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Evidence for neuromodulation of enteropathogen invasion in the intestinal mucosa

Kristin L Schreiber1, Lisa D Price, David R Brown

  • 1Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 1988 Fitch Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108-6010, USA.

Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology : the Official Journal of the Society on Neuroimmune Pharmacology
|November 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Enteric nerves modulate Salmonella internalization in the gut lining. Electrical stimulation boosts bacterial entry, while nerve blockers and specific drugs reduce it, revealing neural control over pathogen interaction.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • The intestinal mucosa is heavily innervated and exposed to pathogens.
  • Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for gut health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of enteric nerves in modulating the intracellular internalization of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104.
  • To examine the effects of electrical stimulation and pharmacological agents on Salmonella internalization in porcine ileal tissue.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized porcine ileum mucosa-submucosa sheets as a model for human intestine.
  • Employed a gentamicin-resistance assay to quantify intracellular Salmonella over 90 minutes.
  • Assessed the impact of cytochalasin D, dithiothreitol, transmural electrical stimulation, saxitoxin, lidocaine, phentolamine, and tropisetron.

Main Results:

  • Cytochalasin D reduced Salmonella internalization; dithiothreitol decreased mucosal adherence.
  • Transmural electrical stimulation increased Salmonella internalization.
  • Neuronal blockers (saxitoxin, lidocaine) and receptor ligands (phentolamine, tropisetron) decreased Salmonella internalization.

Conclusions:

  • Enteric neural activity significantly modulates the interaction between the intestinal mucosa and pathogenic bacteria.
  • Neural pathways and specific receptors play a role in regulating Salmonella entry into intestinal cells.

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