title: Functional characterization of human receptors for short chain fatty acids and their role in polymorphonuclear cell activation.
abstract: Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are produced at high concentration by bacteria in the gut and subsequently released in the bloodstream. Basal acetate concentrations in the blood (about 100 microm) can further increase to millimolar concentrations following alcohol intake. It was known previously that SCFAs can activate leukocytes, particularly neutrophils. In the present work, we have identified two previously orphan G protein-coupled receptors, GPR41 and GPR43, as receptors for SCFAs. Propionate was the most potent agonist for both GPR41 and GPR43. Acetate was more selective for GPR43, whereas butyrate and isobutyrate were more active on GPR41. The two receptors were coupled to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation, intracellular Ca2+ release, ERK1/2 activation, and inhibition of cAMP accumulation. They exhibited, however, a differential coupling to G proteins; GPR41 coupled exclusively though the Pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o family, whereas GPR43 displayed a dual coupling through Gi/o and Pertussis toxin-insensitive Gq protein families. The broad expression profile of GPR41 in a number of tissues does not allow us to infer clear hypotheses regarding its biological functions. In contrast, the highly selective expression of GPR43 in leukocytes, particularly polymorphonuclear cells, suggests a role in the recruitment of these cell populations toward sites of bacterial infection. The pharmacology of GPR43 matches indeed the effects of SCFAs on neutrophils, in terms of intracellular Ca2+ release and chemotaxis. Such a neutrophil-specific SCFA receptor is potentially involved in the development of a variety of diseases characterized by either excessive or inefficient neutrophil recruitment and activation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases or alcoholism-associated immune depression. GPR43 might therefore constitute a target allowing us to modulate immune responses in these pathological situations.
authors.affiliation: Euroscreen, rue Adrienne Bolland 47, 6041 Gosselies, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Catholic University of Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Poul
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loison
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Struyf
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Springael
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lannoy
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Decobecq
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brezillon
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dupriez
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassart
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parmentier
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Detheux
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000331:Aequorin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis; D006224:Cricetinae; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000331:Aequorin; D002118:Calcium; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C473103:FFAR2 protein, human; C106262:FFAR3 protein, human