Clinical studies support the therapeutic efficacy of adhesion molecule blockade (i.e. Natalizumab) in Crohn's disease (CD), yet the preclinical data that led to the targeting of specific adhesion molecules (i.e. integrin 14) originated from studies in animal models of colitis. However, sixty percent of patients with CD suffer from ileitis. Our work in novel murine models of ileitis (i.e. SAMP1/Yit, TNF?ARE) supports the novel concept that trafficking to the terminal ileum utilizes an overlapping yet distinct set of molecules, in part different from those that mediate traffic to the colon. This is illustrated by the lack of attenuation of ileitis seen after deletion of molecules critical for physiological trafficking or homing into the colon (i.e. CCR9, integrins 1427 or 1E27) in our model. Unexpectedly, TNF?ARE mice that lack L-selectin or the corresponding sulfotransferases responsible for its functional ligands, develop greatly attenuated disease. Thus our central hypothesis is that L-selectin is critically involved in the pathogenesis of murine ileitis. The TNF ?ARE model represents a unique tool to identify the mechanisms that underlie the attenuation of disease, mediated by L-selectin deficiency. We propose three specific aims to further explore this hypothesis. 1. Dissect the immunological effects of L-selectin deficiency in ileitis. 2. Assess the role of endothelial ligands on the attenuation of ileitis mediated by L-selectin deficiency. 3. Investigate hematopoietic determinants underlying attenuation of ileitis in L- selectin-deficient TNF ?ARE mice. Overall, these studies have the potential to open new perspectives on how T cells reach the small intestine, to induce and maintain ileitis. Given the similarities between the TNF a ARE model and CD, our findings may potentially lead to new therapeutic targets.

Public Health Relevance

White blood cells normally traffic from the blood stream into the intestine, where they patrol for outside invaders. However in Crohn's disease (CD) this traffic is excessive, leading to intestinal damage and often incapacitating symptoms. Recent studies have shown that drugs that reduce excessive white blood cell traffic, like Natalizumab, are effective to treat Crohn's. Yet in rare occasions there are serious complications, as we do not fully understand how Natalizumab works. We have been studying a mouse strain that develops a chronic inflammatory disease of the small intestine, similar to CD and have noticed that when these mice lack L-selectin, a molecule that is involved in the traffic of white cells into the intestine, their disease is virtually absent. In these studies we will attempt to understand how by not having L-selectin these mice are protected from developing IBD. Understanding how white cells use these molecules to travel to the intestine may allow us to reduce white cell traffic and treat CD in an effective and safe manner.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK080212-04
Application #
8324560
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DKUS-B (04))
Program Officer
Hamilton, Frank A
Project Start
2009-07-20
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$304,489
Indirect Cost
$89,136
Name
Veterans Medical Research Fdn/San Diego
Department
Type
DUNS #
933863508
City
San Diego
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92161
McNamee, Eóin N; Masterson, Joanne C; Veny, Marisol et al. (2015) Chemokine receptor CCR7 regulates the intestinal TH1/TH17/Treg balance during Crohn's-like murine ileitis. J Leukoc Biol 97:1011-22
Bamias, Giorgos; Dinarello, Charles A; Rivera-Nieves, Jesús (2015) Innate cytokines dictate the fate of acute intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology 148:248-50
Rivera-Nieves, Jesús (2015) Strategies that target leukocyte traffic in inflammatory bowel diseases: recent developments. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 31:441-8
Boland, Brigid S; Rivera-Nieves, Jesús; Gupta, Samir (2014) Lower endoscopy and prevention of colon cancer. Gastroenterology 147:245-6
Collins, Colm B; Rivera-Nieves, Jesús (2014) Broadening the paradigm of mucosal dendritic cell-mediated induction of gut-homing on T cells. Gastroenterology 146:854-5
Mosli, Mahmoud H; Rivera-Nieves, Jesus; Feagan, Brian G (2014) T-cell trafficking and anti-adhesion strategies in inflammatory bowel disease: current and future prospects. Drugs 74:297-311
Collins, Colm B; Aherne, Carol M; Ehrentraut, Stefan F et al. (2013) Alpha-1-antitrypsin therapy ameliorates acute colitis and chronic murine ileitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 19:1964-73
Bamias, Giorgos; Clark, David J; Rivera-Nieves, Jesús (2013) Leukocyte traffic blockade as a therapeutic strategy in inflammatory bowel disease. Curr Drug Targets 14:1490-500
Tlaxca, José L; Rychak, Joshua J; Ernst, Peter B et al. (2013) Ultrasound-based molecular imaging and specific gene delivery to mesenteric vasculature by endothelial adhesion molecule targeted microbubbles in a mouse model of Crohn's disease. J Control Release 165:216-25
Rivera-Nieves, Jesus; Abreu, Maria T (2013) A call for investment in education of US minorities in the 21(st) century. Gastroenterology 144:863-7

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