Radioimmunoassay of intestinal goblet cell mucin

Regulation of intestinal goblet cells in situ, in mucosal explants and in the isolated epithelium

Cholinergic secretagogues were previously shown to accelerate mucin secretion from intestinal goblet cells of adult rats and rabbits, both in vitro and in mucosal explants. This rapid secretory response occurs only in crypt cells; surface goblet cells are not affected. Rapid secretion involves the sequential fusion of secretory granule membranes with the plasma membrane and with each other, but does not require granule movement. In unstimulated cells, slow transport of secretory granules towards the luminal cell surface depends on functional microtubules. Goblet cells appear in the rat fetal intestine three to four days before birth but they are insensitive to cholinergic agents in the fetus and neonate. The secretory response of crypt goblet cells to carbachol, both in vivo and in mucosal slices in vitro, is established throughout the intestines only after weaning (20-25 days after birth). To determine whether acetylcholine from nerve endings in the intact mucosa may mediate a mucus secretory response in the absence of exogenous secretagogues, mucosal sheets were mounted in modified Ussing chambers and goblet cell secretion was assessed after electrical field stimulation. Electrical field stimulation elicited mucus secretion from crypt (but not surface) goblet cells. Secretion was inhibited by prior treatment of the mucosa with 500 nM-tetrodotoxin or 100 microM-atropine, but not by 10 microM-atropine. Thus, endogenous nerves may regulate mucus secretion from crypt goblet cells in the intact mucosa. When intact sheets of epithelium were isolated from adult rat ileum and colon, then maintained in vitro and exposed to 20 microM-carbachol, crypt goblet cells released mucin in response to the secretagogue but goblet cells in in portions of the epithelium derived from villi or mucosal surfaces were unresponsive. This suggests that crypt epithelial cells respond directly to cholinergic agents and that they lose this sensitivity as they migrate out of the crypts.

Biochemical and immunological studies and assay of rat sublingual mucins

Original studies of rat sublingual mucins raised questions as to the existence of a second mucin species as distinguished by binding to hydroxyapatite. The existence of multiple mucin species is of concern in pharmacological studies of mucous-cell secretion as each species could represent distinct mucous-cell populations that respond differently to secretagogues. Thus a separate hydroxyapatite-bound mucin pool expressed in rat sublingual glands was isolated and characterized. Biochemical comparison of hydroxyapatite-bound mucins to total and hydroxyapatite-unbound sublingual mucins demonstrated no substantial differences in either amino acid and carbohydrate contents or in size distributions. In addition, a radioimmunoassay was developed using antisera prepared previously against unbound mucins. The three mucin pools exhibited equal specificities in displacement of radiolabelled unbound mucin tracer in the radioimmunoassay. Thus, bound and unbound mucins are indistinguishable, both immunologically and in biochemical composition. The radioimmunoassay was then evaluated for use in pharmacological studies of acinar mucous-cell secretion. Measurement by radioimmunoassay of secretion from isolated acini in response to carbachol was concentration-dependent (EC50 approx. 0.3 microM and maximal stimulation at 1 microM carbachol). In immunolocalization studies the antiserum was highly selective for mucous cells, recognized all mucous cells within histological sections, and was localized subcellularly to mucous-cell secretion granules and trans-Golgi, further validating the radioimmunoassay as a method to detect exocrine secretion from the entire pool of acinar mucous cells. Moreover, the radioimmunoassay was compared and found equivalent to an acid-precipitation method to assess relative secretion, suggesting the acid-precipitation method is also valid for pharmacological studies of isolated acini.

Effects of VIP on the regulation of mucin secretion in cultured human pancreatic cancer cells (Capan-1)

The effects of Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on mucin secretion in the pancreatic cancer Capan-1 cell line were studied by Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay (ELISA), and by light and electron microscopy using immunocytological methods. During the exponential growth phase, mucins were accumulated in the cytoplasm of cells and slowly exocytosed. In contrast, there was enhanced exocytosis of mucins during the stationary phase when the cells were well-polarized. Moreover, during this phase, VIP induced a dose-dependent rise in mucin content in the extracellular medium. The reaction with anti-M1 monoclonal antibodies, which recognize specifically the peptide core of gastric mucins, showed an accumulation of secretion granules near the apex of well-polarized cells together with fusion of the granule and plasma membranes after VIP stimulation. Moreover, mucin exocytosis was stimulated by Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and secretin. It was also increased after forskolin treatment suggesting that this mechanism was cAMP-dependent. Our results suggested that exocytosis of mucins could be under the control of VIP in pancreatic duct cells of the Capan-1 cell line.

Suggestive evidence for two different mucin genes in rat intestine

In the present report we describe the isolation and sequence of a partial cDNA (M2-798) for a rat intestinal mucin designated M2. A rat intestinal lambda ZAP II cDNA library was screened using a polyclonal antiserum which was prepared against deglycosylated high-molecular-mass glycopeptides of the purified mucin. Mucin cDNA clones were found to contain tandem repeats of 18 nt which encoded a threonine- and proline-rich peptide having a consensus sequence of TTTPDV. This is the same sequence reported recently by Gum, Hicks, Lagace, Byrd, Toribara, Siddiki, Fearney, Lamport and Kim [(1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 22733-22738] for a rat intestinal cDNA called RMUC 176. A novel feature present in the cDNA M2-798 is a 246 nt unique region at the 3' end which encodes a hydrophobic sequence of 82 amino acids. RNA blots probed with M2-798 cDNA produced a single hybridization band between 7.5 and 9.0 kb in rat small intestine and colon. An identical hybridization pattern was obtained with a PCR-generated cDNA probe corresponding solely to the unique hydrophobic region of M2-798, demonstrating that this region is encoded by the authentic M2 mRNA. Our data suggest that the unique region of M2 has the potential to be either a transmembrane region, or a domain which mediates hydrophobic interactions of the mucin with other molecules. Since we have previously reported another rat intestinal cDNA which encodes the C-terminus of a mucin-like peptide (MLP) [Xu, Wang, Huan, Cutz, Forstner and Forstner (1992) Biochem. J. 286, 335-338], we wished to discover whether M2 was encoded by the same gene. RNA blotting experiments with probes specific for M2 and MLP showed different mRNAs for each. The message for M2 (7.5-8.5 kb) was smaller than that for MLP (> 9.5 kb) and, unlike MLP, gave no signal in human colonic LS174T cells. The results of DNA blots probed with M2-798 and an MLP-probe suggest that M2 and MLP are likely to be single-copy genes. It would appear therefore that normal rat intestine, like human intestine, may express two different mucin genes.

Characteristics of binding of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 strain CL-49 to purified intestinal mucin

Purified rat intestinal mucin was used as a model mucin to study the binding of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7, a human pathogen associated with outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Of six O157:H7 strains, only one strain (designated CL-49) bound to rat (and other) intestinal mucins by a specific and saturable process. Binding was observed only after the bacteria were serially passaged to promote the expression of type 1 pili (fimbriae). Several other type 1-piliated E. coli strains, however, did not bind to mucin. Binding of E. coli CL-49 was inhibited by D-mannose and short oligomannosyl derivatives, particularly Man-alpha-1,3-Man, Man-alpha-1,2-Man, and Man-alpha-1,3-Man-beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine. Other inhibitors of binding included p-nitrophenol (10(-4) M), heating at 60 degrees C (to remove pili), an antibody to type 1 pili, and purified type 1 pili of E. coli CL-49 used as hapten inhibitors. A comparison of the hydrophobicity of piliated E. coli CL-49 with other type 1-piliated E. coli strains indicated that the former strain was much more hydrophobic than the others. These findings indicate that highly purified intestinal mucins possess specific mannosyl receptor sites for bacterial type 1 pili on E. coli CL-49, but that strong hydrophobic interactions between the mucin and the pili stabilize the mannose-dependent binding process. We speculate that the mucin receptors for type 1 pili reside in oligosaccharides of the 118-kilodalton "link" glycopeptide, since this is the only mucin component known to contain mannose.

A simple immunofiltration assay for mucins secreted by a human colonic epithelial cell line

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitative detection of mucins secreted in culture by a human colonic epithelial cell line has been developed. Dilutions of mucin standards and culture media were applied to nitrocellulose membranes by vacuum filtration through a specially designed immunofiltration manifold. Sequential incubation of the nitrocellulose with blocking buffer, anti-mucin polyclonal antibodies and horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG permitted quantitation of mucins. Linear and reproducible standard curves were obtained with mucins purified by gel filtration chromatography using a gel of large pore size. The assay was found to be simple, sensitive, reproducible, rapid and not influenced by contaminating proteins up to a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml. This assay has been used to monitor column fractions obtained during the analysis of mucin preparations, and to study the effects of cholera toxin on the secretion of mucins by cultured cells.

Structural and compositional differences between intracellular and secreted mucin of rat small intestine

An investigation was undertaken to discover whether mucin purified from secretions in the lumen of rat small intestine differed in structure or composition from intracellular mucin purified from rat intestinal tissue. To do this, ligated loops were constructed in situ from previously washed intestinal segments and mucin purified separately from tissue homogenates or loop fluid. Secreted mucin (SM) differed from intracellular mucin (IM) by having a higher proportion of 'minor' mucin amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and alanine) and a lower proportion of 'major' amino acids (serine, proline and threonine). SM also contained less N-acetylgalactosamine and a small, but measureable, amount of mannose. Gel electrophoresis showed that SM penetrated the gel more readily and, unlike IM, gave a rather prominent, but diffuse, band having a midpoint position of Mr 200,000. After reduction both IM and SM gave rise to the putative 'link' component of Mr 118,000 and the 200,000-Mr band of SM disappeared. SM was included to a greater extent than IM on Sepharose CL-2B chromatography, suggesting a smaller size. With the use of CsCl-density-gradient ultracentrifugation of SM, a lighter species [buoyant density (rho) = 1.38 g/ml] enriched in the 200,000-Mr component, was separated from a heavier, more glycosylated, species (rho = 1.50 g/ml). Purified 200,000-Mr component had a composition identical with that of the 118,000-Mr 'link' component of IM, reacted in Western blots with an antibody specific for the 118,000-Mr 'link' component, and after reduction gave rise to a 118,000-Mr component on gel electrophoresis. Thus secreted mucin contains a 200,000-Mr component which appears to represent a disulphide-linked dimer of the previously described 118,000-Mr 'link' component of intracellular mucin.

Characterization and localization of the putative 'link' component in rat small-intestinal mucin

Rat intestinal mucin is polymerized by a putative 'link' component of Mr 118,000 that can be released from the native mucin by thiol reduction [Fahim, Forstner & Forstner (1983) Biochem. J. 209, 117-124]. To confirm that this component is an integral part of the mucin and independent of the mucin purification technique, rat mucin was purified in the present study by three independent techniques. In all cases, the 118,000-Mr component was released after reduction. The 118 kDa band was electroeluted from SDS/polyacrylamide gels and its composition shown to resemble closely that of the link component of human intestinal mucin [Mantle, Forstner & Forstner (1984) Biochem. J. 224, 345-354]. Carbohydrates were present, including significant (10 mol/100 mol) amounts of mannose, suggesting the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides. Monospecific antibodies prepared against the rat 118,000-Mr component established its tissue localization in intestinal goblet cells. Mucins subjected to SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and Western blots using the same antibody, established that the link components of rat and human intestinal mucin are similar antigenically. Brief exposure (10 min) of native rat mucin to trypsin or Pronase (enzyme/mucin protein, 1:500, w/w) also released a 118,000-Mr component that reacted with the monospecific antibody. Thus the 118,000-Mr component is an integral part of the mucin and, although linked to large glycopeptides by disulphide bonds, this component also has proteinase-sensitive peptide bonds, presumably at terminal locations such that brief treatment with proteinases releases the molecule in a reasonably intact form. Under physiological conditions, therefore, one might expect that, after mucin is secreted into the intestinal lumen, luminal proteinases would rapidly remove the link component, thereby causing the mucin to depolymerize.

Diurnal variation of sialomucin concentration in female mouse submandibular glands measured by radioimmunoassay

The validity of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the predominant sialomucin from female mouse submandibular glands was confirmed by immunological and non-immunological approaches. The maximum sensitivity was in the low nanogramme range. The RIA did not cross-react with parotid, sublingual, trachea, stomach or colon tissues, but showed incomplete cross-reactivity with duodenal tissue. An analysis of protein, sialic acid and mucin contents of submandibular glands obtained during diurnal samplings, indicated that mean sialic acid and mucin concentrations, relative to protein in sample groups, decreased overnight approx. 30 per cent and showed a net increase during the day. Sialic acid per gland showed a 3-fold variation among individuals in the population; mucin showed greater than 20-fold variation. An analysis of variation indicated that influence by time of day was the greatest factor affecting sialic-acid concentrations and was statistically significant but, variation in mucin concentration was not. Variation between individuals accounted for more than 90 per cent of the total population variation in mucin concentrations and in sialic acid to mucin ratios. Regression analyses of the sialic acid to mucin ratios at different times of day suggested that the rates of replenishment of sialic acid and mucin may be co-ordinated.

Radioimmunoassay of rat submandibular salivary gland mucin

A solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for rat submandibular mucin (RSM) was developed and applied to studies of mucin concentration, antigenicity and secretion. The assay utilizes the affinity of 125I-Protein A for IgG to quantitate antigen-antibody immunocomplexes immobilized in the wells of plastic microtitre plates. The technique was highly reproducible and capable of detecting as little as 3 ng mucin protein. The submandibular glands of rats weighing 150-180 g contained 257 micrograms of mucin (dry wt) per mg protein, which is equivalent to about 3.6 mg of mucin per gland. The antiserum to RSM was cross-reactive with mucins from rat sublingual and pig submandibular glands, and rat, human and pig small intestine. No cross-reactivity was detected with mucins from mouse, canine or bovine submandibular glands, and there was no evidence that ABH blood-group sugars contributed to mucin antigenicity. The RIA was used to estimate secretion from dispersed rat submandibular gland cells and gave a more specific and accurate assay of mucin release than previous assays of precursor-labelled radioactive glycoproteins in the culture medium. The beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, stimulated immunoreactive mucin secretion from cultured cells to approximately twice the level of unstimulated or propranolol-inhibited controls. The RIA appears to offer promising new approaches for studies on mucin metabolism and secretion in health and disease.

Heterogeneity of rat goblet-cell mucin before and after reduction

Goblet-cell mucin of rat small intestine was purified from mucosal scrapings by using centrifugation, Sepharose 4B and Sepharose 2B chromatography. The mucin was applied in low concentrations (1 microgram/track) to slab gels containing 0.5% agarose/2% (w/v) polyacrylamide, and bands were detected after electrophoresis by silver stain or by fluorography of 3H-labelled mucin. Before reduction the mucin contained three distinct components: a polymeric species at the top of the gel and two large glycoproteins of higher mobility. After reduction, the polymer disappeared, the two glycoproteins remained unchanged, and two glycopeptide bands of higher mobility appeared. In addition, a non-glycosylated, heavily stained peptide of mol.wt. 118000 was detected. The individual mucin components were partially separated on Sepharose 2B, 0.2M-NaCl/1% sodium dodecyl sulphate being used as eluant. Individual amino acid and carbohydrate analyses suggested that the glycosylated components, despite their differences in size, had identical profiles. The 118000-mol.wt. peptide had a very different amino acid profile, with much less serine, threonine and proline. Glycine and aspartic and glutamic acids comprised 34% of the total amino acids. Thus the 'native' mucin is a heterogeneous structure containing at least two non-covalently associated glycoproteins plus polymeric material. The latter is stabilized by disulphide bonds and consists of several glycopeptides of different size as well as a 'link' peptide of mol.wt. 118000.

Influence of osmolality, short chain fatty acids and deoxycholic acid on mucus secretion in the rat colon

Mucus secretion into the rat colon has been measured in situ using a single perfusion technique. Protein, sialic acid and hexose concentrations in the perfusion solution were found to give reliable estimates of mucus output if samples were homogenized prior to analysis. Mucus output as indicated by an increase in the concentration of mucus constituents was higher when the solution was hypotonic (270 mosm . kg-1) or hypertonic (370 mosm . kg-1) than when isotonic solutions (320 mosm . kg-1) were used. The proportion of hexoses and sialic acid to protein was 23 and 14% at low, 23 and 11% at high osmolality, and 21 and 13% when isotonic solutions were used. Deoxycholic acid (DCA, 4 mmol . 1(-1)) increased the net secretion of mucus constituents 3 fold, whereas short chain fatty acids (SCFA) had no effect. Mucus composition during all treatments did not change significantly, even when stimulated with DCA. When mucus was released from the epithelial surface by previous perfusion with a DCA containing solution, net water and SCFA absorption rates and mucus output were significantly lowered for 2 to 3 h. However, no correlation between mucus secretion and SCFA absorption was found, indicating that a role for mucus as a diffusion barrier to SCFA is unlikely. Mucus output, which indicates the amount of mucus released from the epithelial surface, probably depends on the direction of net water movement, which follows the osmotic gradient between colon lumen and blood.

Binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate to intestinal mucus. An artifact in identification of epithelial cell muscarinic receptors

The widely used muscarinic receptor ligand [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) was found to bind in a site-specific but artifactual manner to rat intestinal mucus, obscuring specific binding to muscarinic receptors on intestinal epithelial cells. Atropine inhibited [3H]QNB binding to mucus with an apparent IC50 of 2.1 x 10(-7) M, compared to an IC50 of 1.4 x 10(-8) M obtained with a homogenate of intestinal epithelial cells. Unlabeled QNB also inhibited binding of [3H]QNB to mucus but the apparent IC50 (4 x 10(-7) M) was about 300-fold greater than the IC50 determined with a control tissue, heart muscle (IC50, 1.2 x 10(-9) M). [3H]QNB binding was saturable over the concentration range of 1-7 nM in the heart, with an apparent KD of 0.76 nM. As expected from the high IC50 for QNB in the mucus binding experiments, binding to mucus was not saturable over the 1-15 nM concentration range. Based on pH profiles and temperature dependency of binding, it seems unlikely that mucin, the primary component of mucus, was responsible for [3H]QNB binding to the mucus. The findings have implications for studies which involve binding of [3H]QNB in particular and other ligands in general to mucus-secreting epithelial tissues.