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Butyrate enemas upregulate Muc genes expression but decrease adherent mucus thickness in mice colon.

E Gaudier¹, M Rival, M-P Buisine

¹UMR - PhAN & CRNH, Physiologie des Adaptations Nutritionnelles, Nantes Cedex 1, France.

Physiological Research

|January 18, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Butyrate, a product of carbohydrate fermentation, increases the expression of colonic mucin genes but decreases the thickness of the protective mucus layer in mice.

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Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

The colonic mucus gel, primarily mucins, protects the gut lining.
Butyrate, a fermentation product, influences mucin production, but its specific effects are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate butyrate's impact on colonic mucin gene expression in vivo.
To determine if butyrate affects mucus synthesis and mucus layer thickness.

Main Methods:

Mice received daily rectal enemas of butyrate (100 mM) or saline for 7 days.
Gene expression of colonic mucins (Muc1, Muc2, Muc3, Muc4) was analyzed.
Muc2 protein levels and adherent mucus layer thickness were assessed.

Main Results:

Butyrate significantly stimulated the gene expression of both secreted (Muc2) and membrane-linked (Muc1, Muc3, Muc4) mucins.
A 6-fold increase in Muc2 gene expression was observed in the proximal colon.
Despite increased MUC2 gene expression, the number of Muc2-containing cells remained unchanged, and the adherent mucus layer thickness decreased twofold.

Conclusions:

Butyrate upregulates colonic mucin gene expression in vivo.
The decrease in adherent mucus layer thickness warrants further investigation into its functional implications for mucosal protection.