Bile acids modulate colonic MAdCAM-1 expression in a murine model of combined cholestasis and colitis

Mucosal Immunol. 2021 Mar;14(2):479-490. doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-00347-6. Epub 2020 Oct 1.

Abstract

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive fibrosing cholestatic liver disease that is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PSC-associated IBD (PSC-IBD) displays a unique phenotype characterized by right-side predominant colon inflammation and increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to non-PSC-IBD. The frequent association and unique phenotype of PSC-IBD suggest distinctive underlying disease mechanisms from other chronic liver diseases or IBD alone. Multidrug resistance protein 2 knockout (Mdr2-/-) mice develop spontaneous cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis mirroring human PSC. As a novel model of PSC-IBD, we treated Mdr2-/- mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to chemically induce colitis (Mdr2-/-/DSS). Mdr2-/- mice demonstrate alterations in fecal bile acid composition and enhanced colitis susceptibility with increased colonic adhesion molecule expression, particularly mucosal addressin-cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1). In vitro, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) co-treatment resulted in a dose dependent attenuation of TNF-α-induced endothelial MAdCAM-1 expression. In the combined Mdr2-/-/DSS model, UDCA supplementation attenuated colitis severity and downregulated intestinal MAdCAM-1 expression. These findings suggest a potential mechanistic role for alterations in bile acid signaling in modulating MAdCAM-1 expression and colitis susceptibility in cholestasis-associated colitis. Together, our findings provide a novel model and new insight into the pathogenesis and potential treatment of PSC-IBD.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
  • Animals
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / metabolism*
  • Cholestasis / metabolism*
  • Colitis / metabolism*
  • Colon / metabolism*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucoproteins / genetics
  • Mucoproteins / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Bile Acids and Salts
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Madcam1 protein, mouse
  • Mucoproteins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Ursodeoxycholic Acid
  • Dextran Sulfate