Nutritional supplementation with transforming growth factor-beta inhibits intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection in a rat.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has been shown to affect epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation through epithelial-mesenchymal and epithelial-immune cell interaction. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of TGF-β2-enriched polymeric diet (Modulen) on enterocyte turnover in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS).


METHODS
Male rats were divided into four groups: Sham rats and Sham-TGF-β rats underwent bowel transection, and were treated with TGF-β from the 4th postoperative day, SBS rats underwent a 75% bowel resection, and SBS-TGF-β rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with TGF-β-enriched diet similar to Group B. Parameters of intestinal adaptation, enterocyte proliferation and apoptosis were determined on day 15. Real-time PCR was used to determine Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression.


RESULTS
Treatment of SBS animals with TGF-β2 supplemented diet led to a significant decrease (vs. SBS rats) in bowel weight in ileum (18%, P < 0.05), mucosal DNA content in jejunum (threefold decrease, P < 0.05) and ileum (2.5-fold decrease, P < 0.05), and mucosal protein in jejunum (twofold decrease, P < 0.05) compared to SBS-untreated animals (Group B). Treatment with TGF-β resulted in a mild decrease in enterocyte proliferation in jejunum (25%, P < 0.05) and ileum (18%, P < 0.05). A decreased cell apoptosis in the SBS-TGF-β group was accompanied by a decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2 mRNA expression.


CONCLUSIONS
In a rat model of SBS, dietary TGF-β inhibits intestinal adaptation. Decreased enterocyte proliferation is responsible for this effect.
Laboratory of Intestinal Adaptation and Recovery, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. igor-dr@internet-zahav.net
Igor
I
Sukhotnik
Jorge G
JG
Mogilner
Shani
S
Ben Lulu
Yulia
Y
Bashenko
Ron
R
Shaoul
Elena
E
Chemodanov
Arnold G
AG
Coran
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D018529:Nutritional Support; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta