title: Hydrocortisone induces changes in gene expression and differentiation in immature human enterocytes.
abstract: It is known that functional maturation of the small intestine occurring during the weaning period is facilitated by glucocorticoids (such as hydrocortisone, HC), including an increased expression of digestive hydrolases. However, the molecular mechanisms are not well understood, particularly in the human gut. Here we report a microarray analysis of HC-induced changes in gene expression in H4 cells (a well-characterized human fetal small intestinal epithelial cell line). This study identified a large number of HC-regulated genes, some involved in metabolism, cell cycle regulation, cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix communication. HC also regulates the expression of genes important for cell maturation such as development of cell polarity, tight junction formation, and interactions with extracellular matrices. Using human small intestinal xenografts, we also show that HC can regulate the expression of genes important for intestinal epithelial cell maturation. Our dataset may serve as a useful resource for understanding and dissecting the molecular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cell maturation.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Gastroenterology Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, USA. lul@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borowsky
authors.forename: W Allan
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006854:Hydrocortisone