title: Differential expression of endothelin-2 along the mouse intestinal tract.
abstract: Endothelin (ET)-2, an ET family peptide, is highly expressed in intestine. However, the specific distribution and function of ET-2 remain unknown. We elucidated the expression profile and localization of ET-2 in mouse gastrointestinal tract. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that ET-2 gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy animals was relatively high in the colon. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed ET-2-like immunoreactivity mainly in epithelial cells of the mucosa throughout the intestinal tract of healthy animals. Intracellularly, ET-2 was concentrated close to the basement membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. A weak ET-2-like immunoreactivity was also localized to some neurofibers and the myenteric plexus of the muscle layer, coexpressing with vasoactive intestinal peptide. ET-2-like immunoreactivity was also detected at Brunner's glands of the duodenum and follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patch. In contrast, ET-1-like immunoreactivity was uniformly distributed in epithelial cells. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, colonic ET-2 was upregulated during the late stage of DSS treatment. These results suggest that in intestinal epithelial cells ET-2 could be secreted into the lamina propria and the dome region in Peyer's patch, and that it might modulate immune cells in these sites for mucosal defense.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchide
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adur
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozakai
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotake-Nara
authors.forename: Jiexia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Kaname
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019333:Endothelin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D019333:Endothelin-2; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D016264:Dextran Sulfate