title: A novel approach to maintain gut mucosal integrity using an oral enzyme supplement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) in enteral starvation-induced gut barrier dysfunction and to study its therapeutic effect as a supplement to prevent gut-derived sepsis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Critically ill patients are at increased risk for systemic sepsis and, in some cases, multiorgan failure leading to death. Years ago, the gut was identified as a major source for this systemic sepsis syndrome. Previously, we have shown that IAP detoxifies bacterial toxins, prevents endotoxemia, and preserves intestinal microbiotal homeostasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  WT and IAP-KO mice were used to examine gut barrier function and tight junction protein levels during 48-hour starvation and fed states. Human ileal fluid samples were collected from 20 patients postileostomy and IAP levels were compared between fasted and fed states. To study the effect of IAP supplementation on starvation-induced gut barrier dysfunction, WT mice were fasted for 48 hours +/- IAP supplementation in the drinking water.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The loss of IAP expression is associated with decreased expression of intestinal junctional proteins and impaired barrier function. For the first time, we demonstrate that IAP expression is also decreased in humans who are deprived of enteral feeding. Finally, our data demonstrate that IAP supplementation reverses the gut barrier dysfunction and tight junction protein losses due to a lack of enteral feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IAP is a major regulator of gut mucosal permeability and is able to ameliorate starvation-induced gut barrier dysfunction. Enteral IAP supplementation may represent a novel approach to maintain bowel integrity in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and †Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
authors.forename: Sulaiman R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hamarneh
authors.forename: Mussa M Rafat
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Konstantinos P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Tanit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phupitakphol
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tantillo
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Mohammad Hadi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gharedaghi
authors.forename: Qingsong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Kanakaraju
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaliannan
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narisawa
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Millán
authors.forename: Gwendolyn M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: van der Wilden
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fagenholz
authors.forename: Madhu S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Malo
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hodin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010539:Permeability; D013217:Starvation; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062725:Tight Junction Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D062725:Tight Junction Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase