Anti-inflammatory Effects of Abdominal Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Experimental Intestinal Inflammation

Electrical stimulation of the cervical vagus nerve is an emerging treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, side effects from cervical vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) are often reported by patients. Here we hypothesized that stimulating the vagus nerve closer to the end organ will have fewer off-target effects and will effectively reduce intestinal inflammation. Specifically, we aimed to: (i) compare off-target effects during abdominal and cervical VNS; (ii) verify that VNS levels were suprathreshold; and (iii) determine whether abdominal VNS reduces chemically-induced intestinal inflammation in rats. An electrode array was developed in-house to stimulate and record vagal neural responses. In a non-recovery experiment, stimulation-induced off-target effects were measured by implanting the cervical and abdominal vagus nerves of anaesthetized rats (n = 5) and recording changes to heart rate, respiration and blood pressure during stimulation (10 Hz; symmetric biphasic current pulse; 320 nC per phase). In a chronic experiment, the efficacy of VNS treatment was assessed by implanting an electrode array onto the abdominal vagus nerve and recording in vivo electrically-evoked neural responses during the implantation period. After 14 days, the intestine was inflamed with TNBS (2.5% 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid) and rats received therapeutic VNS (n = 7; 10 Hz; 320 nC per phase; 3 h/day) or no stimulation (n = 8) for 4.5 days. Stool quality, plasma C-reactive protein and histology of the inflamed intestine were assessed. Data show that abdominal VNS had no effect (two-way RM-ANOVA: P ≥ 0.05) on cardiac, respiratory and blood pressure parameters. However, during cervical VNS heart rate decreased by 31 ± 9 beats/minute (P ≥ 0.05), respiration was inhibited and blood pressure decreased. Data addressing efficacy of VNS treatment show that electrically-evoked neural response thresholds remained stable (one-way RM ANOVA: P ≥ 0.05) and therapeutic stimulation remained above threshold. Chronically stimulated rats, compared to unstimulated rats, had improved stool quality (two-way RM ANOVA: P < 0.0001), no blood in feces (P < 0.0001), reduced plasma C-reactive protein (two-way RM ANOVA: P < 0.05) and a reduction in resident inflammatory cell populations within the intestine (Kruskal–Wallis: P < 0.05). In conclusion, abdominal VNS did not evoke off-target effects, is an effective treatment of TNBS-induced inflammation, and may be an effective treatment of IBD in humans

Piezo1 integration of vascular architecture with physiological force

The mechanisms by which physical forces regulate endothelial cells to determine the complexities of vascular structure and function are enigmatic¹⁻⁵. Studies of sensory neurons have suggested Piezo proteins as subunits of Ca²⁺-permeable non-selective cationic channels for detection of noxious mechanical impact⁶⁻⁸. Here we show Piezo1 (Fam38a) channels as sensors of frictional force (shear stress) and determinants of vascular structure in both development and adult physiology. Global or endothelial-specific disruption of mouse Piezo1 profoundly disturbed the developing vasculature and was embryonic lethal within days of the heart beating. Haploinsufficiency was not lethal but endothelial abnormality was detected in mature vessels. The importance of Piezo1 channels as sensors of blood flow was shown by Piezo1 dependence of shear-stress-evoked ionic current and calcium influx in endothelial cells and the ability of exogenous Piezo1 to confer sensitivity to shear stress on otherwise resistant cells. Downstream of this calcium influx there was protease activation and spatial reorganization of endothelial cells to the polarity of the applied force. The data suggest that Piezo1 channels function as pivotal integrators in vascular biology

Transmucosal impedance change following TNBS infection

Data file "Gut impedance studies" describes data presented in Figure 1

Data from: An objective in vivo diagnostic method for inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory damage to the bowel, as occurs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is debilitating to patients. In both patients and animal experimental models histological analysis of biopsies and endoscopic examinations are used to evaluate the disease state. However such measurements often have delays and are invasive, while endoscopy is not quantitatively objective. Therefore, a real-time quantitative method to assess compromised mucosal barrier function is advantageous. We investigated the correlation of in vivo changes in electrical transmural impedance with histological measures of inflammation. Four platinum (Pt) ball electrodes were placed in the lumen of the rat small intestine, with a return electrode under the skin. Electrodes placed within the non-inflamed intestine generated stable impedances during the 3 h testing period. Following intraluminal injection of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS), an established animal model of IBD, impedances in the inflamed region significantly decreased relative to a region not exposed to TNBS (P < 0.05). Changes in intestinal transmural impedance were correlated (P < 0.05) with histologically assessed damage to the mucosa and increases in neutrophil, eosinophil and T-cell populations at 3 h compared with tissue from control regions. This quantitative, real-time assay may have application in the diagnosis and clinical management of IBD

Histological analysis of leukocyte infiltration

Files contains data used to generate Figures 4-6

Histological score of inflammaed tissue

File contains histological score data used in Figure 3E, F

A differential role of macrophage TRPM2 channels in Ca2+ signaling and cell death in early responses to H2O2

Reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 elevates the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) and causes cell death via poly(ADPR) polymerase (PARP) activation, which also represents the primary mechanism by which H2O2 activate the transient receptor potential melastatin-related 2 (TRPM2) channel as a Ca2+-permeable channel present in the plasma membrane or an intracellular Ca2+-release channel. The present study aimed to define the contribution and mechanisms of the TRPM2 channels in macrophage cells in mediating Ca2+ signaling and cell death during initial response to H2O2, using mouse peritoneal macrophage, RAW264.7, and differentiated THP-1 cells. H2O2 evoked robust increases in the [Ca2+]c, and such Ca2+ responses were significantly greater at body temperature than room temperature. H2O2-induced Ca2+ responses were strongly inhibited by pretreatment with PJ-34, a PARP inhibitor, and largely prevented by removal of extracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, H2O2-induced increases in the [Ca2+]c were completely abolished in macrophage cells isolated from trpm2-/- mice. H2O2 reduced macrophage cell viability in a duration- and concentration-dependent manner. H2O2-induced cell death was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with PJ-34 and TRPM2 channel deficiency but remained significant and persistent. Taken together, these results show that the TRPM2 channel in macrophage cells functions as a cell surface Ca2+-permeable channel that mediates Ca2+ influx and constitutes the principal Ca2+ signaling mechanism but has a limited, albeit significant, role in cell death during early exposure to H2O2