Death in the intestinal epithelium—basic biology and implications for inflammatory bowel disease. (22nd June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blander, J. Magarian
• Is Part Of: FEBS journal. Volume 283:Number 14(2016)
• Page Start: 2720
• Page End: 2730
• Publication Date: 2016-06-22
• Subjects: apoptosis -- inflammatory bowel disease -- intestinal epithelial cell -- intestinal tolerance -- tumor necrosis factor; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1111/febs.13771
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-464X

Abstract

Abstract : Every 4–5 days, intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) are terminated as they reach the end of their life. This process ensures that the epithelium is comprised of the fittest cells that maintain an impermeable barrier to luminal contents and the gut microbiota, as well as the most metabolically able cells that conduct functions in nutrient absorption, digestion, and secretion of antimicrobial peptides. IEC are terminated by apical extrusion—or shedding—from the intestinal epithelial monolayer into the gut lumen. Whether death by apoptosis signals extrusion or death follows expulsion by younger IEC has been a matter of debate. Seemingly a minor detail, IEC death before or after apical extrusion bears weight on the potential contribution of apoptotic IEC to intestinal homeostasis as a consequence of their recognition by intestinal lamina propria phagocytes. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), excessive death is observed in the ileal and colonic epithelium. The precise mode of IEC death in IBD is not defined. A highly inflammatory milieu within the intestinal lamina propria, rich in the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF‐α, increases IEC shedding and compromises barrier integrity fueling more inflammation. A milestone in the treatment of IBD, anti‐TNF‐α therapy, may promote mucosal healing by reversing increased and inflammation‐associated IEC death. Understanding the biology and consequences of cell death in the intestinal epithelium is critical to the design of new avenues for IBD therapy. Abstract : High levels of apoptosis are detected in the intestinal epithelium of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This increased level of epithelial intestinal cell (IEC) death disrupts barrier integrity and leads to inflammation, but whether cell death is a symptom or cause of IBD is unknown. Although TNF‐α inhibitors help restore barrier function in some patients, additional research on the mechanism of IEC death and how it goes awry in IBD is needed.