Naringenin attenuates slow-transit constipation by regulating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signalling pathway: in vivo and in...

Slow-transit constipation (STC) is a widespread functional gastrointestinal condition distinguished by decreased colonic motility as an essential clinical characteristic. The excessive autophagy of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) causes phenotypic changes and functional abnormalities, which are important in colonic dysmotility. Naringenin (NAR) has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal motility disorders. The present study aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of naringenin in autophagy in STC and its underlying mechanism.

In vitro, ICCs were stimulated with L-glutamic acid (GA) to induce autophagy and treated with NAR. A CCK8 assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of NAR. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to examine NAR apoptosis. The expression of the autophagy markers Beclin1 and LC3B, as well as proteins related to the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway was investigated through quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique was used to knockdown selective autophagy receptors (NDP52, OPTN, NBR1, and p62) in ICCs. Coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) was used to evaluate the binding of pS757-ULK1 to the autophagy receptors NDP52 and OPTN in ICCs. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining was performed to observe the colocalization of pS757-ULK1 with exogenous NDP52 and OPTN in ICCs. In vivo, male C57BL/6 mice were administered loperamide (10 mg/kg) to establish a constipation model and then treated with NAR (75/150/300 mg/kg) for 2 weeks. Finally, colonic tissues were collected for a histological analysis and immunohistochemical for cell growth factor receptor kit (c-Kit) and anoctamin-1 (ANO1).

Our results indicated that NAR improved the survival and apoptosis of ICCs after GA by inhibiting autophagy through the partial suppression of the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signalling pathway. Moreover, NAR inhibited the autophagic degradation of pS757-ULK1 by weakening the interactions between pS757-ULK1 and the selective autophagy receptor genes NDP52 and OPTN. Further research revealed that NAR could increase the moisture content of faeces; increase the rate of small intestinal propulsion in mice; increase the serum concentrations of excitatory neurotransmitters such as GAS, 5-HT, MTL, and SP; and increase the expression levels of ANO1 and c-Kit in the colon, and the molecular mechanism was consistent with the in vitro results.

NAR attenuates the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in ICCs, thereby improving STC colonic dysmotility and underscoring its promise as a therapeutic option for STC.