaI(sc) = 8.2 +/- 5.5 microA/cm2), whereas both its 7beta-OH and 3beta-OH epimers were inactive, as was lithocholic acid. HomoDCA (1 additional side-chain carbon) was active (DeltaI(sc) = 7.8 +/- 4.8 microA/cm2), whereas norDCA (1 fewer carbon) and dinorDCA (2 fewer carbons) were not. Taurine conjugates of DCA and CDCA stimulated secretion (DeltaI(sc) = 12.3 +/- 7.5 and 8.8 +/- 4.8 microA/cm2, respectively) from the basolateral side but not the apical side. Uptake of taurine conjugates from the basolateral but not the apical side was shown by mass spectrometry. These studies indicate marked structural specificity for bile acid-induced chloride secretion and show that modification of bile acid structure by colonic bacteria modulates the secretory properties of these endogenous secretagogues.

The Salmonella effector protein SigD is an inositol phosphate phosphatase that inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent signaling. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits chloride secretion via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, we explored whether Salmonella infection might modify the inhibitory effect of EGF. As expected, EGF inhibited chloride secretion induced by carbachol in T(84) epithelial cells. Infection with wild-type (WT) but not sigD(-) mutant S. typhimurium SL1344 decreased CCh-stimulated chloride secretion. Moreover, WT but not sigD(-) Salmonella reduced the inhibitory effect of EGF on carbachol-stimulated chloride secretion. Complementation of sigD restored the ability of mutant Salmonella to reverse the inhibitory effect of EGF. EGF-induced EGF receptor phosphorylation was similar in cells infected with either WT or mutant Salmonella, and neither WT nor sigD(-) Salmonella altered recruitment of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to EGF receptor, implying that SigD acts downstream of these signaling events. Furthermore, transepithelial resistance fell more rapidly in cells infected with WT vs. sigD(-) Salmonella, indicating an early role for SigD in reducing barrier function, perhaps via activation of protein kinase C. We conclude that the Salmonella bacterial effector protein SigD may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of disease caused by this microorganism.

IFN-gamma is elevated in intestinal inflammation and alters barrier and transport functions in human colonic epithelial cell lines, but its effects on normal human small intestinal epithelium in vivo are poorly defined. We investigated effects of prolonged IFN-gamma exposure on ion transport and expression of transporters by using human fetal small intestinal xenografts. Xenograft-bearing mice were injected with IFN-gamma, and 24 h later xenografts were harvested and mounted in Ussing chambers. Baseline potential difference (PD) was not affected by IFN-gamma treatment. However, conductance was enhanced and agonist-stimulated ion transport was decreased. IFN-gamma also decreased expression of the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter and the alpha-subunit of Na+-K+-ATPase compared with controls, whereas levels of the calcium-activated Cl- channel and CFTR were unaltered. Thus prolonged exposure to IFN-gamma leads to decreased ion secretion due, in part, to decreased ion transporter levels. These findings demonstrate the implications of elevated IFN-gamma levels in human small intestine and validate the human intestinal xenograft as a model to study chronic effects of physiologically relevant stimuli.

We have previously shown that G q protein-coupled receptor (G q PCR) agonists stimulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) transactivation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in colonic epithelial cells. This constitutes a mechanism by which Cl ؊ secretory responses to G q PCR agonists are limited. In the present study we examined a possible role for the EGFr in regulating Cl ؊ secretion stimulated by agonists that act through G s PCRs. All experiments were performed using monolayers of T 84 colonic epithelial cells grown on permeable supports. Protein phosphorylation and protein-protein interactions were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.