Role of metabolic changes of mucosal layer in the intestinal barrier dysfunction following trauma/hemorrhagic shock

Abstract

Background: The mucosal layer plays an important role in regulating the intestinal barrier function. However, the underlying mechanisms of intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by trauma-hemorrhagic shock (THS) are still unknown.

Methods: In this study, we examined the barrier damages, inflammatory responses as well as the metabolic changes of the mucosal layer of the colon in a THS rat model.

Results: The results showed that compared to the rats treated with trauma only, THS induced marked failure of intestinal barrier characterized by increased intestinal permeability, inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased expression of genes involved in epithelial integrity. Moreover, decreased colonic mucus content and goblet cell numbers indicated that the mucosal layer was also impaired in response to THS. This was companied by the anomalous inflammatory responses in the tissue. Finally, microdialysis catheter examination showed that metabolites including glycerol, glucose, lactate and pyruvate, glutamate and glutamine were also altered by THS.

Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that mucus layer-associated metabolic changes may contribute to the THS-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Keywords: Intestinal barrier dysfunction; Mucosal layer; Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome; THS; Trauma-hemorrhagic shock; Trauma/hemorrhagic shock.