Whiteman, Sara T

Abstract Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are specialized sensors of luminal forces and chemicals in the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium that respond to stimulation with a release of signalling molecules such as serotonin (5‐HT). For mechanosensitive EECs, force activates Piezo2 channels, which generate a very rapidly activating and inactivating (∼10 ms) cationic (Na + , K + , Ca 2+ ) receptor current. Piezo2 receptor currents lead to a large and persistent increase in intracellular calcium (Ca 2+ ) that lasts many seconds to sometimes minutes, suggesting signal amplification. However, intracellular calcium dynamics in EEC mechanotransduction remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Ca 2+ stores in EEC mechanotransduction. Mechanical stimulation of a human EEC cell model (QGP‐1) resulted in a rapid increase in cytoplasmic Ca 2+ and a slower decrease in ER stores Ca 2+ , suggesting the involvement of intracellular Ca 2+ stores. Comparing murine primary colonic EECs with colonocytes showed expression of intercellular Ca 2+ store receptors, a similar expression of IP 3 receptors, but a >30‐fold enriched expression of Ryr3 in EECs. In mechanically stimulated primary EECs, Ca 2+ responses decreased dramatically by emptying stores and pharmacologically blocking IP 3 and RyR1/3 receptors. RyR3 genetic knockdown by siRNA led to a significant decrease in mechanosensitive Ca 2+ responses and 5‐HT release. In tissue, pressure‐induced increase in the Ussing short circuit current was significantly decreased by ryanodine receptor blockade. Our data show that mechanosensitive EECs use intracellular Ca 2+ stores to amplify mechanically induced Ca 2+ entry, with RyR3 receptors selectively expressed in EECs and involved in Ca 2+ signalling, 5‐HT release and epithelial secretion. image Key points A population of enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are specialized mechanosensors of the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelium that respond to mechanical stimulation with the release of important signalling molecules such as serotonin. Mechanical activation of these EECs leads to an increase in intracellular calcium (Ca 2+ ) with a longer duration than the stimulus, suggesting intracellular Ca 2+ signal amplification. In this study, we profiled the expression of intracellular Ca 2+ store receptors and found an enriched expression of the intracellular Ca 2+ receptor Ryr3, which contributed to the mechanically evoked increases in intracellular calcium, 5‐HT release and epithelial secretion. Our data suggest that mechanosensitive EECs rely on intracellular Ca 2+ stores and are selective in their use of Ryr3 for amplification of intracellular Ca 2+ . This work advances our understanding of EEC mechanotransduction and may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for GI motility disorders.

AbstractBackgroundThe gut is the only organ system with intrinsic neural reflexes. Intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) of the enteric nervous system initiate intrinsic reflexes, form gut‐brain connections, and undergo considerable neuroplasticity to cause digestive diseases. They remain inaccessible to study in mice in the absence of a selective marker. Advillin is used as a marker for primary afferent neurons in dorsal root ganglia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that advillin is expressed in IPANs of the mouse jejunum.MethodsAdvillin expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry and using transgenic mice expressing an inducible Cre recombinase under the advillin promoter were used to drive tdTomato and the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP5. These mice were used to characterize the morphology and physiology of advillin‐expressing enteric neurons using confocal microscopy, calcium imaging, and whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiology.Key ResultsAdvillin is expressed in about 25% of myenteric neurons of the mouse jejunum, and these neurons demonstrate the requisite properties of IPANs. Functionally, they demonstrate calcium responses following mechanical stimuli of the mucosa and during antidromic action potentials. They have Dogiel type II morphology with neural processes that mostly remain within the myenteric plexus, but also project to the mucosa and express NeuN and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), but not nNOS.Conclusions and InferencesAdvillin marks jejunal IPANs providing accessibility to this important neuronal population to study and model digestive disease.