Blocking of P2X7r Reduces Mitochondrial Stress Induced by Alcohol and Electronic Cigarette Exposure in Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

Studies in both humans and animal models demonstrated that chronic alcohol/e-cigarette (e-Cig) exposure affects mitochondrial function and impairs barrier function in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs). Identification of the signaling pathways by which chronic alcohol/e-Cig exposure induces mitochondrial damage in BMVEC is vital for protection of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To address the issue, we treated human BMVEC [hBMVECs (D3 cell-line)] with ethanol (ETH) [100 mM], acetaldehyde (ALD) [100 µM], or e-cigarette (e-Cig) [35 ng/mL of 1.8% or 0% nicotine] conditioned medium and showed reduced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) measured by a Seahorse analyzer. Seahorse data were further complemented with the expression of mitochondrial OXPHOS proteins detected by Western blots. We also observed cytosolic escape of ATP and its extracellular release due to the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential caused by ETH, ALD, or 1.8% e-Cig exposure. Moreover ETH, ALD, or 1.8% e-Cig treatment resulted in elevated purinergic P2X7r and TRPV1 channel gene expression, measured using qPCR. We also demonstrated the protective role of P2X7r antagonist A804598 (10 µM) in restoring mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation levels and preventing extracellular ATP release. In a BBB functional assay using trans-endothelial electrical resistance, we showed that blocking the P2X7r channel enhanced barrier function. In summary, we identified the potential common pathways of mitochondrial injury caused by ETH, ALD, and 1.8% e-Cig which allow new protective interventions. We are further investigating the potential link between P2X7 regulatory pathways and mitochondrial health.

Lipid malabsorption from altered hormonal signaling changes early gut microbial responses.

Infants with congenital diarrheal disorders caused by enteroendocrine cell dysgenesis, or the loss of intestinal endocrine cells, causes severe malabsorptive diarrhea, though the mechanism is not fully understood. The transcription factor "aristaless-related homeobox" (Arx) is specifically expressed in intestinal endocrine cells. This study seeks to characterize the early malabsorptive phenotype of mice deficient for Arx using cell-type specific gene ablation in Villin-Cre; ArxloxP/Y ( Arxint) mice. In neonatal mice, the loss of intestinal Arx caused the loss of intestinal hormones, such as cholecystokinin, secretin, neurotensin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 but also upregulation of somatostatin. Arxint mice exhibited steatorrhea with the loss of lipid transport in duodenal enterocytes, upregulation of lysozyme-positive Paneth cells, and a secondary increase in antimicrobial peptides, specifically Reg3ß. When the epithelium from Arxint mice was cultured ex vivo into enteroids, however, the Reg3ß upregulation was lost under the sterile conditions. Thus, Arx is required for the appropriate lineage allocation of multiple enteroendocrine subtypes. We concluded that altered hormonal signaling caused by Arx deficiency results in lipid malabsorption, premature Paneth cell differentiation, and an inflammatory response, including neutrophilic infiltrates and a microbiota-triggered upregulation of Reg3ß. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The enteroendocrine transcription factor aristaless-related homeobox (Arx) plays a key role in lineage specification. Changes in hormonal expression mediated by Arx lead to lipid malabsorption and premature Paneth cell development. Furthermore, global profiling of whole intestine from Arx-deficient mice revealed significant upregulation of antimicrobial peptides. This antimicrobial response in Arx-deficient animals is lost under sterile culture conditions of enteroids.

Transcriptome analyses of taste organoids reveal multiple pathways involved in taste cell generation.

Taste cells undergo constant turnover throughout life; however, the molecular mechanisms governing taste cell generation are not well understood. Using RNA-Seq, we systematically surveyed the transcriptome landscape of taste organoids at different stages of growth. Our data show the staged expression of a variety of genes and identify multiple signaling pathways underlying taste cell differentiation and taste stem/progenitor cell proliferation. For example, transcripts of taste receptors appear only or predominantly in late-stage organoids. Prior to that, transcription factors and other signaling elements are upregulated. RNA-Seq identified a number of well-characterized signaling pathways in taste organoid cultures, such as those involving Wnt, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), Notch, and Hedgehog (Hh). By pharmacological manipulation, we demonstrate that Wnt, BMPs, Notch, and Hh signaling pathways are necessary for taste cell proliferation, differentiation and cell fate determination. The temporal expression profiles displayed by taste organoids may also lead to the identification of currently unknown transducer elements underlying sour, salt, and other taste qualities, given the staged expression of taste receptor genes and taste transduction elements in cultured organoids.