Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sensory neuropeptides and epithelial cell restitution: the relevance of SP- and CGRP-stimulated mast cells

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) are neurotransmitters of extrinsic primary afferent neurons located within the dorsal root ganglia. In experimental models of colitis in rats and rabbits, a protective role of SP and CGRP on intestinal mucosa was presumed. The mucosal protection partly depends on a CGRP-mediated modulation of mucosal blood flow. Limited data are available regarding CGRP- or SP-mediated effects on epithelial cell restitution. Having shown earlier that SP-stimulated fibroblasts but not CGRP-stimulated fibroblasts induce epithelial cell migration in vitro, the aim of this study was to explore whether mast cells mediate effects of SP and CGRP on epithelial cell restitution in vitro.

Methods

Mast cells (C57) were exposed to SP [10−12–10−6 M] and CGRP [10−12–10−7 M]. After a 24-h incubation period, the cell supernatants (conditioned media, CDM) were taken from mast cell cultures and directly applied to rat intestinal epithelial cell lines-18 or Caco-2 monolayers, which had been wounded with a razor blade 24 h prior to the experiments. Epithelial cell migration was assessed by counting cells across the wound edge and epithelial cell proliferation was measured using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide test.

Results

CGRP significantly induced epithelial cell migration and proliferation via mast cells when supernatants were directly applied to epithelial cells in vitro. The effects on epithelial cell migration were abolished after neutralizing anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) had been added to the cell cultures. SP had no effects on epithelial cells following stimulation of mast cells.

Conclusion

CGRP modulates epithelial cell restitution in vitro mediated by mast cells. The CGRP- and mast-cell-induced epithelial cell migration is TGF-β dependent. This observation underlines an important role for extrinsic primary afferent neurons in mucosal defence and repair and in keeping the mucosal homeostasis. This knowledge leads to a better understanding of the interaction of the enteric nervous system and wound healing and may, in the future, lead to new therapeutic approaches to inflammatory diseases of the intestine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Evangelista S, Meli A (1989) Influence of capsaicin-sensitive fibres on experimentally-induced colitis in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 41(8):574–575

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Reinshagen M, Patel A, Sottili M, French S, Sternini C, Eysselein VE (1996) Action of sensory neurons in an experimental at colitis model of injury and repair. Am J Physiol 270(1 Pt 1):G79–G86

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Reinshagen M, Rohm H, Steinkamp M, Lieb K, Geerling I, Von Herbay A, Flamig G, Eysselein VE, Adler G (2000) Protective role of neurotrophins in experimental inflammation of the rat gut. Gastroenterology 119(2):368–376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Holzer P (2006) Efferent-like roles of afferent neurons in the gut: blood flow regulation and tissue protection. Auton Neurosci 125:70–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Holzer P (1989) Peppers, capsaicin, and the gastric mucosa. JAMA 261(22):3244–3245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Holzer P (1988) Local effector functions of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve endings: involvement of tachykinins, calcitonin gene-related peptide and other neuropeptides. Neuroscience 24(3):739–768

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Endoh K, Baker M, Leung FW (1991) Mechanism of intragastric nicotine protection against ethanol-induced gastric injury. Dig Dis Sci 36(1):39–46

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Holzer P (1991) Capsaicin: cellular targets, mechanisms of action, and selectivity for thin sensory neurons. Pharmacol Rev 43(2):143–201

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eysselein VE, Reinshagen M, Cominelli F, Sternini C, Davis W, Patel A, Nast CC, Bernstein D, Anderson K, Khan H et al (1991) Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P decrease in the rabbit colon during colitis. A time study. Gastroenterology 101(5):1211–1219

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kawasaki H, Takasaki K, Saito A, Goto K (1988) Calcitonin gene-related peptide acts as a novel vasodilator neurotransmitter in mesenteric resistance vessels of the rat. Nature 335(6186):164–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Raybould HE, Sternini C, Eysselein VE, Yoneda M, Holzer P (1992) Selective ablation of spinal afferent neurons containing CGRP attenuates gastric hyperemic response to acid. Peptides 13(2):249–254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hoffmann P, Mazurkiewicz J, Holtmann G, Gerken G, Eysselein VE, Goebell H (2002) Capsaicin-sensitive nerve fibres induce epithelial cell proliferation, inflammatory cell immigration and transforming growth factor-alpha expression in the rat colonic mucosa in vivo. Scand J Gastroenterol 37(4):414–422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Goode T, O’Connor T, Hopkins A, Moriarty D, O’Sullivan GC, Collins JK, O’Donoghue D, Baird AW, O’Connell J, Shanahan F (2003) Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) expression is induced in human colonic epithelial cells by proinflammatory cytokines and mediates proliferation in response to substance P. J Cell Physiol 197(1):30–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Felderbauer P, Bulut K, Hoeck K, Deters S, Schmidt WE, Hoffman P (2007) Substance P induces intestinal wound healing via fibroblasts—evidence for a TGF-beta-dependent effect. Int J Colorectal Dis 22(12):1475–1480

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. He SH (2004) Key role of mast cells and their major secretory products in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol 10(3):309–318

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Burd PR, Rogers HW, Gordon JR, Martin CA, Jayaraman S, Wilson SD, Dvorak AM, Galli SJ, Dorf ME (1989) Interleukin 3-dependent and -independent mast cells stimulated with IgE and antigen express multiple cytokines. J Exp Med 170(1):245–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wodnar-Filipowicz A, Heusser CH, Moroni C (1989) Production of the haemopoietic growth factors GM-CSF and interleukin-3 by mast cells in response to IgE receptor-mediated activation. Nature 339(6220):150–152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Plaut M, Pierce JH, Watson CJ, Hanley-Hyde J, Nordan RP, Paul WE (1989) Mast cell lines produce lymphokines in response to cross-linkage of Fc epsilon RI or to calcium ionophores. Nature 339(6219):64–67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dignass AU, Podolsky DK (1993) Cytokine modulation of intestinal epithelial cell restitution: central role of transforming growth factor beta. Gastroenterology 105(5):1323–1332

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hoffmann P, Dignass AU, Zeeh JM, Mazurkiewicz J, Holtmann G, Gerken G (2001) Epithelial cell-derived components induce transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA expression and epithelial cell proliferation in vitro. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13(11):1333–1340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Mosmann T (1983) Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J Immunol Methods 65(1–2):55–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ciacci C, Lind SE, Podolsky DK (1993) Transforming growth factor beta regulation of migration in wounded rat intestinal epithelial monolayers. Gastroenterology 105(1):93–101

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Dignass AU, Podolsky DK (1996) Interleukin 2 modulates intestinal epithelial cell function in vitro. Exp Cell Res 225(2):422–429

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Dignass AU, Stow JL, Babyatsky MW (1996) Acute epithelial injury in the rat small intestine in vivo is associated with expanded expression of transforming growth factor alpha and beta. Gut 38(5):687–693

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Beck PL, Rosenberg IM, Xavier RJ, Koh T, Wong JF, Podolsky DK (2003) Transforming growth factor-beta mediates intestinal healing and susceptibility to injury in vitro and in vivo through epithelial cells. Am J Pathol 162(2):597–608

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Andoh A, Deguchi Y, Inatomi O, Yagi Y, Bamba S, Tsujikawa T, Fujiyama Y (2006) Immunohistochemical study of chymase-positive mast cells in inflammatory bowel disease. Oncol Rep 16(1):103–107

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Gudrun Str. 54, 44791,, Bochum, Germany

    Kerem Bulut, Peter Felderbauer, Susanne Deters & Wolfgang E. Schmidt

  2. Department of Pediatrics, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Anjona Schmidt-Choudhury

  3. Department of Internal Medicine I, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany

    Karoline Hoeck & Peter Hoffmann

Authors
  1. Kerem Bulut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Felderbauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susanne Deters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karoline Hoeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anjona Schmidt-Choudhury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wolfgang E. Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Peter Hoffmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Felderbauer.

Additional information

Kerem Bulut and Peter Felderbauer contributed equally.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bulut, K., Felderbauer, P., Deters, S. et al. Sensory neuropeptides and epithelial cell restitution: the relevance of SP- and CGRP-stimulated mast cells. Int J Colorectal Dis 23, 535–541 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0447-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0447-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation