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Related Experiment Videos

Mast cells disrupt epithelial barrier function during enteric nematode infection.

Jacqueline R McDermott1, Ruth E Bartram, Pamela A Knight

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom. jacqueline.r.mcdermott@man.ac.uk

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|June 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary

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Mast cells increase intestinal permeability during nematode infection by degrading tight junction proteins. This heightened leakiness is crucial for expelling parasites like Trichinella spiralis.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Nematode infections trigger type 2 inflammation and mucosal mastocytosis, aiding parasite expulsion.
  • Increased intestinal leakiness is observed during helminth infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mast cells in altering intestinal barrier function during nematode infection.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which mast cells influence epithelial permeability.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing intestinal epithelial permeability in Trichinella spiralis infected mice.
  • Analyzing tight junction protein expression, specifically occludin.
  • Utilizing anti-c-kit antibody and IL-9 transgenic mice to study mast cell involvement.
  • Examining mice deficient in mast cell-specific proteases.

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Main Results:

  • Intestinal permeability significantly increases during infection, mirroring the adaptive immune response.
  • Degradation of occludin, a tight junction protein, was identified as a key factor in increased permeability.
  • Mast cells were confirmed as the direct mediators of increased epithelial permeability.
  • Mice lacking mast cell-specific proteases showed impaired intestinal permeability and failed to expel parasites.

Conclusions:

  • Mast cells play a critical role in regulating intestinal epithelial barrier function during nematode infections.
  • The degradation of occludin by mast cells provides a mechanism for parasite expulsion.
  • Targeting mast cell activity could be a strategy for managing helminth infections.