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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2014; 20(37): 13521-13529
Published online Oct 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13521
Published online Oct 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13521
Epidermal growth factor upregulates serotonin transporter and its association with visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome
Xiu-Fang Cui, Wei-Mei Zhou, Yan Yang, Jun Zhou, Xue-Liang Li, Lin Lin, Hong-Jie Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Cui XF, Zhou WM, Yang Y and Zhou J performed the experiments; Cui XF collected and analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript; Zhang HJ designed the study and revised the manuscript; Li XL and Lin L provided vital guidance to the study.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.81270469; and Key Medical Personnel of Jiangsu Province, No.RC2011063
Correspondence to: Hong-Jie Zhang, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. hjzhang06@163.com
Telephone: +86-25-83718836 Fax: +86-25-83674636
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: March 10, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: October 7, 2014
Revised: March 10, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: October 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Results of this study show that visceral hypersensitivity results in a decrease in the plasma and colon tissue levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Moreover, the EGF levels were positively correlated with serotonin transporter (SERT) levels. SERT gene expression and protein activity were upregulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner by EGF, and an inhibitor of the EGF receptor kinase blocked SERT gene expression and activity in an intestinal epithelial cell line. The data suggest that decreased EGF levels may contribute to the formation of visceral hypersensitivity through downregulation of SERT activity.