Defective intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) barrier is a key pathogenic factor of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory conditions of the gut. The defective TJ barrier allows increased intestinal permeation of bacterial antigens that induce inflammatory response. However, there are no currently available therapeutic agents that target the intestinal TJ barrier. Moreover, the mechanisms that lead to an enhancement of intestinal TJ barrier remain poorly understood. The major goals of this proposal are to introduce and develop a new therapeutic agent that targets the intestinal TJ barrier, which can be rapidly advanced for clinical usage; and to identify novel intracellular mechanisms that regulate the tightening of the intestinal TJ barrier. In our preliminary studies, we screened over 20 probiotic bacterial strains (that are widely used commercially) to identify a single strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA), which has a remarkable intestinal TJ barrier augmenting properties and therapeutic efficacy in animal models of IBD. The over-arching goals of this application are to investigate the intestinal TJ barrier enhancing effects of LA and to determine the therapeutic efficacy of LA in animal models of IBD. Based on our preliminary studies, we advance a novel hypothesis that LA enhancement of intestinal TJ barrier is regulated by a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain - containing protein 1 (Nod1) signal transduction pathway activation of occludin gene. Occludin is a trans-membrane protein which plays a central role in intestinal TJ barrier regulation. In this grant application, we challenge to well-established scientific paradigms 1) that Nod1 is a cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor and 2) that primary cellular target of Nod1 is the activation of NF-?B. Based on our preliminary data showing that LA induces a rapid cytoplasmic-to-apical membrane translocation of Nod1 in intestinal epithelial cells in-vitro and in-vivo, we hypothesize that LA- induced augmentation of intestinal TJ barrier is regulated by apical membrane translocation of Nod1. We also hypothesize that LA activation of Nod1 signal transduction pathway leads to a suppression (not activation) of NF-?B, a key pro-inflammatory mediator that induces the TJ opening, and an activation of p38 kinase pathway, which signals occludin gene activation and occludin-dependent enhancement in intestinal TJ barrier function. The proposed specific aims are to: 1) delineate the role of Nod1 in LA-induced augmentation of intestinal epithelial TJ barrier; 2) delineate the mechanism of LA-induced regulation of occludin gene and intestinal TJ barrier; and 3) delineate the therapeutic efficacy of LA in animal models of IBD. The successful completion of the proposed studies will provide the critical pre-clinical data necessary to support our future clinical trials that will examine the therapeutic efficacy of LA in intestinal barrier tightening in IBD patients and also in the prevention and treatment of IBD.

Public Health Relevance

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, have a leaky gut, characterized by an increase in intestinal permeability t harmful antigens in the intestine. The studies proposed in this grant application seek to introduce a new therapeutic agent that induces a tightening of the leaky gut and prevents intestinal inflammation. The data derived from these studies will be crucial in supporting the future clinical trials that will investigate the therapeutic efficacy of intestinal barrier tightenng in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01DK064165-15
Application #
9688678
Study Section
Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology Study Section (CIMG)
Program Officer
Hamilton, Frank A
Project Start
2018-08-01
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2018-08-01
Budget End
2019-07-31
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
129348186
City
Hershey
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
17033
Nighot, Prashant K; Leung, Lana; Ma, Thomas Y (2017) Chloride channel ClC- 2 enhances intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier function via regulation of caveolin-1 and caveolar trafficking of occludin. Exp Cell Res 352:113-122
Nighot, Meghali; Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong et al. (2017) Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Increase in Intestinal Epithelial Tight Permeability Is Mediated by Toll-Like Receptor 4/Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response 88 (MyD88) Activation of Myosin Light Chain Kinase Expression. Am J Pathol 187:2698-2710
Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong; Ye, Dongmei et al. (2016) TNF-? Modulation of Intestinal Tight Junction Permeability Is Mediated by NIK/IKK-? Axis Activation of the Canonical NF-?B Pathway. Am J Pathol 186:1151-65
Moore, Sarah A; Nighot, Prashant; Reyes, Cynthia et al. (2016) Intestinal barrier dysfunction in human necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr Surg 51:1907-1913
Nighot, Prashant; Al-Sadi, Rana; Rawat, Manmeet et al. (2015) Matrix metalloproteinase 9-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction permeability contributes to the severity of experimental DSS colitis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 309:G988-97
Guo, Shuhong; Nighot, Meghali; Al-Sadi, Rana et al. (2015) Lipopolysaccharide Regulation of Intestinal Tight Junction Permeability Is Mediated by TLR4 Signal Transduction Pathway Activation of FAK and MyD88. J Immunol 195:4999-5010
Nighot, Prashant K; Hu, Chien-An Andy; Ma, Thomas Y (2015) Autophagy enhances intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier function by targeting claudin-2 protein degradation. J Biol Chem 290:7234-46
Guo, Shuhong; Al-Sadi, Rana; Said, Hamid M et al. (2013) Lipopolysaccharide causes an increase in intestinal tight junction permeability in vitro and in vivo by inducing enterocyte membrane expression and localization of TLR-4 and CD14. Am J Pathol 182:375-87
Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong; Ye, Dongmei et al. (2013) Mechanism of IL-1? modulation of intestinal epithelial barrier involves p38 kinase and activating transcription factor-2 activation. J Immunol 190:6596-606
Al-Sadi, Rana; Guo, Shuhong; Ye, Dongmei et al. (2013) TNF-? modulation of intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier is regulated by ERK1/2 activation of Elk-1. Am J Pathol 183:1871-1884

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