You are here

Article Text

Article menu

Download PDFPDF

Inflammatory bowel disease
Mucin gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells in Crohn's disease
  1. M-P Buisinea,b,e,
  2. P Desreumauxc,
  3. E Leteurtred,e,
  4. M-C Copind,e,
  5. J-F Colombelc,e,
  6. N Porcheta,b,e,
  7. J-P Auberta,b
  1. aUnité INSERM No 377, Lille, France, bLaboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital C Huriez, CHRU, Lille, France, cService des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif et de la Nutrition, Hôpital C Huriez, et Equipe INSERM No 0114, CHRU, Lille, France, dLaboratoire d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Faculté de Médecine H Warembourg et Hôpital A Calmette, CHRU, Lille, France, eFaculté de Médecine H Warembourg, Université de Lille II, Lille, France
  1. M-P Buisine, Unité INSERM No 377, place de Verdun, 59045 Lille Cedex, France. buisine{at}lille.inserm.fr.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin. It is characterised by chronic mucosal ulcerations which affect any part of the intestine but most commonly are found in the ileum and proximal colon.

AIMS Studies were undertaken to provide information regarding cell specific expression of mucin genes in the ileum of patients with CD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS Expression of mucin genes was analysed in the ileal mucosa of patients with CD and controls by in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS In healthy ileal mucosa, patients with CD showed a pattern identical to normal controls with main expression of MUC2 andMUC3, lesser expression ofMUC1 and MUC4, and no expression of MUC5AC,MUC5B, MUC6, orMUC7. In the involved mucosa, the pattern was somewhat comparable although heterogeneous to that observed in healthy ileal mucosa. Importantly, a particular mucin gene expression pattern was observed in ileal mucosa close to the ulcer margins in ulcer associated cell lineage, with the appearance ofMUC5AC and MUC6mRNAs and peptides, which are normally restricted to the stomach (MUC5AC and MUC6) and duodenum (MUC6), and disappearance ofMUC2.

CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that gel forming mucins (more particularly MUC5AC and MUC6) may have a role in epithelial wound healing after mucosal injury in inflammatory bowel diseases in addition to mucosal protection.

  • mucins
  • MUC genes
  • Crohn's disease
  • ulcer associated cell lineage

  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    CD
    Crohn's disease
    UACL
    ulcer associated cell lineage
    TFF
    trefoil factor
    vWF
    von Willebrand factor

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.49.4.544

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

      Request Permissions

      If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

      Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease of unknown origin. It is characterised by chronic mucosal ulcerations which affect any part of the intestine but most commonly are found in the ileum and proximal colon.1 The intestinal epithelium is covered by a continuous layer of mucus that provides a physical barrier between the underlying epithelium and aggressive agents present in the gastrointestinal tract lumen.2 Mucus properties are attributed largely to its constituent mucinO-glycoproteins which exhibit high density and viscoelasticity.

      To date, eight human epithelial mucin genes have been well characterised:MUC1–4,MUC5AC, MUC5B, andMUC6–7.3 ,4Additional partial cDNAs have been proposed forMUC8,5 MUC9,6 MUC11, andMUC12.7 Much progress has been made recently in our understanding of the structure of these genes, allowing classification of their products into two categories: membrane anchored mucins and secreted mucins. Membrane anchored mucins consist of the small mucin MUC1 and the two large mucins MUC3 and MUC4. Secreted mucins consist of the small mucin MUC7 and the large gel forming mucins MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 whose genes are clustered on chromosome 11p15.5. Mucins are widely expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in a highly tissue and cell specific manner.8

      Quantitative and qualitative changes in mucins are a feature of inflammatory bowel diseases which may contribute to impaired mucosal integrity. Most of the qualitative changes reported in the literature are related to alterations in the glycosylated portion of mucins. Less is known about the various mucin gene products.9 In a previous report, using quantitative dot blot analysis, we showed that expression of mucin genes is heterogeneous among patients with CD, with a slight decrease in expression levels in both healthy and involved ileal mucosae.10 With the aim of providing further information regarding deregulation of expression of mucin genes in CD, we used in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to study expression of MUC1–4,MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6–7 in ileal mucosa of patients with CD and demonstrated that mucin genes (more particularly mucin genes of the 11p15 family) display abnormal expression patterns in the mucosa close to ulcerations. A potential role for mucins in mucosal healing in addition to mucosal protection is discussed.

      Patients and methods

      PATIENTS AND PROTOCOL

      Eleven patients with CD (CD 1–11) (seven females, four males; mean age 29 years, range 18–67) were evaluated for mucin gene expression. The diagnosis of CD was established using defined criteria.11 Patients had pure ileal involvement or ileocolonic CD. They underwent surgery because of symptomatic stenosis, abscess or fistula, or medical treatment failure. During the surgical procedure, an ileoscopy was systematically performed to assess macroscopically and histologically the integrity of the ileal mucosa 30 cm above the future anastomosis, as previously described.12 Ileal biopsies were systematically performed at 10 cm and 30 cm above the future anastomosis. Samples were also obtained from surgical specimens in the macroscopically normal mucosa and lesions. To complete the study, additional samples were obtained from surgical specimens from eight patients (CD 12–19) (six females, two males; mean age 31 years, range 20–53) in mucosa close to the ulcer margins.

      As controls, ileal biopsy specimens were taken from 14 patients (CT 1–14) (11 females, three males; mean age 38 years, range 17–60) who underwent endoscopy for irritable bowel disease. No endoscopic lesions were found in these patients.

      All patients gave informed consent after approval from the ethics committee.

      TISSUES

      Samples were immersed immediately in 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffer or 10% formol for a minimum of 6–24 hours depending on the sample size and further embedded in paraffin. Sections (3 μm thick) were cut and mounted on gelatine covered slides for in situ hybridisation analysis. Serial sections were mounted on silan covered slides for immunohistochemical and histological analyses. Sections were routinely stained with haematoxylin-eosin-saffron and astra blue or trichrome for a first histological analysis.

      HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

      Sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and May-Grünwald-Giemsa for histological study. Biopsies were scored for the presence of inflammatory lesions in a standardised way, as previously described.10 ,13 This score included features of inflammatory changes such as the intensity of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in the lamina propria, interaction between inflammatory cells and the epithelium (cryptitis, crypt abscess), features of epithelial cell damage, and structural changes. In addition, goblet cell hyperplasia (increase in number) and increased mucus content were recorded as present or absent. The intensity of the inflammatory changes was graded from 1 to 13 corresponding, respectively, to absent and severe inflammatory changes.

      IN SITU HYBRIDISATION

      Probes

      In situ hybridisation was performed using eight 35S labelled antisense oligonucleotide probes corresponding to each tandem repeat domain of MUC1, MUC2, MUC3,MUC4, MUC5AC,MUC5B, MUC6, andMUC7, as described in previous studies.14 ,15

      Hybridisation procedure

      The hybridisation steps were as described previously.14 Briefly, tissue sections were deparaffinised, rehydrated, incubated with 2 μg/ml proteinase K (Roche Diagnostics, Meylan, France) for 15 minutes, and fixed again in 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffered saline for 15 minutes. Sections were then immersed in 0.1 M triethanolamine (Sigma, L'Isle d'Abeau Chesnes, France) containing 0.25% acetic anhydride for 10 minutes. Sections were prehybridised in 4× SSPE, 1× Denhardt's buffer for 45 minutes, and hybridised overnight at 42°C in 20–100 μl of a 4× SSPE solution containing 50% formamide (v/v), 0.1%N-lauroylsarcosine (w/v), 1.2 M sodium phosphate (pH 7.2), 1× Denhardt's buffer, 3 mg/ml yeast tRNA, 20 mM dithiothreitol, and 7.5×103 dpm/μl of 35S labelled oligonucleotide. After post-hybridisation washes, slides were dipped in LM-1 emulsion (Amersham, Les Ulis, France), developed 1–3 weeks after exposure, and counterstained with methyl green pyronin (Sigma).

      The following controls were performed: (i) competition studies by treatment of tissue sections with a large excess of unlabelled oligonucleotide identical to or distinct from the 35S labelled probe; (ii) verification of the absence of background by careful examination of non-epithelial structures (vessels, muscle, and connective tissue); and (iii) tissues from CD patients and controls were tested in parallel under the same conditions.

      Scoring

      The intensity of the hybridisation signal was scored semiquantitatively as: −, absent; +, weak (visible at magnification ×200); ++, moderate (visible at magnification ×100); +++, strong (visible at magnification ×40); and ++++, very strong (visible macroscopically).

      IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

      Antibodies

      Immunohistochemistry was performed using polyclonal antibodies raised against MUC2,16 MUC5AC,16 and MUC5B,17 and a monoclonal antibody raised against MUC6.18

      Staining procedure

      The staining procedure was conducted using an automated immunostainer (ES, Ventana Medical Systems, Strasbourg, France) and a three step indirect process based on the biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase method. After microwave pretreatment in citrate buffer (pH 6.0) for two 10 minutes cycles, tissue sections were incubated for four minutes with fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide in methanol to block endogenous peroxidase, and for 32 minutes with normal goat serum in phosphate buffered saline to block non-specific binding sites. The sections were then incubated with primary antibodies for 32 minutes at 37°C. Antibodies were used at dilutions of 1/1000 for MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC5B, and at 1/250 for MUC6. After washing, sections were incubated with the biotinylated secondary goat antirabbit antibody for polyclonal antibodies or rabbit antimouse antibody for the monoclonal antibody for eight minutes at 37°C, with streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate for eight minutes at 37°C, and then developed with diaminobenzidine (Sigma) in 0.03% hydrogen peroxide. The sections were then routinely counterstained with haematoxylin.

      The following controls were performed: negative controls: (i) slides run without the primary antibody; (ii) careful examination of non-epithelial structures (vessels, muscle, and connective tissue); positive controls: inclusion of normal tissues known to express MUC2 (small intestine), MUC5AC (bronchus), MUC5B (bronchus), and MUC6 (antrum) on each automated run.9 ,14 ,19

      Results

      HISTOLOGICAL STUDY

      Controls

      All endoscopic biopsies performed in macroscopically healthy ileal mucosa from controls were histologically normal (score 0/13).

      Patients with CD

      Ileal biopsies obtained in macroscopically unaffected areas from CD patients were normal (score 0/13) except for one patient (CD 7) with moderate inflammation (score 4/13). A relative increase in the number of surface goblet cells (hyperplasia) or an increase in the amount of mucus content were not apparent in these biopsies.

      For the biopsies obtained from ileal lesions of patients with CD, the mean combined structural and inflammatory score was high (10/13, range 7–13). The lesions consisted mainly of an ulcer with adjacent mucosa showing features of inflammation with moderate epithelial damage and structural changes. Goblet cell hyperplasia was noted in four cases. Moreover, ulceration associated cell lineage (UACL) was observed in two cases (n=2/11). UACL was also noted in four samples (n=4/8) taken in mucosa adjacent to the ulcerations. The UACL has been characterised by Wright and coworkers20 as a specific anatomical structure appearing in close proximity to the ulcerated area. Histologically, the UACL can be divided into three components: the acinar portion, which originates from the bases of adjacent intestinal crypts; the duct, which arises from these acini and grows up the core of an adjacent villus; and the surface cells, which migrate through the duct and replace the indigenous lineages.20 ,21

      MUCIN GENE EXPRESSION

      Data are summarised in tables 1 and 2, and figs 1 and 2.

      View this table:
      Table 1

      Mucin gene expression in the ileal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and controls (CT) by in situ hybridisation

      View this table:
      Table 2

      Mucin expression in the ileal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and controls (CT) by immunohistochemistry

      Figure 1
      Figure 1

      In situ hybridisation for mucin gene mRNAs in ileal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease. (A, B) In situ hybridisation for MUC2 (A) and MUC3 (B) mRNAs in healthy ileal mucosa. (A) With the MUC2 probe, labelling was strong and located in the perinuclear region of goblet cells both on villi and in crypts whereas in (B) with the MUC3 probe, labelling was of moderate intensity and located in goblet and absorptive cells on villi (magnification ×200). (C–E) In situ hybridisation for MUC2 (C), MUC3 (D), and MUC4 (E) mRNAs in involved ileal mucosa showing the heterogeneity of the labelling in a given specimen (magnification (C) ×200, (D and E) ×100). (F–O) In situ hybridisation for MUC6 (F), MUC5AC (G–I), MUC2 (J, K), MUC4 (L), MUC3 (M, N), and MUC1 (O) mRNAs in involved ileal mucosa adjacent to ulcerations in the ulcer associated cell lineage (UACL). (F) MUC6 mRNA was observed in newly formed acinar glands of the lineage. (G–I) MUC5AC mRNA was observed in epithelial cells of the upper part of the ducts that develop eventually from the new glands and in epithelial cells that have reached the luminal surface and migrate onto the villus surface with the35S labelled MUC5AC probe (G, I) whereas hybridisation signal was absent with the 35S labelled MUC5AC probe and a large excess of unlabelled MUC5AC probe (H) (negative control). (J, K) MUC2 mRNA was not detected in acinar (J) or surface cells (K) of the new lineage whereas a strong signal was observed in the surrounding goblet cells. (L) A weak signal was observed with the MUC4 probe in epithelial cells of the surface and the ducts. (M, N) A weak signal was observed in epithelial cells of the surface and the ducts with the35S labelled MUC3 probe (M) whereas hybridisation signal was absent with the 35S labelled MUC3 probe and a large excess of unlabelled MUC3 probe (N) (negative control). (O) A weak signal was observed with the MUC1 probe in epithelial cells of the UACL (magnification (F–I, K–N) ×200, (J) ×100, (O) ×400; all sections were counterstained with methyl green pyronin).      

      Figure 2
      Figure 2

      Immunohistochemistry for mucin gene peptides in involved ileal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease. (A) Involved ileal mucosa adjacent to an ulceration stained with haematoxylin-eosin-saffron and astra blue showing the UACL (magnification ×100). (B–G) Immunohistochemistry for MUC6 (B), MUC5AC (C, F), MUC5B (D), and MUC2 (E, G) in the ulcer associated cell lineage (UACL). (B) MUC6 peptides were observed in acinar cells whereas (C and F) MUC5AC was present in surface cells; MUC5B peptides were observed throughout the UACL; (E, G) MUC2 peptides were not detected in acinar (E) or surface cells (G) of the new lineage whereas strong staining was observed in the surrounding goblet cells (magnification (B) ×400, (C–E) ×100, (F, G) ×250; all sections were counterstained with haematoxylin).

      Normal controls

      As expected, MUC2 andMUC3 were the predominant mucin genes expressed in normal ileal mucosa. MUC2 mRNAs and peptides were detected in goblet cells both on villi and in the crypts of Lieberkühn. MUC3 mRNAs were detected in goblet and absorptive cells with a large predominance on villi. Moreover, MUC1 andMUC4 mRNAs were frequently detected in normal ileal mucosa where the labelling was weak and heterogeneous along the epithelium with a predominance in crypts.MUC5AC, MUC5B,MUC6, and MUC7were not detected in normal ileal mucosa.

      Patients with CD

      Healthy ileal mucosa

      In healthy ileal mucosa in patients with CD, the hybridisation pattern was identical to that observed in normal controls, with main expression ofMUC2 and MUC3, lesser expression of MUC1 andMUC4, and no expression ofMUC5AC, MUC5B,MUC6, or MUC7(fig 1A, B).

      Involved ileal mucosa

      In involved ileal mucosa of patients with CD, the hybridisation pattern was somewhat comparable with that observed in healthy ileal mucosa of the same patients or normal mucosa of controls, regardless of the inflammatory state, with main expression of MUC2 andMUC3, and lesser expression ofMUC1 and MUC4. However, the distribution and intensity of the labelling were heterogeneous in a given specimen whatever the probe, with a decrease or an increase in the intensity of the signal depending on the areas examined (fig 1C–E).

       Moreover, a particular hybridisation pattern was observed in mucosa adjacent to the ulcerations in the UACL, with appearance ofMUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 mRNAs and peptides, and disappearance of MUC2. MUC6 mRNAs and peptides were observed in acinar cells of the new lineage arising from crypts adjacent to the ulcerations and in the lower part of the ducts arising from these acini (figs 1F, 2A, 2B). MUC5AC mRNAs and peptides were observed essentially in epithelial cells of the surface and the upper part of the ducts (figs 1G–I, 2C, 2F).MUC5B mRNAs and peptides were only occasionally detected throughout the UACL (fig 2D). In contrast,MUC2 mRNAs and peptides were not detected in the UACL whereas a strong signal was observed in the surrounding mucosa within goblet cells (figs 1J, 1K, 2E, 2G).

      MUC4 mRNAs were detected in surface and duct cells but not in acinar cells (fig 1L). MUC3mRNAs were observed in all epithelial cells of the lineage although the most intense signal was confined to surface and upper duct cells (fig1M, 1N). Weak mRNA expression of MUC1 was also detected throughout the UACL (fig 1O).

      Overlap between MUC6 andMUC5AC hybridisation patterns was observed in some portions of the ducts. A signal was also detected with theMUC1, MUC3,MUC4, and MUC5Bprobes in the same duct cells.

      MUC7 was not detected in involved ileal mucosa of patients with CD by in situ hybridisation.

      Discussion

      We have used in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to analyse expression of the mucin genes in the ileum of 19 patients with CD. To our knowledge, the only other study describing cell specific expression of mucin genes in CD was performed by Weiss and colleagues22 who analysed MUC2and MUC3 mRNA expression in intestinal mucosa of seven patients and reported a normal hybridisation pattern regardless of whether the mucosa manifested active or quiescent inflammation.

      In this study, we showed that the healthy ileal mucosa of patients with CD displayed a normal hybridisation pattern with main expression ofMUC2 and MUC3, with MUC2 being expressed in goblet cells on villi and in crypts, and MUC3 in both goblet and absorptive cells essentially on villi.MUC1 and MUC4were only occasionally detected in normal and healthy ileal mucosa, probably due to the location of the sample (proximal or distal) along the ileum, as suggested previously.23 Indeed,MUC1 and MUC4 are not seen in the intestine, except in the ileum and colon, and also in duodenal Brünner's glands for MUC1 only.MUC5AC, MUC5B,MUC6, and MUC7were never detected in normal or healthy ileal mucosae. These findings are in accordance with previous reports of mucin gene expression in the small intestine.14 ,19 ,22-24

      In the involved ileal mucosa of patients with CD, although the hybridisation pattern was comparable with that observed in healthy ileal mucosa and normal controls with main expression ofMUC2 and MUC3 and lesser expression of MUC1 andMUC4, the distribution and intensity of the labelling were heterogeneous depending on the areas examined. This heterogeneity probably reflects typical cytological changes that accompany CD.25 ,26

      More interestingly, we showed that at least six mucin genes,MUC1, MUC3,MUC4, MUC5AC,MUC5B, and MUC6, were expressed in involved ileal mucosa adjacent to ulcerations in the so-called UACL. This lineage can be seen in all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with chronic mucosal ulceration but most commonly is found in the small intestine in CD and duodenal ulcer disease. In the intestine, it grows out from the base of crypts adjacent to ulcers and ramifies in the lamina propria to form a new gland, finally giving rise to a duct by which glandular secretions are carried to the surface. Epithelial cells from the duct continue their migration onto the villus surface to restore the epithelium.20 Thus although this lineage has long been regarded as “pyloric” or “Brünner's gland” metaplasia based on morphological criteria and histochemistry, it is now widely accepted that the UACL is a unique cell lineage which develops de novo and not by metaplasia. The UACL secretes large amounts of neutral mucins in contrast with intestinal goblet cells which secrete acid mucins.20 We showed that the UACL expressedMUC1 mRNAs, confirming the finding of a previous immunohistochemical study using antibodies raised against different parts of the mucin core protein (SM3, HMFG1, and HMFG2).20 The UACL also expressedMUC3 and MUC4mRNAs encoding large membrane anchored mucins.

      Of the chromosome 11p15 mucin genes encoding gel forming secreted mucins, MUC5AC,MUC6, and to a lesser extentMUC5B mRNAs and peptides which are not expressed in normal adult ileum were abnormally expressed in the UACL whereas MUC2 which is a major mucin gene expressed in normal intestine was not expressed in the UACL. These findings suggest a possible role for at least MUC5AC and MUC6 in wound healing after chronic mucosal ulceration. Moreover, the UACL is a differentiating cell lineage20 ,27 and epithelial cells showed distinct expression patterns of the mucin genes according to their position within the lineage. MUC5AC is expressed in epithelial cells of the surface and the upper part of the ducts whereas MUC6 is expressed in epithelial cells of acinar glands and the deeper part of the ducts. In the normal gastrointestinal tract, MUC5ACand MUC6 are the major mucin genes expressed in adult stomach, where MUC5AC is expressed in all epithelial cells of surface and pits andMUC6 is expressed in mucous neck cells and in cardial and antral glands.14 ,19 ,28 MUC6 is also widely expressed in duodenal Brünner's glands.19 Moreover,MUC5AC is temporarily expressed in embryonic and fetal intestine.23 MUC5ACis also expressed with MUC6 andMUC5B in embryonic and fetal stomach and duodenum, preceding epithelial cytodifferentiation.19 ,24 ,29 The expression pattern of the mucin genes in the UACL is therefore very similar to that observed in adult stomach and duodenum but more closely resembles that of developing stomach and duodenum, confirming a previous histochemical study.30 Our results reinforce the notion that the UACL reiterates the Brünner's gland differentiation programme and acquires the proliferative organisation of the gastric gland.27 An overlap between the hybridisation patterns forMUC1, MUC3,MUC4, MUC5AC,MUC5B, and MUC6could be observed in some parts of the ducts, most likely corresponding to the proliferative zone.27

      In addition to mucins, UACL expresses several growth factors such as epidermal growth factor.20 The UACL also expresses transcripts encoding the three trefoil factors (TFFs) TFF1 (pS2), TFF2 (spasmolytic peptide), and TFF3 (intestinal trefoil factor).21 ,27 ,31 ,32 Trefoil factors are small cysteine rich proteins with three intramolecular disulphide bonds constituting the TFF domain.33 ,34 These peptides are preferentially expressed by mucin expressing cells in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently are, with mucins, constituents of the mucus layer. Trefoil factor genes show striking similarities with the 11p15 mucin genes in their expression patterns in the gastrointestinal tract.35-37 This was confirmed in a recent study performed by Longman and colleagues38 who showed co-expression of TFF1 and MUC5AC in the stomach, co-expression of TFF2 and MUC6 in the stomach and duodenum, and co-expression of TFF3 and MUC2 in the small intestine and colon. The same authors showed that co-expression of TFF1 and MUC5AC, and TFF2 and MUC6 remained in CD in the UACL. MUC2,MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC6 are clustered on chromosome 11p15.5.39 Similarly, the three human trefoil peptide genes TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3 are clustered on chromosome 21q22.3.40 Similarities between expression patterns of individual MUC andTFF genes suggest coordinated regulation of the two clusters in gastrointestinal epithelial cells.

      The biological activities of trefoil factors in mucosal protection and repair have been well established in in vitro and in vivo studies.33 ,34 However, the mechanisms by which they mediate their functions remain unclear. Although the addition to monolayers of colonic epithelial cell lines of either TFFs or mucins individually confer protection, a combination of TFFs and mucins provides increased protection.41 Indeed, trefoil factors increase the viscosity of purified mucin preparations, increasing the properties of mucins in mucosal protection, and interaction between TFF2 and mucins inhibits proton permeation through the mucus layer.42 Moreover, combinations of TFFs and mucins facilitate restitution of wounded epithelial monolayers.43Thus arguments are accumulating in favour of a cooperative role of gel forming mucins and trefoil factors in mucosal protection and epithelial wound healing.

      All mucins are characterised by a large central region composed of tandemly repeated motifs rich in serine and threonine residues (potentially highly O-glycosylated). In gel forming mucins, this region is flanked by cysteine rich domains similar to the D, B, C, and CK (cystine knot) domains of the pro-von Willebrand factor (vWF). D and CK domains are thought to be important for dimer and oligomer formation.44 Recently, Tomasetto and colleagues45 have demonstrated direct interaction between murine TFF1 and murine gel forming mucins Muc2 and Muc5ac through their two vWF-like C domains. It is therefore tempting to speculate that each mucin is partnered with one specific TFF. In this context, in the gastrointestinal tract, TFF1 might be mainly associated with MUC5AC, TFF2 with MUC6, and TFF3 with MUC2. Supporting this hypothesis, in vitro combination of TFF3 and gastric mucin (of which major glycoprotein components correspond to MUC5AC and MUC6) has been shown to be less effective than one with colonic mucin (essentially composed of MUC2 glycoproteins).41 However, the vWF-like C domains are lacking in the carboxy terminal region of MUC6,46 suggesting that additional sequences in mucins may interact with trefoil factors or that MUC6 does not interact with trefoil factors.

      In conclusion, we have shown that the 11p15 mucin genes encoding gel forming mucins display an abnormal expression pattern in patients with CD in the involved ileal mucosa adjacent to ulcerations, with appearance of MUC5AC,MUC6, and MUC5B, and disappearance of MUC2. Our findings suggest that gel forming mucins (more particularly MUC5AC and MUC6) may have a role in epithelial wound healing after mucosal injury in inflammatory bowel diseases in addition to mucosal protection and may contribute with trefoil factors to epithelium restitution.

      Acknowledgments

      This work was supported by grants from the “Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer”, the “Ligue contre le Cancer”, the “Fondation F Aupetit”, and the EU Consortium “Concerted Action: mucins in the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases of the bronchial and gastrointestinal epithelia”. We thank Dr I Carlstedt, Lunds Universitet, Sweden, for providing MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC5B antibodies, and Professor L David, Instituto de Patologia e Immunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, for providing MUC6 monoclonal antibody. We thank Elisabeth Deschodt and Marie-Claire Dieu for excellent technical assistance.

      Abbreviations used in this paper

      CD
      Crohn's disease
      UACL
      ulcer associated cell lineage
      TFF
      trefoil factor
      vWF
      von Willebrand factor

      References

      1. ↵
        1. Sartor RB
        (1995) Current concepts of the etiology and pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. in Gastroenterology clinics of North America. Inflammatory bowel disease, vol 24, No 3. ed Peppercorn MA (WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia), pp 475–507.
      2. ↵
        1. Neutra MR,
        2. Forstner JF
        (1987) Gastrointestinal mucus: synthesis, secretion and function. in Physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, ed Johnson LR (Raven, New York), 2nd edn. pp 975–1009.
      3. ↵
        1. Gendler S,
        2. Spicer AP
        (1995) Epithelial mucin genes. Annu Rev Physiol 57:607–634.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      4. ↵
        1. Van Klinken BJ,
        2. Dekker J,
        3. Buller HA,
        4. et al.
        (1995) Mucin gene structure and expression: protection vs adhesion. Am J Physiol 269:G613–G627.
        OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
      5. ↵
        1. Shankar V,
        2. Gilmore MS,
        3. Elkins RC,
        4. et al.
        (1994) A novel human airway mucin cDNA encodes a protein with unique tandem-repeat organization. Biochem J 300:295–298.
      6. ↵
        1. Lapensee L,
        2. Paquette Y,
        3. Bleau G
        (1997) Allelic polymorphism and chromosomal localization of the human oviductin gene (MUC9). Fertil Steril 68:702–708.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      7. ↵
        1. Williams SJ,
        2. McGuckin MA,
        3. Gotley DC,
        4. et al.
        (1999) Two novel mucin genes down-regulated in colorectal cancer identified by differential display. Cancer Res 59:4083–4089.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      8. ↵
        1. Lesuffleur T,
        2. Zweibaum A,
        3. Real FX
        (1994) Mucins in normal and neoplastic human gastrointestinal tissues. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 17:153–180.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
      9. ↵
        1. Corfield AP,
        2. Warren BF
        (1996) Mucus glycoproteins and their role in colorectal disease. J Pathol 180:8–17.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      10. ↵
        1. Buisine MP,
        2. Desreumaux P,
        3. Debailleul V,
        4. et al.
        (1999) Abnormalities in mucin gene expression in Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 5:24–32.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      11. ↵
        1. Gower-Rousseau C,
        2. Salomez JL,
        3. Dupas JL,
        4. et al.
        (1994) Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in northern France (1988–1990). Gut 35:1433–1438.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      12. ↵
        1. Klein O,
        2. Colombel JF,
        3. Lescut D,
        4. et al.
        (1995) Remaining small bowel endoscopic lesions at surgery have no influence on early anastomotic recurrences in Crohn's disease. Am J Gastroenterol 90:1949–1952.
        OpenUrlPubMed
      13. ↵
        1. D'Haens G,
        2. Geboes K,
        3. Ponette E,
        4. et al.
        (1997) Healing of severe recurrent ileitis with azathioprine therapy in patients with Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology 112:1475–1481.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      14. ↵
        1. Audié JP,
        2. Janin A,
        3. Porchet N,
        4. et al.
        (1993) Expression of human mucin genes in respiratory, digestive and reproductive tracts ascertained by in situ hybridisation. J Histochem Cytochem 41:1479–1485.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      15. ↵
        1. Buisine MP,
        2. Devisme L,
        3. Copin MC,
        4. et al.
        (1999) Developmental mucin gene expression in the human respiratory tract. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 20:209–218.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      16. ↵
        1. Hovenberg HW,
        2. Davies JR,
        3. Herrmann A,
        4. et al.
        (1996) MUC5AC, but not MUC2, is a prominent mucin in respiratory secretions. Glycoconj J 13:839–847.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      17. ↵
        1. Wickström C,
        2. Davies JR,
        3. Eriksen GV,
        4. et al.
        (1998) MUC5B is a major gel-forming, oligomeric mucin from human salivary gland, respiratory tract and endocervix: identification of glycoforms and C-terminal cleavage. Biochem J 334:685–693.
      18. ↵
        1. Reis CA,
        2. David L,
        3. Carvalho F,
        4. et al.
        (2000) Immunohistochemical study of the expression of MUC6 mucin and co-expression of other secreted mucins (MUC5AC and MUC2) in human gastric carcinomas. J Histochem Cytochem 48:377–388.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      19. ↵
        1. Bartman AE,
        2. Buisine MP,
        3. Aubert JP,
        4. et al.
        (1998) The MUC6 secretory mucin gene is expressed in a wide variety of epithelial tissues. J Pathol 186:398–405.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      20. ↵
        1. Wright NA,
        2. Pike C,
        3. Elia G
        (1990) Induction of a novel epidermal growth factor-secreting cell lineage by mucosal ulceration in human gastrointestinal stem cells. Nature 343:82–85.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
      21. ↵
        1. Wright NA,
        2. Poulsom R,
        3. Stamp G,
        4. et al.
        (1993) Trefoil peptide gene expression in gastrointestinal epithelial cells in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology 104:12–20.
        OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
      22. ↵
        1. Weiss AA,
        2. Babyatsky MW,
        3. Ogata S,
        4. et al.
        (1996) Expression of MUC2 and MUC3 mRNA in human normal, malignant, and in inflammatory intestinal tissues. J Histochem Cytochem 44:1161–1166.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      23. ↵
        1. Buisine MP,
        2. Devisme L,
        3. Savidge TC,
        4. et al.
        (1998) Mucin gene expression in human embryonic and foetal intestine. Gut 43:519–524.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      24. ↵
        1. Buisine MP,
        2. Devisme L,
        3. Degand P,
        4. et al.
        (2000) Developmental mucin gene expression in the gastroduodenal tract and accessory digestive glands, II. Duodenum and liver, gallbladder and pancreas. J Histochem Cytochem 48:1667–1676.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      25. ↵
        1. Riddell RH,
        2. Goldman H,
        3. Ransohoff DF,
        4. et al.
        (1983) Dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease: standardized classification with provisional clinical applications. Hum Pathol 14:931–966.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      26. ↵
        1. Geboes K,
        2. Desreumaux P,
        3. Jouret A,
        4. et al.
        (1999) Histopathologic diagnosis of the activity of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Evaluation of the effect of drug treatment. Use of histological scores. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 23:1062–1073.
        OpenUrlPubMed
      27. ↵
        1. Ahnen DJ,
        2. Poulsom R,
        3. Stamp GW,
        4. et al.
        (1994) The ulceration-associated cell lineage (UACL) reiterates the Brunner's gland differentiation programme but acquires the proliferative organization of the gastric gland. J Pathol 173:317–326.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      28. ↵
        1. Ho SB,
        2. Shekels LL,
        3. Toribara NW,
        4. et al.
        (1995) Mucin gene expression in normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic human gastric epithelium. Cancer Res 55:2681–2690.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      29. ↵
        1. Buisine MP,
        2. Devisme L,
        3. Maunoury V,
        4. et al.
        (2000) Developmental mucin gene expression in the gastroduodenal tract and accessory digestive glands, I. Stomach: a relationship to gastric carcinoma. J Histochem Cytochem 48:1657–1665.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      30. ↵
        1. Roberts IS,
        2. Stoddart RW
        (1993) Ulcer-associated cell lineage (‘pyloric metaplasia’) in Crohn's disease: a lectin histochemical study. J Pathol 171:13–19.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
      31. ↵
        1. Rio MC,
        2. Chenard MP,
        3. Wolf C,
        4. et al.
        (1991) Induction of pS2 and hSP genes as markers of mucosal ulceration of the digestive tract. Gastroenterology 100:375–379.
        OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
      32. ↵
        1. Hauser F,
        2. Poulsom R,
        3. Chinery R,
        4. et al.
        (1993) hP1.B, a human P-domain peptide homologous with rat intestinal trefoil factor, is expressed also in the ulcer-associated cell lineage and the uterus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:6961–6965.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      33. ↵
        1. Sands BE,
        2. Podolsky DK
        (1996) The trefoil peptide family. Annu Rev Physiol 58:253–273.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      34. ↵
        1. Thim L
        (1997) Trefoil peptides: from structure to function. Cell Mol Life Sci 53:888–903.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      35. ↵
        1. Tomasetto C,
        2. Rio MC,
        3. Gautier C,
        4. et al.
        (1990) hSP, the domain-duplicated homolog of pS2 protein, is co-expressed with pS2 in stomach but not in breast carcinoma. EMBO J 9:407–414.
        OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
      36. ↵
        1. Hanby AM,
        2. Poulsom R,
        3. Singh S,
        4. et al.
        (1993) Spasmolytic polypeptide is a major antral peptide: distribution of the trefoil peptides human spasmolytic polypeptide and pS2 in the stomach. Gastroenterology 105:1110–1116.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      37. ↵
        1. Podolsky DK,
        2. Lynch-Devaney K,
        3. Stow JL,
        4. et al.
        (1993) Identification of human intestinal trefoil factor. Goblet cell-specific expression of a peptide targeted for apical secretion. J Biol Chem 268:6694–6702.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      38. ↵
        1. Longman RJ,
        2. Douthwaite J,
        3. Sylvester PA,
        4. et al.
        (2000) Coordinated localisation of mucins and trefoil peptides in the ulcer associated cell lineage and the gastrointestinal mucosa. Gut 47:792–800.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
      39. ↵
        1. Pigny P,
        2. Guyonnet-Duperat V,
        3. Hill AS,
        4. et al.
        (1996) Human mucin genes assigned to 11p15.5: identification and organization of a cluster of genes. Genomics 38:340–352.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      40. ↵
        1. Seib T,
        2. Blin N,
        3. Hilgert K,
        4. et al.
        (1997) The three human trefoil genes TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3 are located within a region of 55 kb on chromosome 21q22.3. Genomics 40:200–202.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
      41. ↵
        1. Kindon H,
        2. Pothoulakis C,
        3. Thim L,
        4. et al.
        (1995) Trefoil peptide protection of intestinal epithelial barrier function: cooperative interaction with mucin glycoprotein. Gastroenterology 109:516–523.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      42. ↵
        1. Tanaka S,
        2. Podolsky DK,
        3. Engel E,
        4. et al.
        (1997) Human spasmolytic polypeptide decreases proton permeation through gastric mucus in vivo and in vitro. Am J Physiol 272:G1473–G1480.
        OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
      43. ↵
        1. Dignass A,
        2. Lynch-Devaney K,
        3. Kindon H,
        4. et al.
        (1994) Trefoil peptides promote epithelial migration through a transforming growth factor beta-independent pathway. J Clin Invest 94:376–383.
      44. ↵
        1. Perez-Vilar J,
        2. Hill RL
        (1999) The structure and assembly of secreted mucins. J Biol Chem 274:31751–31754.
        OpenUrlFREE Full Text
      45. ↵
        1. Tomasetto C,
        2. Masson R,
        3. Linares JL,
        4. et al.
        (2000) pS2/TFF1 interacts directly with the VWFC cysteine-rich domains of mucins. Gastroenterology 118:70–80.
        OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
      46. ↵
        1. Toribara NW,
        2. Ho SB,
        3. Gum E,
        4. et al.
        (1997) The carboxyl-terminal sequence of the human secretory mucin, MUC6. Analysis of the primary amino acid sequence. J Biol Chem 272:16398–16403.
        OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text