Transcriptome and proteome profiling of primary human gastric interstitial cells of Cajal predicts pacemaker networks

Daphne Foong, Meena Mikhael, Jerry Zhou, Ali Zarrouk, Xiaodong Liu, Jan Schröder, Jose M. Polo, Vincent Ho, Michael D. O’Connor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Aims Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are specialized gastrointestinal (GI) pacemaker cells required for normal GI motility. Dysfunctions in ICC have been reported in patients with GI motility disorders, such as gastroparesis, who exhibit debilitating symptoms and greatly reduced quality of life. While the proteins, calcium-activated chloride channel anoctamin-1 (ANO1) and the receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT), are known to be expressed by human ICC, relatively little is known about the broad molecular circuitry underpinning human ICC functions. The present study therefore investigates the transcriptome and proteome of ANO1-expressing, KITlow/CD45/CD11B ICC obtained from primary human gastric tissue. Methods Excess human gastric tissue resections were obtained from sleeve gastrectomy patients. ICC were purified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACSorting). Then, ICC were characterized by using immunofluorescence, real-time polymerase chain reaction, RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry. Results Compared to unsorted cells, real-time polymerase chain reaction showed the KITlow/CD45/CD11B ICC had: a 9-fold (P < 0.05) increase in ANO1 expression; unchanged KIT expression; and reduced expression for genes associated with hematopoietic cells (CD68, > 10-fold, P < 0.001) and smooth muscle cells (DES, > 4-fold, P < 0.05). RNA-sequencing and gene ontology analyses of the KITlow/ CD45/CD11B cells revealed a transcriptional profile consistent with ICC function. Similarly, mass spectrometry analyses of the KITlow/ CD45/CD11B cells presented a proteomic profile consistent with ICC activities. STRING-based protein interaction analyses using the RNA-sequencing and proteomic datasets predicted protein networks consistent with ICC-associated pacemaker activity and ion transport. Conclusion These new and complementary datasets provide a valuable molecular framework for further understanding how ICC pacemaker activity regulates smooth muscle contraction in both normal GI tissue and GI motility disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)238-249
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Volume29
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023

Open Access - Access Right Statement

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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