Lkb1 deficiency alters goblet and paneth cell differentiation in the small intestine

PLoS One. 2009;4(1):e4264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004264. Epub 2009 Jan 23.

Abstract

The Lkb1 tumour suppressor is a multitasking kinase participating in a range of physiological processes. We have determined the impact of Lkb1 deficiency on intestinal homeostasis, particularly focussing on secretory cell differentiation and development since we observe strong expression of Lkb1 in normal small intestine Paneth and goblet cells. We crossed mice bearing an Lkb1 allele flanked with LoxP sites with those carrying a Cyp1a1-specific inducible Cre recombinase. Lkb1 was efficiently deleted from the epithelial cells of the mouse intestine after intraperitoneal injection of the inducing agent beta-naphthoflavone. Bi-allelic loss of Lkb1 led to the perturbed development of Paneth and goblet cell lineages. These changes were characterised by the lack of Delta ligand expression in Lkb1-deficient secretory cells and a significant increase in the levels of the downstream Notch signalling effector Hes5 but not Hes1. Our data show that Lkb1 is required for the normal differentiation of secretory cell lineages within the intestine, and that Lkb1 deficiency modulates Notch signalling modulation in post-mitotic cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Goblet Cells / cytology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / cytology*
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Paneth Cells / cytology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factor HES-1
  • beta-Naphthoflavone / pharmacology

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hes1 protein, mouse
  • Hes5 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factor HES-1
  • beta-Naphthoflavone
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases