Resistin-like molecule beta regulates innate colonic function

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Jul;118(1):257-68.

Resistin-like molecule beta regulates innate colonic function: barrier integrity and inflammation susceptibility.

Hogan SP, Seidu L, Blanchard C, Groschwitz K, Mishra A, Karow ML, Ahrens R, Artis D, Murphy AJ, Valenzuela DM, Yancopoulos GD, Rothenberg ME. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

BACKGROUND: Resistin-like molecule (RELM) beta is a cysteine-rich cytokine expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and implicated in insulin resistance and gastrointestinal nematode immunity; however, its function primarily remains an enigma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to elucidate the function of RELM-beta in the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: We generated RELM-beta gene-targeted mice and examined colonic epithelial barrier function, gene expression profiles, and susceptibility to acute colonic inflammation. RESULTS: We show that RELM-beta is constitutively expressed in the colon by goblet cells and enterocytes and has a role in homeostasis, as assessed by alterations in colon mRNA transcripts and epithelial barrier function in the absence of RELM-beta. Using acute colonic inflammatory models, we demonstrate that RELM-beta has a central role in the regulation of susceptibility to colonic inflammation. Mechanistic studies identify that RELM-beta regulates expression of type III regenerating gene (REG) (REG3beta and gamma), molecules known to influence nuclear factor kappaB signaling. CONCLUSIONS: These data define a critical role for RELM-beta in the maintenance of colonic barrier function and gastrointestinal innate immunity. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings identify RELM-beta as an important molecule in homeostatic gastrointestinal function and colonic inflammation, and as such, these results have implications for a variety of human inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions, including allergic gastroenteropathies.

PMID: 16815164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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