Abstract

Introduction

Regulation of chloride secretion by mast cell mediators

Regulation of bicarbonate secretion by mast cell mediators

Summary and conclusions

References

Discussion
Board

The proximity of immune/inflammatory cells to the intestinal epithelium raises the possibility that products of these cells could regulate epithelial transport. Over the past several years, this hypothesis has been amply proven and a variety of cell-cell interactions have been identified that can either up- or down regulate various transport responses. Work from our laboratory has focused on the involvement of mast cells in these processes, although other inflammatory cells can also contribute to these regulatory pathways. Mast cell-derived mediators have been shown to exert both direct and indirect stimulatory effects on epithelial chloride secretion. These effects can be initiated by antigenic stimulation of mast cells, or by agonists not commonly thought of as immune stimuli, such as secretory bile acids. Mast cell mediators, particularly histamine, also appear to regulate duodenal bicarbonate secretion. However, here the effect is inhibitory, and is secondarily mediated by the activation of enteric nerves and possibly by somatostatin. Overall, an understanding of the pathways by which immune/inflammatory mediators regulate the function of the intestinal epithelium may suggest new therapeutic approaches to inflammatory bowel disease, food allergy and peptic ulcer disease, among others.

Back to the top.
Presentation Number SAbarrett0846
Keywords: mast cell, chloride, bicarbonate, epithelium, histamine