Protein Kinase D2 Protects against Acute Colitis Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium in Mice

Jing Xiong1, Ming-Feng Zhou1,2, Ya-Dong Wang1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.

Scientific Reports
|September 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Protein kinase D2 (PKD2) activation protects against inflammatory bowel disease. PKD2 deficiency in mice worsened colitis, suggesting PKD2

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves immune dysregulation and impaired intestinal barrier function.
  • Protein kinase D2 (PKD2) plays a role in immune response regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Protein Kinase D2 (PKD2) in murine colitis.
  • To determine if PKD2 catalytic activity influences susceptibility to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of colitis in wild-type (PKD2WT/WT) and catalytic activity-deficient (PKD2SSAA/SSAA) mice using DSS.
  • Assessment of clinical signs, colonic inflammation, cytokine mRNA levels, and intestinal barrier markers (ZO-1, MUC2).
  • Comparison of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis between genotypes.
  • Analysis of PKD2 expression in human IBD patients versus healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • PKD2SSAA/SSAA mice showed increased susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis, with greater weight loss and colonic inflammation.
  • PKD2SSAA/SSAA mice exhibited elevated inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels and intestinal barrier dysfunction (down-regulation of ZO-1 and MUC2).
  • No significant differences in intestinal epithelial cell proliferation or apoptosis were observed between PKD2SSAA/SSAA and wild-type mice.
  • PKD2 expression was found to be repressed in patients with IBD compared to healthy individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Catalytic activity of PKD2 is crucial for protection against DSS-induced colitis in mice.
  • PKD2 activation in the colonic epithelium may protect against colitis by modulating mucosal immunity and intestinal barrier function.
  • Reduced PKD2 expression in IBD patients suggests a potential role in disease pathogenesis.