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Compartmentalised expression of meprin in small intestinal mucosa: enhanced expression in lamina propria in coeliac

Daniel Lottaz1, Caroline Buri, Giovanni Monteleone

  • 1Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. daniel.lottaz@mci.unibe.ch

Biological Chemistry
|March 7, 2007
PubMed

Insights

In coeliac disease, meprin (a protease) shifts from intestinal epithelial cells to leukocytes. This change in expression site may alter its function in the small intestine.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Meprin, an astacin-like metalloprotease, is normally found in the human small intestine's brush border and lumen.
  • Meprin's typical localization suggests its role in processing luminal components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and localization of meprin in the context of coeliac disease.
  • To understand how coeliac disease affects meprin mRNA distribution in the small intestine.

Main Methods:

  • In situ hybridization was performed on duodenal tissue sections.
  • Expression patterns of meprin mRNA were analyzed in normal and coeliac disease mucosa.

Main Results:

  • In normal small intestine mucosa, meprin mRNA is predominantly expressed in epithelial cells.
  • In coeliac disease patients, a significant shift in meprin mRNA expression was observed, moving from epithelial cells to lamina propria leukocytes.
  • This redistribution suggests meprin gains access to subepithelial substrates.

Conclusions:

  • Coeliac disease alters the expression site of meprin mRNA in the small intestine.
  • The shift of meprin expression to leukocytes may have implications for the inflammatory processes and tissue remodeling in coeliac disease.

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