This is a competing renewal application to continue studies on the role of sodium- hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) in the gastrointestinal tract. NHE belong to a family of transport proteins involved in the electroneutral exchange of Na+ and H+. NHE3 is the predominant Na+/H+ exchanger responsible for the majority of electrolyte transport across the gastrointestinal tract, and its inhibition by inflammatory mediators and enteropathogenic bacteria is believed to be the primary mechanism of inflammation- associated diarrhea. However, our recently published and preliminary data have demonstrated novel roles for NHE3 in the GI tract. These involve its contribution to epithelial integrity, modifying immune responses in intestinal inflammation, and in shaping the intestinal microbiota and its interactions with the mucosa. NHE3 deficiency leads to increased mucosal bacterial adherence and translocation, and to profound IBD- like dysbiosis. On the other hand, antibiotics and rederivation into a Helicobacter-free ultraclean barrier environment eliminates the inflammatory phenotype. Moreover, NHE3 deficiency results to impaired cellular adhesion, although the resulting barrier defect is partially compensated by regulatory immune responses in the intestinal mucosa. The current proposal is aimed at expanding upon these observations to address the following hypothesis: intestinal NHE3-mediated Na+/H+ exchange contributes to the intestinal homeostasis via modulating cellular interactions and colonic microbiota.
Three specific aims have been formulated to address this hypothesis: (1) to determine the relationship between NHE3 and intestinal microbiota; (2) to determine the role of NHE3 in intestinal cell adhesion; and (3) to determine the role of mucosal regulatory immune responses in the compensation of epithelial defect in NHE3-/- mice. The proposed research will help explain the mechanisms by which NHE3 inhibition determines the extent of the epithelial barrier defect and contributes to the ultimate degree of inflammation, disease progression and outcome.

Public Health Relevance

NHE3 is the predominant Na+/H+ exchanger responsible for the majority of sodium and water transport across the gastrointestinal tract, and its inhibition during inflammation represents the primary mechanism of inflammation-associated diarrhea. Novel data from our laboratory suggest additional consequences resulting from NHE3 inhibition, which may lead to profound alteration of intestinal microbiota, cellular interactions, and contribute to the ultimate epithelial barrier defect. The proposed studies are of significant basic and clinical relevance as they may not only explain the role of Na+/H+ exchange during intestinal inflammation but they may also guide future clinical approaches to a variety of inflammatory conditions of the gut.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK041274-28
Application #
8903742
Study Section
Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology Study Section (CIMG)
Program Officer
Perrin, Peter J
Project Start
1988-09-01
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
28
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
806345617
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721
Harrison, Christy A; Laubitz, Daniel; Ohland, Christina L et al. (2018) Microbial dysbiosis associated with impaired intestinal Na+/H+ exchange accelerates and exacerbates colitis in ex-germ free mice. Mucosal Immunol 11:1329-1341
Gurney, Michael A; Laubitz, Daniel; Ghishan, Fayez K et al. (2017) Pathophysiology of Intestinal Na+/H+ exchange. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 3:27-40
Ghishan, Fayez K; Kiela, Pawel R (2017) Vitamins and Minerals in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 46:797-808
Laubitz, Daniel; Harrison, Christy A; Midura-Kiela, Monica T et al. (2016) Reduced Epithelial Na+/H+ Exchange Drives Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Promotes Inflammatory Response in T Cell-Mediated Murine Colitis. PLoS One 11:e0152044
Kiela, Pawel R; Ghishan, Fayez K (2016) Physiology of Intestinal Absorption and Secretion. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 30:145-59
Wang, Aiping; Ling, Zongxin; Yang, Zhixiang et al. (2015) Gut microbial dysbiosis may predict diarrhea and fatigue in patients undergoing pelvic cancer radiotherapy: a pilot study. PLoS One 10:e0126312
Larmonier, C B; Shehab, K W; Ghishan, F K et al. (2015) T Lymphocyte Dynamics in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Role of the Microbiome. Biomed Res Int 2015:504638
Johansson, Malin E V; Gustafsson, Jenny K; Holmén-Larsson, Jessica et al. (2014) Bacteria penetrate the normally impenetrable inner colon mucus layer in both murine colitis models and patients with ulcerative colitis. Gut 63:281-91
Ghishan, Fayez K; Kiela, Pawel R (2014) Epithelial transport in inflammatory bowel diseases. Inflamm Bowel Dis 20:1099-109
Larmonier, Claire B; Laubitz, Daniel; Hill, Faihza M et al. (2013) Reduced colonic microbial diversity is associated with colitis in NHE3-deficient mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 305:G667-77

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