Beta-catenin/TCF4 transactivates miR-30e during intestinal cell differentiation

The Wnt/beta-catenin/TCF4 pathway plays critical roles in the maintenance of small intestinal epithelium; however, downstream targets of the beta-catenin/TCF4 complex are not extensively characterized. We identified miR-30e as an immediate target activated by the beta-catenin/TCF4 complex. miR-30e was detected in the peri-nuclear region of the intestinal crypt IEC-6 cells. Bioinformatics analysis revealed clustered beta-catenin/TCF4 binding sites within the miR-30e promoter region. This promoter region was cloned into pGL3-control luciferase reporter vector, with the enhancer region removed. Transfection of pCMV-SPORT6-beta-catenin expression vector dose-dependently increased luciferase activity, and co-transfection of pCMV-SPORT6-TCF4 expression vector further enhanced the promoter activity. Dexamethasone-induced IEC-6 cells differentiation caused a 2.5-fold increase in miR-30e expression, and upon beta-catenin siRNA transfection, miR-30e increased 1.3-fold. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed the binding between beta-catenin/TCF4 complexes from IEC-6 nuclear extracts and the putative sequences in the miR-30e promoter. These results demonstrate that beta-catenin/TCF4 transactivates miR-30e during intestinal cell differentiation

Prenatal development of gastrointestinal function in the pig and the effects of fetal esophageal obstruction

Maturation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is influenced by both luminal stimuli (e.g. swallowed fluid) and hormonal factors (e.g. endogenous cortisol release). The aims of the present study were 1) to investigate GIT growth and maturation during the last 20% of gestation in pigs (term = 114 +/- 2 d), and 2) to investigate the effect of esophageal ligation, to prevent fetal swallowing, at 80% to 91% gestation. In normal fetuses, marked increases occurred during late gestation in body weight (+95%), relative intestinal weight (+79%, g kg(-1) body weight), activity of some digestive enzymes (1.5- to 10-fold), and absorption of glucose and intact proteins (3- to 6-fold). Fetuses with ligated esophagi had lowered body weight (-20%), reduced intestinal weight (-43%), aminopeptidase A activity (-24%), and glucose absorption (-27%), while lactase, sucrase, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV activities were increased (+40-50%), compared with sham-operated fetuses (all p < 0.05). Other parameters of GIT function remained unchanged by esophageal obstruction (absorption of amino acids and immunoglobulin, activity of chymosin, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, maltase, aminopeptidase N - all expressed per gram GIT tissue). Ligated fetuses had elevated cortisol levels, which is known to stimulate fetal GIT maturation. We conclude that the rapid development of GIT function in late gestation is diminished by esophageal obstruction, mainly due to slower GIT growth and not inhibition of normal functional development of enterocytes