First Author | Chatterjee I | Year | 2021 |
Journal | J Crohns Colitis | Volume | 15 |
Issue | 10 | Pages | 1720-1736 |
PubMed ID | 33690841 | Mgi Jnum | J:344066 |
Mgi Id | MGI:7490437 | Doi | 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab044 |
Citation | Chatterjee I, et al. (2021) Overexpression of Vitamin D Receptor in Intestinal Epithelia Protects Against Colitis via Upregulating Tight Junction Protein Claudin 15. J Crohns Colitis 15(10):1720-1736 |
abstractText | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dysfunction of the vitamin D receptor [VDR] contributes to the aetiology of IBD by regulating autophagy, immune response, and mucosal permeability. VDR directly controls the paracellular tight junction protein Claudin-2. Claudin-2 and Claudin-15 are unique in maintaining paracellular permeability. Interestingly, claudin-15 mRNA was downregulated in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, the exact mechanism of Claudin-15 regulation in colitis is still unknown. Here, we investigated the protective role of VDR against intestinal inflammation via upregulating Claudin-15. METHODS: We analysed the correlation of Claudin-15 with the reduction of VDR in human colitis. We generated intestinal epithelial overexpression of VDR [O-VDR] mice to study the gain of function of VDR in colitis. Intestinal epithelial VDR knockout [VDRIEC] mice were used for the loss of function study. Colonoids and SKCO15 cells were used as in vitro models. RESULTS: Reduced Claudin-15 was significantly correlated with decreased VDR along the colonic epithelium of human IBD. O-VDR mice showed decreased susceptibility to chemically and bacterially induced colitis and marked increased Claudin-15 expression [both mRNA and protein] in the colon. Correspondingly, colonic Claudin-15 was reduced in VDRIEC mice, which were susceptible to colitis. Overexpression of intestinal epithelial VDR and vitamin D treatment resulted in a significantly increased Claudin-15. ChIP assays identified the direct binding of VDR to the claudin-15 promoter, suggesting that claudin-15 is a target gene of VDR. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the mechanism of VDR upregulation of Claudin-15 to protect against colitis. This might enlighten the mechanism of barrier dysfunction in IBD and potential therapeutic strategies to inhibit inflammation. |