Compartmentalised expression of meprin in small intestinal mucosa: enhanced expression in lamina propria in coeliac disease.
Epithelial cells in the human small intestine express meprin, an astacin-like metalloprotease, which accumulates normally at the brush border membrane and in the gut lumen. Therefore, meprin is targeted towards luminal components. In coeliac disease patients, peptides from ingested cereals trigger mucosal inflammation in the small intestine, disrupting epithelial cell differentiation and function. Using in situ hybridisation on duodenal tissue sections, we observed a marked shift of meprin mRNA expression from epithelial cells, the predominant expression site in normal mucosa, to lamina propria leukocytes in coeliac disease. Meprin thereby gains access to the substrate repertoire present beneath the epithelium.
Lottaz
Daniel
D
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. daniel.lottaz@mci.unibe.ch
Buri
Caroline
C
Monteleone
Giovanni
G
Rösmann
Sandra
S
Macdonald
Thomas T
TT
Sanderson
Ian R
IR
Sterchi
Erwin E
EE
D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008625:Tiopronin / Q000378:metabolism*
D008625:Tiopronin