Neutrophils injure gallbladder interstitial Cajal-like cells in a guinea pig model of acute cholecystitis

Helicobacter pylori CagA Promotes the Formation of Gallstones by Increasing the Permeability of Gallbladder Epithelial Cells

BACKGROUND

The formation of gallstones is often accompanied by chronic inflammation, and the mechanisms underlying inflammation and stone formation are not fully understood. Our aim is to utilize single-cell transcriptomics, bulk transcriptomics, and microbiome data to explore key pathogenic bacteria that may contribute to chronic inflammation and gallstone formation, as well as their associated mechanisms.

METHODS

scRNA-seq data from a gallstone mouse model were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed using the FindCluster() package for cell clustering analysis. Bulk transcriptomics data from patients with gallstone were also extracted from the GEO database, and intergroup functional differences were assessed using GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on gallbladder mucosal samples from asymptomatic patients with gallstone (n = 6) and liver transplant donor gallbladder mucosal samples (n = 6) to identify key bacteria associated with stone formation and chronic inflammation. Animal models were constructed to investigate the mechanisms by which these key pathogenic bacterial genera promote gallstone formation.

RESULTS

Analysis of scRNA-seq data from the gallstone mouse model (GSE179524) revealed seven distinct cell clusters, with a significant increase in neutrophil numbers in the gallstone group. Analysis of bulk transcriptomics data from patients with gallstone (GSE202479) identified chronic inflammation in the gallbladder, potentially associated with dysbiosis of the gallbladder microbiota. 16S rRNA sequencing identified Helicobacter pylori as a key bacterium associated with gallbladder chronic inflammation and stone formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysbiosis of the gallbladder mucosal microbiota is implicated in gallstone disease and leads to chronic inflammation. This study identified H. pylori as a potential key mucosal resident bacterium contributing to gallstone formation and discovered its key pathogenic factor CagA, which causes damage to the gallbladder mucosal barrier. These findings provide important clues for the prevention and treatment of gallstones.

How traditional Chinese medicine can prevent recurrence of common bile duct stones after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?

Common bile duct stones, as a type of cholelithiasis, are a benign biliary obstruction that easily acute abdominalgia, and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is usually the first choice for clinical treatment. However, the increasing recurrence rate of patients after treatment is troubling clinicians and patients. For the prevention of recurrence after ERCP, there is no guideline to provide a clear drug regimen, traditional Chinese medicine however has achieved some result in the treatment of liver-related diseases based on the "gut-liver-bile acid axis". On the basis of this, this article discusses the possibility of traditional Chinese medicine to prevent common bile duct stones (CBDS) after ERCP, and we expect that this article will provide new ideas for the prevention of recurrence of CBDS and for the treatment of cholelithiasis-related diseases with traditional Chinese medicine in future clinical and scientific research.

In Vivo Imaging Evaluation of Fluorescence Intensity at Tail Emission of Near-Infrared-I (NIR-I) Fluorophores in a Porcine Model

Over the last decade fluorescence-guided surgery has been primarily focused on the NIR-I window. However, the NIR-I window has constraints, such as limited penetration and scattering. Consequently, exploring the performance of NIR-I dyes at longer wavelengths (i.e., the NIR-II window) is crucial to expanding its application. Two fluorophores were used in three pigs to identify the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) using two commercially available NIR-I and NIR-II cameras. The near-infrared coating of equipment (NICE) was used to identify endoluminal surgical catheters and indocyanine green (ICG) for common bile duct (CBD) characterization. The NIR-II window evaluation showed an MFI of 0.4 arbitrary units (a.u.) ± 0.106 a.u. in small bowel NICE-coated catheters and an MFI of 0.09 a.u. ± 0.039 a.u. in gastric ones. In CBD characterization, the ICG MFI was 0.12 a.u. ± 0.027 a.u., 0.18 a.u. ± 0.100 a.u., and 0.22 a.u. ± 0.041 a.u. at 5, 35, and 65 min, respectively. This in vivo imaging evaluation of NIR-I dyes confirms its application in the NIR-II domain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the MIF of NICE in the NIR-II window using a commercially available system. Further comparative trials are necessary to determine the superiority of NIR-II imaging systems.

Cholesterol gallstones: Focusing on the role of interstitial Cajal-like cells

Cholesterol gallstone (CG) is a common, frequent biliary system disease in China, with a complex and multifactorial etiology. Declined gallbladder motility reportedly contributes to CG pathogenesis. Furthermore, interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs) are reportedly present in human and guinea pig gallbladder tissue. ICLCs potentially contribute to the regulation of gallbladder motility, and aberrant conditions involving the loss of ICLCs and/or a reduction in its pacing potential and reactivity to cholecystokinin may promote CG pathogenesis. This review discusses the association between ICLCs and CG pathogenesis and provides a basis for further studies on the functions of ICLCs and the etiologies of CG.

Developments in research on interstitial Cajal-like cells in the biliary tract

INTRODUCTION

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are a special type of interstitial cells located in the gastrointestinal tract muscles. They are closely related to smooth muscle cells and neurons, participate in gastrointestinal motility and nerve signal transmission, and are pacemaker cells for gastrointestinal electrical activity. Research interest in ICCs has continuously grown since they were first discovered in 1893. Later, researchers discovered that they are also present in other organs, including the biliary tract, urethra, bladder, etc.; these cells were named interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs), and attempts have been made to explain their relationships with certain diseases.

AREAS COVERED

This review paper summarizes the morphology, identification, classification, function, and distribution of ICLCs in the biliary tract and their relationship to biliary tract diseases.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on the function and distribution of ICLCs in the biliary tract system, ICLCs will provide a more reliable theoretical basis for the mechanisms of pathogenesis of and treatments for biliary tract diseases.

Cyclic Stretch Promotes Proliferation and Contraction of Human Bladder Smooth Muscle Cells by Cajal-Mediated c-kit Expression in Interstitial Cells

Background

The present study was performed to assess the effect of mechanical stretch on the proliferation and contractile function of hBSMCs.

Material/Methods

hBSMCs and ICCs were seeded at 8×10⁴ cells/well in 6-well silicone elastomer-bottomed culture plates coated with type I collagen, and grown to 80% confluence in DMEM/10% FBS and a 5% CO₂ humidified atmosphere at 37°C. Cells of hBSMCs and hBSMCs/ICCs of co-culture were then subjected to continuous cycles of stretch-relaxation using a computer-driven, stretch-inducing device. The treated concentration of imatinib was 10 μM. Mechanisms underlying observed hBSMCs contraction were examined using Western blotting and RT-PCR. The 0.1 μM carbachol was separately added to the experimental groups, and 300 s was recorded by laser scanning confocal microscope.

Results

We found that mechanical stretch increased contraction and proliferation of hBSMCs. Calcium ion activity increased significantly after mechanical stretch. The number of hBSMCs was significantly increased after the combination mechanical stretch with ICCs treatment. After combination mechanical stretch with hBSMCs/ICCs treatment, the mRNA and protein level of M2, M3, and c-kit were significantly increased. After combination of mechanical stretch with no imatinib treatment, the proliferation of hBSMCs was higher than others, and the mRNA and protein level of M2 and M3 were significantly increased.

Conclusions

We revealed that ICCs could promote hBSMC proliferation and contraction, and cyclic stretch could promote acetylcholine receptor M2 and M3 caused by c-kit in the ICCs, which promoted the contraction of hBSMCs.