title: Endothelin-1 expression in the small intestine during chronic peritonitis.
abstract: Endothelins (ET) have been demonstrated to mediate intestinal microvascular constriction during acute Escherichia coli bacteremia, however, their role during chronic infection is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ET-1 is synthesized in the small intestine in a more chronic peritonitis model. ET-1 mRNA levels of the terminal ileum in mice following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were compared to sham-operated animals and normal unoperated animals. ET gene expression was analyzed using differential reverse transcriptase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with co-amplification of beta-actin as an internal standard. To assess ET peptide expression, serum and intestinal tissue levels were measured using a specific enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). The pattern of ET-1 gene expression post-CLP with a single puncture of the cecum with a 23 ga. needle demonstrated a 3.6-fold increase at 8 h, and a return to sham levels by 24 h (374 +/- 64% at 8 h, p < .05, 128 +/- 13%). An increase of mRNA levels at 24 h post-CLP was observed with a double puncture with an 18 ga. needle (230 +/- 36%, p < .05) accompanied by an increase in serum ET levels (270 +/- 31%, p < .05) and higher tissue ET levels. These data indicate a time-dependent response of ET-1 gene expression in the terminal ileum post-CLP which is related to severity of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40292, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spain
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadjiminas
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cheadle
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Garrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016232:Endothelins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008833:Microcirculation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D012333:RNA, Messenger