A novel P2X2-dependent purinergic mechanism of enteric gliosis in intestinal inflammation.

Abstract

Enteric glial cells (EGC) modulate motility, maintain gut homeostasis, and contribute to neuroinflammation in intestinal diseases and motility disorders. Damage induces a reactive glial phenotype known as "gliosis", but the molecular identity of the inducing mechanism and triggers of "enteric gliosis" are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that surgical trauma during intestinal surgery triggers ATP release that drives enteric gliosis and inflammation leading to impaired motility in postoperative ileus (POI). ATP activation of a p38-dependent MAPK pathway triggers cytokine release and a gliosis phenotype in murine (and human) EGCs. Receptor antagonism and genetic depletion studies revealed P2X2 as the relevant ATP receptor and pharmacological screenings identified ambroxol as a novel P2X2 antagonist. Ambroxol prevented ATP-induced enteric gliosis, inflammation, and protected against dysmotility, while abrogating enteric gliosis in human intestine exposed to surgical trauma. We identified a novel pathogenic P2X2-dependent pathway of ATP-induced enteric gliosis, inflammation and dysmotility in humans and mice. Interventions that block enteric glial P2X2 receptors during trauma may represent a novel therapy in treating POI and immune-driven intestinal motility disorders.

• Authors: Reiner Schneider, Patrick Leven, Tim Glowka, Ivan Kuzmanov, Mariola Lysson, Bianca Schneiker, Anna Miesen, Younis Baqi, Claudia Spanier, Iveta Grants, Elvio Mazzotta, Egina Villalobos-Hernandez, Jörg C Kalff, Christa E Müller, Fedias L Christofi, Sven Wehner
• Journal: EMBO molecular medicine (EMBO Mol Med) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. e12724 (01 11 2021) ISSN: 1757-4684 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33332729 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists

Topics

• Animals
• Cytokines
• Gliosis
• Inflammation
• Intestine, Small (physiopathology)
• Mice
• Neuroglia
• Purinergic P2X Receptor Antagonists (pharmacology)