Elevated adenomatous polyposis coli in goblet cells is associated with inflammation in mouse and human colon

What is the central question of this study? What is the localization and distribution pattern of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in intestinal epithelial cells? Does this distribution change in different regions of the colon or in the condition of inflammation? What is the main finding and its importance? Colonic epithelia from mice and humans contain a subset of goblet cells displaying high APC levels. The number of APC^high goblet cells increases in inflamed tissue, which also displays increased GRP78, indicating potential stress from mucin production. In cultured human colon cells, expression of interleukin 1 pathway components (inducers of MUC2 expression) is reduced upon APC depletion raising the potential for APC participation in an inflammatory response.

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) serves as a gatekeeper of intestinal homeostasis by promoting cellular differentiation and maintaining crypt architecture. Although appreciated as a critical colon tumour suppressor, roles for APC in disease states such as inflammation have yet to be fully delineated. This study aimed to characterize the localization of APC protein in gastrointestinal tissues from human patients with active inflammatory bowel disease and mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed a subset of goblet cells with elevated Apc staining intensity in the small intestines and proximal/medial colons of mice. Upon induction of colitis with DSS, these 'APC^high ' goblet cells remained in the proximal and medial colon, but now were also observed in the distal colon. This phenotype was recapitulated in humans, with APC^high goblet cells observed only in the descending colons of patients with active ulcerative colitis. In cultured human colon cells derived from normal tissue, APC depletion reduced expression of mRNAs encoding the interleukin 1 (IL1) signalling pathway components IL1β and interleukin-1 receptor (IL1R), known regulators of Muc2 expression. Treating cancer cells lacking wild-type APC with IL1β, or induction of full-length APC in these cells led to increases in IL1R and MUC2 expression. Combining IL1β treatment with APC induction led to an increase of MUC2 expression greater than expected for additive affects, suggesting that APC sensitizes cells to IL1 signalling. These findings suggest that APC has novel roles in maintaining proper goblet cell function, thus providing further evidence for APC as an important factor in intestinal tissue homeostasis and disease.