Intestinal Epithelial Digestive, Transport, and Barrier Protein Expression Is Increased in Environmental Enteric Dysfunction

Protein status in relation to linear growth faltering and environmental enteropathy

“…There is some evidence to support this compensation. A recent study reported an upregulation of brush-border (apical and basolateral) digestive and transport protein expression in duodenal epithelial biopsies of 16-month-aged Pakistan children with environmental enteropathy, when compared to age and sex-matched healthy North American controls [16]. The observed overexpression in this study, although an appropriate compensatory mechanism, had failed to mitigate growth faltering or diarrheal episodes [16].…”

“…A recent study reported an upregulation of brush-border (apical and basolateral) digestive and transport protein expression in duodenal epithelial biopsies of 16-month-aged Pakistan children with environmental enteropathy, when compared to age and sex-matched healthy North American controls [16]. The observed overexpression in this study, although an appropriate compensatory mechanism, had failed to mitigate growth faltering or diarrheal episodes [16]. Likewise, in Zambian adults with biopsy confirmed environmental enteropathy, the ability to digest and oxidize 13 C-labelled sucrose was not different compared to healthy Glaswegian adults, also indicating the possibility of adaptation [17].…”

Mechanisms underlying distinct subcellular localization and regulation of epithelial long myosin light-chain kinase splice variants

“…S1 ). Integrated intensities of MLCK1, total MLCK, or γ-actin staining within epithelial and apical masks were quantified using CellProfiler ( cellprofiler.org ) ( 53 , 54 ). After preliminary validation showing that γ-actin expression was unchanged in Crohn’s disease, MLCK1, and total MLCK intensities were normalized to γ-actin.…”

Paracellular permeability and tight junction regulation in gut health and disease

“…Correlates with increased disease severity 213 Associated with shock; disease progression is limited in knockout mice that are protected from leak pathway permeability increases [214][215][216][217] IBS Increased in diarrhoea-predominant, post-infectious and non-post-infectious IBS; unaltered in constipation-predominant IBS 28,[218][219][220][221][222][223][224][225][226][227][228][229] Increased intestinal permeability is associated with and can cause changes in visceral sensitivity 31,230,231 Coeliac disease Positive correlation between increased permeability and disease activity; increased permeability in patients and healthy relatives; gluten-free diet can lead to barrier restoration [232][233][234][235] Barrier loss is associated with disease in models of coeliac disease [236][237][238] Environmental enteric dysfunction Increased permeability; altered expression of absorptive and barrier-enhancing proteins [239][240][241][242][243][244][245][246][247] Barrier loss is associated with malnutrition 240,248,249 Food allergy Increased in people with food allergy [250]…”