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G. Flemström is in the Department of Physiology at Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden, and J. I. Isenberg is in the Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103-8413.
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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Throughout the gastrointestinal tract, the mucosa provides a dynamic barrier within the host, allowing the passage of certain ions and molecules into the body and restricting the entry of other luminal contents. This maintenance of barrier function is not so much an anatomic barrier as it is a series of consecutive defense mechanisms, each of them finely regulated. The most proximal upper gut is anatomically and physiologically well prepared for the onslaught of potentially injurious agents. The tongue and esophagus are lined by an impermeable squamous epithelium, and each benefits from glandular secretions. In the mouth, the salivary glands provide considerable amounts of HCO3-buffered liquid and mucoid secretions, whereas in the esophagus, scattered submucosal glands provide smaller amounts of HCO3 and mucus.
The stomach is particularly exposed to injury because the columnar mucosa is not only exposed to ingested potentially noxious agents but also secretes hydrochloric acid at a concentration of up to 145 mM (in humans) and proteolytic enzymes (pepsinogens). In particular, the fundic mucosa in the upper 80% of the stomach is a relatively "tight" epithelium, having a high electric resistance and, under normal conditions, being relatively impermeable to transport of luminal contents, including water. In contrast, the mucosa in the duodenum is a highly permeable, i.e., "leaky," epithelium, whose major function, along with the remainder of the small intestine, is the absorption of nutrients and water. The duodenal mucosa is bathed in pancreatic enzymes (peptidases, lipases) and amphipathic bile salts and is intermittently exposed to acid discharged from the stomach. However, in spite of the potentially hostile exogenous and endogenous luminal contents, the respective epithelia normally maintain their integrity.
Gastroduodenal mucosal defense can be divided into preepithelial, epithelial, and subepithelial factors that function in concert with one another to prevent mucosal injury. This division is arbitrary, because an entire epithelium functions as a unit to prevent damage. The role of cytokines, growth factors, acid/base transporters, blood flow, adhesins, and microvascular integrity are the subjects of intense study. This review will focus on the factors that are responsible for the gastric and duodenal epithelium resistance to potential mucosal damage induced by acid and pepsin, certain drugs, and bacterial infection.
| Gastric mucus layer and epithelial surface |
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In contrast, transport of acid and pepsin from the crypts into the gastric lumen is unimpeded by the mucus layer. Moreover, H+ secreted by the oxyntic cells within the gastric crypts appears to pass through small channels within the gel formed by the secretory hydrostatic pressure within the gastric glands (13). Furthermore, mucus secreted from cells within the gastric crypts has been proposed as a vehicle for transport of protons (and pepsinogen) from crypt to lumen (11). The latter mechanism, however, is likely quantitatively insufficient to deliver the large amounts of acid (2040 mmol/h in humans) secreted at stimulated rates of acid secretion.
The thicknesses of the adherent mucus layers in the stomach and duodenum in humans are, in spite of the marked differences in epithelial surface topology, similar and range between 80 and 280 µm. The pH across the mucus gel layer to the epithelial cell surface has been measured precisely in vitro as well as in vivo using pH-sensitive microelectrodes (3). In spite of gastric luminal pHs as low as 2.03.0, there is a progressive increase in the pH within the mucus gel from the gastric lumen to the epithelial cell surface, where the pH is neutral. Higher luminal acidities tend to dissipate the pH gradient and therefore result in exposure of the gastric cell surface to the pH approaching that of the luminal bulk solution. However, these surface pH gradients were demonstrated in large part under experimental conditions in stomachs in which acidic solutions were used and intrinsic gastric acid secretion was low or absent.
Recent work indicates that the pH gradient at the surface of the rat stomach in vivo becomes thinner; yet it is not dissipated, even during maximal stimulation of acid secretion. This agrees with previous observations that stimulation of acid secretion enhances, rather than diminishes, the ability of the gastric mucosa to resist injury. The greater resistance to acid-induced damage while maintaining a pH gradient during periods of gastric acid secretion is likely secondary to the "alkaline tide" originating from the acid-secreting parietal cells. This represents the mole-for-mole formation of HCO3 simultaneously with H+ in the acid-secreting parietal cells followed by transport of HCO3 across the basolateral membrane by Cl/HCO3 exchange, which results in increasing amounts of HCO3 available within the epithelial vasculature and mucosa for subsequent uptake and secretion by the surface epithelial cells. The role of the alkaline tide is strongly supported by findings that parenteral infusion of HCO3 in in vivo animals, or serosal side application of HCO3 (not other buffer species) to gastric mucosa in vitro, protects the mucosa from injury, similar to that observed during acid secretion (7).
Although neutralization of acid by HCO3 within the surface mucus gel provides a first line of gastric protection against acid, additional mechanisms are also operative. In the event that the surface pH gradient is dissipated, protons start entering the gastric surface epithelial cells, resulting in a decrease in intracellular pH (pHi). Intracellular neutralization of H+ occurs by HCO3 entry via the basolateral NaHCO3 cotransporter (NBC) and by the export of protons by Na+/H+ exchange (NHE1), correcting the decrease in pHi. The relatively low permeability of the apical cell membranes to H+ and the low conductance of the paracellular pathways between the cells are additional mechanisms for protection of the gastric surface. Furthermore, it should be noted that, unlike the gastric surface epithelium, most of the lumens of the gastric crypts within the mucosa are not covered by mucus gel. Luminal perfusion of isolated gastric crypts with solutions of varying pHs (15) has suggested that the apical membrane of parietal and chief cells that line the crypts are unusually resistant to low pH. Parietal cells are also likely to be protected by the apical membrane proton pump (H+-K+-ATPase activity), capable of exporting H+ at rapid rates.
| Duodenal surface |
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The epithelial alkaline secretion in the duodenum is increased markedly by a low pH in the duodenal lumen (pH ~ 5 in rat and pH ~ 3 in human), a response mediated by neural reflexes and mucosal production of prostaglandins. Several transmitters, including vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and acetylcholine, have been proposed as mediators of the efferent limb of the neural response. Chemical deafferentiation by capsaicin inhibits the rise in HCO3 secretion in response to luminal acid. The response to exogenous prostaglandin (PG) E2, in contrast, is not affected by the destruction of the afferent neurons. This suggests that luminal acidification involves the enteric nervous system, whereas PGE2 acts directly on the HCO3-producing cell (14). Recent findings suggest that PGs stimulate duodenal HCO3 secretion by acting on the duodenal EP3 receptors, whereas in the stomach they stimulated HCO3 by affecting the gastric EP1 receptors. Notably, and affirming the role of PGs and epithelial HCO3 injury, the duodenal mucosa in EP3 knockout mice have a markedly decreased ability to resist luminal acid, resulting in mucosal injury (14). It would seem rational physiologically that the presence of acid in the gastric lumen would result in an anticipatory rise in alkaline secretion by duodenal mucosa about to receive an acid load. However, instillation of acid into the ligated stomach, or conversely decreasing gastric acidity by inhibition of acid secretion, does not affect duodenal HCO3 secretion.
The presence of a pH gradient within the mucus gel adherent to both gastric and duodenal mucosae raises the interesting question of how acid present in the lumen resulting in an increase in epithelial HCO3 secretion is sensed by the secreting epithelium if the mucus pH gradient is indeed an effective barrier to H+. Speculations include the presence of acid-sensitive neural receptors or cell filaments protruding into the surface gel that sense the luminal pH; or, as recently proposed (6), the stimulus of alkaline secretion may not be due to H+ itself but due instead to the more rapidly diffusable CO2 generated within the mucus gel during the reaction between secreted HCO3 and H+. The hormone secretin is released from the duodenal mucosa in response to duodenal acidification (pH ~ 4) and is the key mediator of acid-induced pancreatic and bile duct HCO3 secretion. However, it should be emphasized that secretin is without effect on the duodenal epithelial HCO3 secretion in all species tested both in vivo and in vitro.
The relative role of each HCO3-secreting tissue responding to acid (i.e., duodenal mucosa, pancreas, and bile ducts) in the duodenal neutralization of acid emptied from the stomach depends on the experimental conditions of the study and likely varies between species. In the pig, a decline in pancreaticobiliary HCO3 secretion results in a compensatory increase in duodenal epithelial HCO3 secretion. This may be important in patients with pancreatic secretory insufficiency. Overall, acid-stimulated mucosal HCO3 secretion likely accounts for ~40% of the neutralization of the gastric acid load in the duodenum.
| The gastric HCO3 transport process |
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2-adrenoceptors. Information on the cellular mechanisms of gastric HCO3 transport was obtained initially in isolated mucosal sheets and isolated cells, and, more recently, the genetic expression of transporters has been characterized. Export by Cl/HCO3 exchange is likely the principal mechanism for exit of HCO3 into the mucus gel. Cellular uptake of base occurs by Na+-(n)-HCO3 (usually 1:2 or 1:3) cotransport (NBC). Interestingly, NBC1 and NBC2 were recently reported to show higher expression in gastric surface epithelial cells than in parietal cells (10). Their presence would facilitate surface epithelial cell uptake of alkaline tide HCO3 release interstitially from acid-secreting parietal cells.
| Duodenal HCO3 transport process |
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Knowledge about HCO3 transport processes in the duodenal epithelium per se originates from numerous studies involving amphibian mucosa in vitro, isolated mammalian duodenal enterocytes and cell membranes, and, more recently, from studies of genetically modified mice. Microfluorospectrophotometry of mixed villous and crypt enterocytes isolated from rat and human proximal duodenum and loaded with the pH-sensitive fluoroprobe 2',7-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) confirmed three of the mechanisms previously proposed for duodenal enterocyte acid/base transport. An amiloride-sensitive NHE extrudes acid. Duodenal enterocytes import HCO3 at the basolateral membrane by Na+-(n)-HCO3 cotransport and export HCO3 by Cl/HCO3 exchange as well as via an apical anion conductive pathway. Recent evidence indicates that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the ubiquitous membrane-spanning conductance that transports HCO3 as well as Cl (12). CFTR knockout mice, as well as patients with cystic fibrosis, have decreased resting and stimulated duodenal HCO3 secretion (9). This secretory abnormality may not only explain diminished duodenal pH in cystic fibrosis patients but may contribute to the secretory abnormalities in several other organs (e.g., lung, pancreas, gall bladder, and vas deferens).
cAMP-stimulated HCO3 transport across murine duodenum in vitro involves electrogenic transport via CFTR channels as well as electroneutral transport via a CFTR-dependent Cl/HCO3 exchange process that is associated with epithelial carbonic anhydrase activity (2). The latter finding may be of particular interest with respect to the mucosal location (crypt and/or villus) of the transporters. Suppression of carbonic anhydrase activity, which is contained in both duodenal epithelial and Brunner's gland cells, decreases duodenal mucosal HCO3 secretion. Furthermore, the carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme (CA II) associated with HCO3 transport is located mainly in the villi and not in the duodenal crypts (8). This suggests that part of duodenal alkaline secretion originates from the villi, in contrast to the earlier hypothesis that intestinal secretions were of crypt origin and absorptive function resided in the villi.
Anion channel-dependent transport of HCO3 may, however, as suggested for secretion of anions (predominantly Cl) by more distal small intestine, be a property of crypt cells in which CFTR is also expressed at the greatest levels. In contrast, villus cells might export HCO3 mainly by Cl/HCO3 exchange. Recent studies indicate that both villus and crypt cells respond to the duodenal secretagogues VIP and dopamine (acting at D1 receptors), with an increase in intracellular cAMP production. Similarly, both cell types respond to carbachol (acting at muscarinic M3 receptors) with a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) (1). This suggests that the functions of the villus and crypt cells may be more similar than dissimilar. The specific absorptive and secretory events that occur in villus versus crypt cells, however, require additional study, as does a better understanding of the intramucosal (cell-to-cell) signaling and stimulus-secretion coupling events.
| Neurohumoral control of gastroduodenal HCO3 secretion |
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Dopaminergic compounds ameliorate mucosal damage in animal models of ulcer disease, and, conversely, mucosal depletion of dopamine has been related to the appearance of ulcerations. Dopamine D1 receptor agonists as well as peripheral catecholamine-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibition stimulate duodenal mucosal HCO3 secretion in the rat; similar stimulation of the HCO3 secretion has been observed in human volunteers. The D2 agonist bromocriptine, in contrast, causes a modest decrease in secretion. These findings that the duodenal secretion is stimulated via peripheral dopamine D1 receptors are supported by the finding that D1 (but not D2) receptor agonists increase the production of cAMP in duodenal crypt and villus enterocytes. The role of dopamine in the control of mucosal integrity is an interesting topic for further studies.
It is likely that stress-induced reactions contribute to gastroduodenal damage elicited by infection with Helicobacter pylori and other agents. Splanchnicotomy or adrenergic blockade also ameliorate stress-induced gastroduodenal ulceration in animals, and increased plasma levels of noradrenaline are reported in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. These observations stimulated studies of the sympathetic influence on gastroduodenal HCO3 secretion. Norepinephrine and epinephrine inhibited HCO3 secretion by frog gastric mucosa in vitro, and effects were prevented by the antagonist phentolamine, thus suggesting an
-adrenoceptor-mediated action directly on HCO3-secreting cells or, possibly, on local neural tissue remaining in the in vitro preparation. More recently, mucosal HCO3 secretion has been studied in splanchnicotomized and/or adrenal-ligated animals and by elicitation of sympathetic reflexes in animals and humans (3). The use of subtype-selective adrenoceptor ligands has demonstrated
2-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibition of the HCO3 secretion in the stomach as well as in the duodenum.
However, activation of the sympathetic nerves releases neuropeptide Y (NPY) as well as norepinephrine. Recent studies of duodenal secretion in rats have shown that local (close intra-arterial) infusion of low doses of NPY to the duodenum, although without effect on basal HCO3 secretion, inhibits the secretion stimulated by PGE2 and VIP. Furthermore, administration of neuropeptide Y1 receptor antagonists markedly increases (basal) HCO3 secretion. Combined administration of neuropeptide Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP-3226 and the adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine results in potent, up to threefold, increases in duodenal secretion, as illustrated in Fig. 2
. Duodenal mucosal secretion of HCO3 is thus under potent sympathetic inhibition mediated by norepinephrine acting at
2-adrenoceptors, as well as NPY acting at Y1 receptors, and this likely influences the ability of the epithelium to resist intraluminal acid.
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| Role in disease |
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-receptor ligands) enhances mucosal resistance to luminal acid. In the human duodenum, mucosal HCO3 secretion and in particular the ability of this mucosa to respond to luminal acid with a rise in HCO3 secretion are decreased in patients with acute and chronic duodenal ulcer disease. Examples by association include 1) the marked increase in gastroduodenal ulcers associated with the ingestion of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress mucosal PG formation and mucosal HCO3 production (relative risk ratios increase to ~10- to 20-fold); 2) cigarette smoking, another inhibitor of HCO3 secretion that is strongly associated with ulcer disease; and 3) H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcers (5). Following eradication of the bacterium, duodenal HCO3 secretion normalizes and ulcers rarely recur. The precise processes responsible for these events, either by the organism or the host, are the subject of intense study.
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| Acknowledgments |
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| References |
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