Although mitochondrial dysfunction is demonstrated in the intestinal epithelium of human Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis patients, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction are currently lacking. It is widely appreciated that the intracellular mitochondrial pool is maintained by removal of damaged mitochondria via selective autophagy called mitophagy. Mitophagy may be especially important for the function of intestinal secretory cells (Paneth, goblet, enteroendocrine) which are mitochondria-rich to sustain energy-expending secretory functions, but this has yet to be demonstrated. Paneth cell dysfunction that can be driven by autophagy defects is demonstrated in a subset of CD patients. However, the mechanism whereby mitochondrial stress contributes to inflammation and Paneth cell abnormalities are unknown. Prohibitin 1 (PHB1) is the major component protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) where it regulates electron transport chain function important for ATP production. We have generated mice with Villin- CreERT2 inducible intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-specific deletion of the PHB1 gene (PHB1?IEC) and show that these mice exhibit spontaneous ileitis preceded by mitochondrial dysfunction and Paneth cell defects early after PHB1 deletion. Paneth cell abnormalities in PHB1?IEC mice are reminiscent of mice deficient in Paneth cell autophagy. Our central hypothesis is that mitochondrial dysfunction with subsequent inhibition of mitophagy caused by loss of PHB1 in the intestinal epithelium leads to Paneth cell dysfunction and ileitis. We will pursue 3 specific aims to test this hypothesis: 1. Define the role of PHB1 in mitochondrial dysfunction and spontaneous ileitis, 2. Determine the role of PHB1 in mitophagy induction, and 3. Define whether Paneth cells manifest mitochondrial dysfunction and whether mitochondrial-targeted therapy combats inflammation in patients with Crohn's ileitis. The long-term objective is to determine whether targeting mitochondrial dysfunction is an effective therapeutic strategy for IBD.
It is known that disruption of Paneth cells is a common characteristic of ileal Crohn's disease. However, the role of mitochondrial damage in Paneth cell disruption found in Crohn's disease is unknown. The proposed experiments will determine how mitochondrial stress and mitophagy, the process of eliminating damaged mitochondria, in Paneth cells influence ileitis and determine the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial-targeted therapies to combat inflammation in human Crohn's disease ileitis.
