Release of endogenous opioids from duodenal enteroendocrine cells requires Trpm5

Zaza Kokrashvili1, Deniliz Rodriguez, Valeriya Yevshayeva

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Gastroenterology
|March 11, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Researchers identified novel enteroendocrine cells in the mouse duodenum that co-express opioid peptides and Trpm5. These cells release peptides into the gut lumen, a process dependent on the Trpm5 ion channel.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Enteroendocrine cells regulate gut physiology through secreted molecules.
  • Less-understood enteroendocrine cells lack secretory granules.
  • A specific subset expresses Trpm5 and produces peptides.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Characterize a novel enteroendocrine cell type in the duodenum.
  • Investigate the role of Trpm5 in these cells.
  • Determine the secretory function and regulation of these cells.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry and ELISA on mouse intestinal tissues.
  • Analysis of wild-type, Trpm5-null, and Trpm5-reporter mice.
  • Expression pattern analysis of Trpm5 and associated molecules.

Main Results:

  • Identified a distinct enteroendocrine cell population in the mouse duodenum defined by Trpm5 expression.
  • These cells lack typical secretory granules but contain opioid peptides (beta-endorphin, Met-enkephalin) and uroguanylin.
  • Peptides are localized to apical compartments near the gut lumen.

Conclusions:

  • Discovered solitary chemosensory cells in the duodenum co-expressing beta-endorphin, Met-enkephalin, uroguanylin, and Trpm5.
  • These cells likely secrete bioactive peptides into the intestinal lumen in response to dietary cues.
  • Trpm5 ion channel is essential for the release of these opioid peptides.

Related Concept Videos

Hormonal Regulation01:40

Hormonal Regulation

Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Regulation of the Digestive System01:25

Regulation of the Digestive System

Digestive activity regulation hinges on three primary components. Activation is prompted by a multitude of mechanical and chemical indicators, primarily detected by receptors within the stomach and intestines' walls. These receptors predominantly respond to factors such as mechanical stretching of the organ walls, changes in pH and osmolarity, and the presence of digesting materials and their by-products.
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of these...
Intestinal Phase of Digestion01:29

Intestinal Phase of Digestion

The intestinal phase of digestion is the third and final stage of the digestive process, occurring after the cephalic and gastric phases. It begins when chyme, a partially digested mixture of food and digestive enzymes, enters the small intestine from the stomach. This phase is crucial for nutrient absorption and involves complex hormonal and enzymatic interactions.
The arrival of the chyme in the small intestine distends the duodenum, which triggers the enterogastric reflex. This distension...
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...