title: Effect of transforming growth factor-alpha on enterocyte apoptosis is correlated with EGF receptor expression along the villus-crypt axis during methotrexate-induced intestinal mucositis in a rat.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of transforming-growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) on enterocyte apoptosis following methotrexate (MTX) induced intestinal mucositis in a rat and in Caco-2 cells. Non-pretreated and pretreated with MTX Caco-2 cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of TGF-alpha. Cell apoptosis was determined by FACS cytometry. Adult rats were divided into four groups: Control, Control-TGF-alpha, MTX, and MTX- TGF-alpha rats. Three days later rats were sacrificed. Enterocyte apoptosis were measured at sacrifice. RT-PCR and Western Blotting was used to determine the level of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein. Real time PCR was used to measure epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) expression along the villus-crypt axis. The in vitro experiment has shown that treatment with TGF-alpha of Caco-2 cells results in a significant inhibition of cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo experiment, a decreased levels of apoptosis in MTX- TGF-alpha rats corresponded with the decrease in Bax and with the increase in Bcl-2 at both mRNA and protein levels. The inhibiting effect of TGF-alpha on enterocyte apoptosis was strongly correlated with EGFr expression along the villus-crypt axis. In conclusion, treatment with TGF-alpha inhibits enterocyte apoptosis following MTX- injury in the rat.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of intestinal adaptation and recovery, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. igor-dr@internet-zahav.net
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sukhotnik
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shteinberg
authors.forename: Shani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Lulu
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bashenko
authors.forename: Jorge G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mogilner
authors.forename: Benno M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ure
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaoul
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Coran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D008727:Methotrexate