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Changes in the Expression of Smooth Muscle Contractile Proteins in TNBS- and DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice

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Abstract

Thin filament-associated proteins such as calponin, caldesmon, tropomyosin, and smoothelin are thought to regulate acto-myosin interaction and thus, muscle contraction. However, the effect of inflammation on the expression of thin filament-associated proteins is not known. The aim of the present study is to determine the changes in the expression of calponin, caldesmon, tropomyosin, and smoothelin in colonic smooth muscle from trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)- and dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Expression of h-caldesmon, h2-calponin, α-tropomyosin, and smoothelin-A was measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Contraction in response to acetylcholine in dispersed muscle cells was measured by scanning micrometry. mRNA and protein expression of α-actin, h2-calponin, h-caldesmon, smoothelin, and α-tropomyosin in colonic muscle strips from mice with TNBS- or DSS-induced colitis was significantly increased compared to control animals. Contraction in response to acetylcholine was significantly decreased in muscle cells isolated from inflamed regions of TNBS- or DSS-treated mice compared to control mice. Our results show that increase in the expression of thin filament-associated contractile proteins, which inhibit acto-myosin interaction, could contribute to decrease in smooth muscle contraction in inflammation.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Grants (DK28300 and DK15564 to KS Murthy).

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, VCU Program in Enteric Neuromuscular Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0551, USA

    Reem Alkahtani, Sunila Mahavadi, Othman Al-Shboul, John R. Grider & Karnam S. Murthy

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298-0551, USA

    Shakir Alsharari

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  1. Reem Alkahtani
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Alkahtani, R., Mahavadi, S., Al-Shboul, O. et al. Changes in the Expression of Smooth Muscle Contractile Proteins in TNBS- and DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice. Inflammation 36, 1304–1315 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-013-9669-0

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