Prolonged interferon-γ exposure decreases ion transport, NKCC1, and Na+-K+-ATPase expression in human intestinal xenografts in vivo

Abstract

IFN-γ is elevated in intestinal inflammation and alters barrier and transport functions in human colonic epithelial cell lines, but its effects on normal human small intestinal epithelium in vivo are poorly defined. We investigated effects of prolonged IFN-γ exposure on ion transport and expression of transporters by using human fetal small intestinal xenografts. Xenograft-bearing mice were injected with IFN-γ, and 24 h later xenografts were harvested and mounted in Ussing chambers. Baseline potential difference (PD) was not affected by IFN-γ treatment. However, conductance was enhanced and agonist-stimulated ion transport was decreased. IFN-γ also decreased expression of the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter and the α-subunit of Na+-K+-ATPase compared with controls, whereas levels of the calcium-activated Cl- channel and CFTR were unaltered. Thus prolonged exposure to IFN-γ leads to decreased ion secretion due, in part, to decreased ion transporter levels. These findings demonstrate the implications of elevated IFN-γ levels in human small intestine and validate the human intestinal xenograft as a model to study chronic effects of physiologically relevant stimuli.