The overall objectives of this application are: 1) to use the expression patterns of the paired ligands guanylin and uroguanylin to understand the factors which contribute to transcriptional regulation in intestinal epithelial cells and 2) to identify the specific physiologic and pathophysiologic functions of these ligands by generating and studying transgenic animal models. Because of the defined spatial patterns of expression of guanylin and uroguanylin, their high levels of intestinal expression, and the tools which we currently possess, these paired genes represent a unique opportunity to identify mechanisms of gene expression, especially in the colon and in the small intestinal crypts. In vitro techniques, including transient transfection assays, DNasel hypersensitivity and footprinting will be used to guide in vivo studies of gene expression. Transgenic mice expressing various portions of the guanylin and uroguanylin promoter elements linked to the luciferase reporter gene will be used to define sequences that direct tissue specific expression. In order to accomplish our second objective we will create a guanylin and a uroguanylin knockout mouse. Our initial efforts at gene targeting by homologous recombination have produced a perinatal-lethal and/or embryo-lethal phenotype. In order to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for this phenotype, we will identify the sites of expression of guanylin and uroguanylin in the developing mouse embryo, embryoid bodies, placenta and yolk sac; to do this we will use RT-PCR, whole mount and tissue slice in situ hybridization. This will identify whether guanylin or uroguanylin is expressed in the developing intestine as well as in critical organs outside the intestine in the developing mouse. Based on the results and interpretation of these studies, we will pursue a strategy to effect tissue-specific ablation of guanylin by taking advantage of an in vitro or an in vivo conditional targeting approach. This will generate transgenic mice lacking guanylin and/or uroguanylin in the intestine. To discern the role of guanylin and uroguanylin in vivo, we will measure basal and stimulated intestinal secretion using bioelectric, ion flux and in situ ligated loop measurements. Based on the observed physiologic actions of guanylin, we will investigate the effect of guanylin and uroguanylin loss on salt tolerance, bicarbonate buffering, an acute phase injury, intestinal motility and intestinal adenoma formation. We will determine whether guanylin or uroguanylin receptors are upregulated in these mice and whether receptors other than guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), play a role in any identified phenotype. Should guanylin or uroguanylin inactivation result in """"""""no basal phenotype,"""""""" we will search for compensatory or redundant mechanisms which permit this """"""""normal"""""""" phenotype.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DK047318-04A1
Application #
2851702
Study Section
General Medicine A Subcommittee 2 (GMA)
Program Officer
Hamilton, Frank A
Project Start
1995-09-30
Project End
2003-08-31
Budget Start
1999-09-01
Budget End
2000-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071284913
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45229
Amarachintha, Surya; Harmel-Laws, Eleana; Steinbrecher, Kris A (2018) Guanylate cyclase C reduces invasion of intestinal epithelial cells by bacterial pathogens. Sci Rep 8:1521
Steinbrecher, Kris A (2014) The multiple roles of guanylate cyclase C, a heat stable enterotoxin receptor. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 30:1-6
Harmel-Laws, Eleana; Mann, Elizabeth A; Cohen, Mitchell B et al. (2013) Guanylate cyclase C deficiency causes severe inflammation in a murine model of spontaneous colitis. PLoS One 8:e79180
Mann, Elizabeth A; Harmel-Laws, Eleana; Cohen, Mitchell B et al. (2013) Guanylate cyclase C limits systemic dissemination of a murine enteric pathogen. BMC Gastroenterol 13:135
Steinbrecher, Kris A; Cohen, Mitchell B (2011) Transmembrane guanylate cyclase in intestinal pathophysiology. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 27:139-45
Han, Xiaonan; Mann, Elizabeth; Gilbert, Shila et al. (2011) Loss of guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) signaling leads to dysfunctional intestinal barrier. PLoS One 6:e16139
Steinbrecher, Kris A; Harmel-Laws, Eleana; Garin-Laflam, Monica P et al. (2011) Murine guanylate cyclase C regulates colonic injury and inflammation. J Immunol 186:7205-14
Mann, Elizabeth A; Shanmukhappa, Kumar; Cohen, Mitchell B (2010) Lack of guanylate cyclase C results in increased mortality in mice following liver injury. BMC Gastroenterol 10:86
Garin-Laflam, M P; Steinbrecher, K A; Rudolph, J A et al. (2009) Activation of guanylate cyclase C signaling pathway protects intestinal epithelial cells from acute radiation-induced apoptosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 296:G740-9
Sellers, Zachary M; Mann, Elizabeth; Smith, Anders et al. (2008) Heat-stable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (STa) can stimulate duodenal HCO3(-) secretion via a novel GC-C- and CFTR-independent pathway. FASEB J 22:1306-16

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