title: Does small intestinal atresia affect epithelial protein expression in human newborns?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bowel segments distal to a congenital intestinal obstruction have been suggested to be immature. In other words, luminal components such as amniotic fluid (before birth) and/or enteral nutrition (after birth) may be required to activate intestinal epithelial protein expression, thereby influencing epithelial differentiation. We investigated cell-type-specific protein expression proximal and distal to jejunal and ileal atresias in human newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We immunohistochemically studied intestinal tissue specimens of 16 newborns who had undergone surgery for jejunal or ileal atresia. Sections were taken from both the proximal and distal sides of the atresias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all patients, the enterocyte-specific markers lactase, sucrase-isomaltase, sodium glucose cotransporter 1, glucose transporters 2 and 5, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and alkaline phosphatase were expressed at a mean 3 +/- 1 days after birth, both proximal and distal to jejunal and ileal atresias. Expression of goblet cell-specific markers mucin 2 and trefoil factor 3 and that of the Paneth cell marker lysozyme was maintained at either side of the atretic segment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With respect to the markers used, the human small intestinal epithelium is already differentiated shortly after birth. The absence of intestinal continuity in case of a jejunal or ileal atresia does not affect epithelial protein expression. This would seem to indicate that the developing small intestinal epithelium matures independently of luminal components.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maaike W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Schaart
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamanouchi
authors.forename: Danielle J P M
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Nispen
authors.forename: Rolien H C
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Raatgeep
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
authors.forename: Ronald R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de Krijger
authors.forename: Dick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tibboel
authors.forename: Alexandra W C
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Einerhand
authors.forename: Ingrid B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Renes
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010455:Peptides; C082495:TFF3 protein, human; D000071165:Trefoil Factor-3