Junctional complexes that mediate cell adhesion are key to epithelial integrity, cell division and permeability barrier formation. In Drosophila, the scaffolding proteins Scribble (Scrib) and Discs Large (Dlg) are key regulators of epithelial polarity, proliferation, assembly of junctions and protein trafficking. We found that Scrib and Dlg are necessary for the formation of the tricellular junction (TCJ), a unique junction that forms in epithelia at the point of convergence of three neighboring cells. Scrib and Dlg are in close proximity with the TCJ proteins Gliotactin (Gli) and Bark Beetle (Bark), and both are required for TCJ protein recruitment. Loss of Bark or Gli led to basolateral spread of the TCJ complex at the cell corners. Loss of the septate junction proteins Nrx-IV and the Na + /K + ATPase also resulted in basolateral spread of the entire TCJ complex at the cell corners. The Scrib PDZ1-2 domains and the Dlg GUK domain are necessary for Bark and Gli localization to the TCJ. Overall, we propose a model in which Scrib and Dlg are key components of the TCJ, and form a complex with Bark and Gli.

Intestinal mucosal healing is the primary therapeutic goal of medical treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Epithelial stem cells are key players in the healing process. Lgr5+ stem cells maintain cellular turnover during homeostasis in the colonic crypt. However, they are lost and dispensable for repair in a wide variety of injury models, including dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis, radiation, helminth infection, and T-cell activation. The direct loss of Lgr5+ cells activates a plasticity response in the epithelium in which other cell types can serve as stem cells. Whether this paradigm applies to mouse models of IBD remains unknown. In contrast to previously tested models, IBD models involve an inflammatory response rooted in the loss of immunologic tolerance to intestinal luminal contents including the microbiome. Here we show the persistence of Lgr5+ cells in oxazolone, TNBS, and Il10-/- and Il10-/- Tnfr1-/- IBD models. This contrasts with results obtained from DSS-induced injury. Through high-throughput expression profiling, we find that these colitis models were associated with distinct patterns of cytokine expression. Direct exposure of colonic epithelial organoids to DSS, oxazolone, or TNBS resulted in increased apoptosis and loss of Lgr5+ cells. Targeted ablation of Lgr5+ cells resulted in severe exacerbation of chronic, antibody-induced IL-10-deficient colitis, but had only modest effects in TNBS-induced colitis. These results show that distinct mouse models of IBD-like colitis induce different patterns of Lgr5+ stem cell retention and function.

Epithelial bicellular and tricellular junctions are essential for establishing and maintaining permeability barriers. Tricellular junctions are formed by the convergence of three bicellular junctions at the corners of neighbouring epithelia. Gliotactin, a member of the Neuroligin family, is located to the Drosophila tricellular junction and is critical for the formation of tricellular and septate junctions and permeability barrier function. Gliotactin protein levels are tightly controlled by tyrosine phosphorylation and endocytosis. Blocking endocytosis or overexpression of Gliotactin triggers spread away from the tricellular junction, resulting in apoptosis, delamination and migration of epithelial cells. We show that Gliotactin levels are also regulated at the mRNA level by microRNA-mediated degradation targeted to a short region in the 3'UTR that includes a conserved miR-184 target site. miR-184 also targets a suite of septate junction proteins including Neurexin-IV, coracle and Mcr. miR-184 expression is triggered when Gliotactin is overexpressed leading to activation of the BMP signaling pathway. Gliotactin specifically interferes with Dad, an inhibitory SMAD, leading to activation of the Tkv type-I receptor, and Mad to elevate the biogenesis and expression of miR-184.

Epithelial junctions ensure cell–cell adhesion and establish permeability barriers between cells. At the corners of epithelia, the tricellular junction (TCJ) is formed by three adjacent epithelial cells and generates a functional barrier. In Drosophila, a key TCJ protein is Gliotactin (Gli) where loss of Gli disrupts barrier formation and function. Conversely, overexpressed Gli spreads away from the TCJ and triggers apoptosis, delamination, and cell migration. Thus, Gli protein levels are tightly regulated and by two mechanisms, at the protein levels by tyrosine phosphorylation and endocytosis and at the mRNA level through microRNA-184. Regulation of Gli mRNA is mediated through a Gli–BMP–miR184 feedback loop. Excessive Gli triggers BMP signaling pathway through the activation of Tkv type-I BMP receptor and Mad. Elevated level of pMad induces micrRNA-184 expression which in turn targets the Gli 3′UTR and mRNA degradation. Gli activation of Tkv is not through its ligand Dpp but rather through the inhibition of Dad, an inhibitory-Smad. Here, we show that ectopic expression of Gli interferes with Tkv–Dad association by sequestering Dad away from Tkv. The reduced inhibitory effect of Dad on Tkv results in the increased Tkv–pMad signaling activity, and this effect is continuous through larval and pupal wing formation.

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Thirst, which provides the motivation to drink, is an important component of the coordinated sequence of physiological responses that maintain the volume and composition of body fluids. Special structures in the central nervous system like periventricular organs detect changes in these parameters continuously. The present study investigated the interaction between dopaminergic and angiotensinergic systems on water intake in adult male rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections were carried out in all experiments after 24 h deprivation of water intake. After the deprivation interval, the volume of consumed water was measured for 1 h. Administration the angiotensinergic (AT 1 ) receptor antagonist Losartan (45 µg/rat), and the dopaminergic antagonist Chlorpromazine (40 µg/rat) significantly decreased water intake when compared to saline-treated controls. In contrast, ICV microinjection of the dopaminergic agonist Bromocriptine (10 µg/rat) significantly increased water intake when compared to saline-treated controls. ICV injection of Bromocriptine 15 min after Losartan administration was able to attenuate the inhibitory effect of Losartan on water intake, whereas administration of Chlorpromazine 15 min after Losartan was unable to change the Losartan effect. These results suggest that the dopaminergic system interactions with the angiotensinergic system to regulate water intake through circumventricular organs. Dopaminergic and angiotensinergic neurons can monitor and regulate water intake via the stimulatory and inhibitory effects on each other, respectively.

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