Therapeutic potential of the secreted Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor SPINK4 in colitis.
Nat Commun
; 15(1): 5874, 2024 Jul 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38997284
ABSTRACT
Mucus injury associated with goblet cell (GC) depletion constitutes an early event in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using single-cell sequencing to detect critical events in mucus dysfunction, we discover that the Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor SPINK4 is dynamically regulated in colitic intestine in parallel with disease activities. Under chemically induced colitic conditions, the grim status in Spink4-conditional knockout mice is successfully rescued by recombinant murine SPINK4. Notably, its therapeutic potential is synergistic with existing TNF-α inhibitor infliximab in colitis treatment. Mechanistically, SPINK4 promotes GC differentiation using a Kazal-like motif to modulate EGFR-Wnt/ß-catenin and -Hippo pathways. Microbiota-derived diacylated lipoprotein Pam2CSK4 triggers SPINK4 production. We also show that monitoring SPINK4 in circulation is a reliable noninvasive technique to distinguish IBD patients from healthy controls and assess disease activity. Thus, SPINK4 serves as a serologic biomarker of IBD and has therapeutic potential for colitis via intrinsic EGFR activation in intestinal homeostasis.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Colitis
/
Mice, Knockout
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article