Chk2-dependent HuR phosphorylation regulates occludin mRNA translation and epithelial barrier function

Occludin is a transmembrane tight junction (TJ) protein that plays an important role in TJ assembly and regulation of the epithelial barrier function, but the mechanisms underlying its post-transcriptional regulation are unknown. The RNA-binding protein HuR modulates the stability and translation of many target mRNAs. Here, we investigated the role of HuR in the regulation of occludin expression and therefore in the intestinal epithelial barrier function. HuR bound the 3′-untranslated region of the occludin mRNA and enhanced occludin translation. HuR association with the occludin mRNA depended on Chk2-dependent HuR phosphorylation. Reduced HuR phosphorylation by Chk2 silencing or by reduction of Chk2 through polyamine depletion decreased HuR-binding to the occludin mRNA and repressed occludin translation, whereas Chk2 overexpression enhanced (HuR/occludin mRNA) association and stimulated occludin expression. In mice exposed to septic stress induced by cecal ligation and puncture, Chk2 levels in the intestinal mucosa decreased, associated with an inhibition of occludin expression and gut barrier dysfunction. These results indicate that HuR regulates occludin mRNA translation through Chk2-dependent HuR phosphorylation and that this influence is crucial for maintenance of the epithelial barrier integrity in the intestinal tract

Expression of the TGF-β receptor gene and sensitivity to growth inhibition following polyamine depletion

Our previous studies have shown that inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis increases the sensitivity of intestinal epithelial cells to growth inhibition induced by exogenous transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). This study went further to determine whether expression of the TGF-β receptor genes is involved in this process. Studies were conducted in the IEC-6 cell line, derived from rat small intestinal crypt cells. Administration of α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme for polyamine synthesis), for 4 and 6 days depleted cellular polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in IEC-6 cells. Polyamine depletion by DFMO increased levels of the TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI) mRNA and protein but had no effect on the TGF-β type II receptor expression. The induced TGF-βRI expression after polyamine depletion was associated with an increased sensitivity to growth inhibition induced by exogenous TGF-β but not by somatostatin. Extracellular matrix laminin inhibited IEC-6 cell growth without affecting the TGF-β receptor expression. Laminin consistently failed to induce the sensitivity of TGF-β-mediated growth inhibition. In addition, decreasing TGF-βRI expression by treatment with retinoic acid not only decreased TGF-β-mediated growth inhibition in normal cells but also prevented the increased sensitivity to exogenous TGF-β in polyamine-deficient cells. These results indicate that 1) depletion of cellular polyamines by DFMO increases expression of the TGF-βRI gene and 2) increased TGF-βRI expression plays an important role in the process through which polyamine depletion sensitizes intestinal epithelial cells to growth inhibition induced by TGF-β

NF-κB activation and susceptibility to apoptosis after polyamine depletion in intestinal epithelial cells

The maintenance of intestinal mucosal integrity depends on a balance between cell renewal and cell death, including apoptosis. The natural polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are essential for mucosal growth, and decreasing polyamine levels cause G1 phase growth arrest in intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells. The present study was done to determine changes in susceptibility of IEC-6 cells to apoptosis after depletion of cellular polyamines and to further elucidate the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in this process. Although depletion of polyamines by α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) did not directly induce apoptosis, the susceptibility of polyamine-deficient cells to staurosporine (STS)-induced apoptosis increased significantly as measured by changes in morphological features and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. In contrast, polyamine depletion by DFMO promoted resistance to apoptotic cell death induced by the combination of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cycloheximide. Depletion of cellular polyamines also increased the basal level of NF-κB proteins, induced NF-κB nuclear translocation, and activated the sequence-specific DNA binding activity. Inhibition of NF-κB binding activity by sulfasalazine or MG-132 not only prevented the increased susceptibility to STS-induced apoptosis but also blocked the resistance to cell death induced by TNF-α in combination with cycloheximide in polyamine-deficient cells. These results indicate that 1) polyamine depletion sensitizes intestinal epithelial cells to STS-induced apoptosis but promotes the resistance to TNF-α-induced cell death, 2) polyamine depletion induces NF-κB activation, and 3) disruption of NF-κB function is associated with altered susceptibility to apoptosis induced by STS or TNF-α. These findings suggest that increased NF-κB activity after polyamine depletion has a proapoptotic or antiapoptotic effect on intestinal epithelial cells determined by the nature of the death stimulus

Differentiated intestinal epithelial cells exhibit increased migration through polyamines and myosin II

Early mucosal restitution is a rapid process by which differentiated intestinal epithelial cells migrate to reseal superficial wounds. However, most of the in vitro studies for restitution employ undifferentiated intestinal crypt cells as a model. The transcription factor, Cdx2, plays an important role in the regulation of intestinal epithelial differentiation. Forced expression of the Cdx2 gene in undifferentiated intestinal crypt cells induces the development of a differentiated phenotype. The current study was designed to determine changes in differentiated intestinal epithelial cell migration after wounding in the stable Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells and then to examine involvement of polyamines and nonmuscle myosin II in the process of cell motility. Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells were associated with a highly differentiated phenotype and exhibited increased cell migration after wounding. Migration of Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells were approximately four times that of nontransfected IEC-6 cells. Migration after wounding was associated with significant increases in polyamine synthesis. Depletion of cellular polyamines by 5 mM α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, inhibited cell migration without affecting the differentiated phenotype. DFMO also decreased levels of nonmuscle myosin II mRNA and protein and resulted in reorganization of myosin II, along with a marked reduction in stress fibers. Exogenous spermidine given together with DFMO not only returned nonmuscle myosin II levels and cellular distribution toward normal but also restored cell migration to control levels. These results indicate that 1) Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells exhibit increased cell migration after wounding and 2) cellular polyamines are absolutely required for stimulation of cell migration in association with their ability to modulate the structural organization of nonmuscle myosin II