title: GATA4 is essential for jejunal function in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the zinc-finger transcription factor GATA4 has been implicated in regulating jejunal gene expression, the contribution of GATA4 in controlling jejunal physiology has not been addressed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We generated mice in which the Gata4 gene was specifically deleted in the small intestinal epithelium. Measurements of plasma cholesterol and phospholipids, intestinal absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol, and gene expression were performed on these animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice lacking GATA4 in the intestine displayed a dramatic block in their ability to absorb cholesterol and dietary fat. Comparison of the global gene expression profiles of control jejunum, control ileum, and GATA4 null jejunum by gene array analysis revealed that GATA4 null jejunum lost expression of 53% of the jejunal-specific gene set and gained expression of 47% of the set of genes unique to the ileum. These alterations in gene expression included a decrease in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding lipid and cholesterol transporters as well as an increase in mRNAs encoding proteins involved in bile acid absorption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that GATA4 is essential for jejunal function including fat and cholesterol absorption and confirm that GATA4 plays a pivotal role in determining jejunal vs ileal identity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Michele A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Battle
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bondow
authors.forename: Moriah A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jandacek
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tso
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007082:Ileum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; C484171:Gata4 protein, mouse; D004247:DNA