Glutamate prevents intestinal atrophy via luminal nutrient sensing in a mouse model of total parenteral nutrition

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Small intestine luminal nutrient sensing may be crucial for modulating physiological functions. However, its mechanism of action is incompletely understood. We used a model of enteral nutrient deprivation, or total parenteral nutrition (TPN), resulting in intestinal mucosal atrophy and decreased epithelial barrier function (EBF). We examined how a single amino acid, glutamate (GLM), modulates intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) growth and EBF. Controls were chow-fed mice, T1 receptor-3 (T1R3)-knockout (KO) mice, and treatment with the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-5 antagonist MTEP. TPN significantly changed the amount of T1Rs, GLM receptors, and transporters, and GLM prevented these changes. GLM significantly prevented TPN-associated intestinal atrophy (2.5-fold increase in IEC proliferation) and was dependent on up-regulation of the protein kinase pAkt, but independent of T1R3 and mGluR5 signaling. GLM led to a loss of EBF with TPN (60% increase in FITC-dextran permeability, 40% decline in transepithelial resistance); via T1R3, it protected EBF, whereas mGluR5 was associated with EBF loss. GLM led to a decline in circulating glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) during TPN. The decline was regulated by T1R3 and mGluR5, suggesting a novel negative regulator pathway for IEC proliferation not previously described. Loss of luminal nutrients with TPN administration may widely affect intestinal taste sensing. GLM has previously unrecognized actions on IEC growth and EBF. Restoring luminal sensing via GLM could be a strategy for patients on TPN.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Volume28
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)2073-87
Number of pages15
ISSN0892-6638
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2014

    Research areas

  • Animal Nutrition Sciences, Animals, Atrophy, Cell Proliferation, Disease Models, Animal, Down-Regulation, Epithelial Cells, Epithelium, Food, Glucagon-Like Peptide 2, Glutamic Acid, Intestinal Mucosa, Intestines, Jejunum, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Parenteral Nutrition, Total, Permeability, Piperidines, Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Signal Transduction, Thiazoles

ID: 117852362