Inflammatory response in a rat model of gastroschisis is associated with an increase of NF-kappaB

Braz J Med Biol Res, February 2010, Volume 43(2) 160-165

Inflammatory response in a rat model of gastroschisis is associated with an increase of NF-kappaB

L. Sbragia¹, A.F. Schmidt¹, S. Moraes³, D.G. Bittencourt¹, F.L.L. Gonçalves¹, L.A.V.D. Pereira³ and L.A. Velloso²

¹Disciplina de Cirurgia Pediátrica, Departamento de Cirurgia, ²Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, and ³Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil

^{Correspondence and Footnotes}

Abstract

Babies with gastroschisis have high morbidity, which is associated with inflammatory bowel injury caused by exposure to amniotic fluid. The objective of this study was to identify components of the inflammatory response in the intestine and liver in an experimental model of gastroschisis in rats. The model was surgically created at 18.5 days of gestation. The fetuses were exposed through a hysterotomy and an incision at the right of the umbilicus was made, exposing the fetal bowel. Then, the fetus was placed back into the uterus until term. The bowel in this model had macro- and microscopic characteristics similar to those observed in gastroschisis. The study was conducted on three groups of 20 fetuses each: gastroschisis, control, and sham fetuses. Fetal body, intestine and liver weights and intestine length were measured. IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ and NF-kappaB levels were assessed by ELISA. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA followed by the Tukey post-test. Gastroschisis fetuses had a decreased intestine length (means ± SD, 125 ± 25 vs 216 ± 13.9; P < 0.005) and increased intestine weight (0.29 ± 0.05 vs 0.24 ± 0.04; P < 0.005). Intestine length correlated with liver weight only in gastroschisis fetuses (Pearson"s correlation coefficient, r = 0.518, P = 0.019). There were no significant differences in the concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α or IFN-γ in the intestine, whereas the concentration of NF-kappaB was increased in both the intestine and liver of fetuses with gastroschisis. These results show that the inflammatory response in the liver and intestine of the rat model of gastroschisis is accompanied by an increase in the amount of NF-kappaB in the intestine and liver.

Key words: Gastroschisis; Inflammation; Inflammatory mediators; Nuclear factor kappaB

Introduction

Gastroschisis affects 1.62/10,000 liveborns (1) and this incidence is increasing worldwide (2). Despite a low mortality, these patients have a high morbidity rate associated with dysmotility, intestinal atresia and necrotizing enterocolitis (3). These anatomical and functional changes have been attributed to the exposure of the intestine to amniotic fluid (4). The intestine presents loss of contractility, decreased enzymatic activity of the villi and alterations in collagen synthesis in the submucosal region (5). These histological (6,7) and biochemical (8,9) abnormalities resulting from inflammation have been demonstrated in both experimental models and humans.

Investigation of human amniotic fluid in gastroschisis has shown increased cellularity and increased levels of total protein, ferritin, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 (10). However, the specific inflammatory pathways that are activated in the chronic inflammation of the intestine observed in gastroschisis are not known. Among the proinflammatory cytokines involved in intestinal lesions are tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (11). All of these factors may be stimulated by the activation of hepatic NF-kappa. When the cells are stimulated, NF-kappaB is released and migrates to the nucleus, where it interacts with a specific sequence in the region that promotes target genes (12).

The hepatic Kupffer cells (hepatic histiocytes) are the cells that produce NF-kappaB the most, followed by the hepatocytes themselves (12). The regulation of inflammation and necrosis involves an intricate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Among the genes activated by NF-kappaB are proinflammatory genes and codifiers of cytotoxic cytokines (13). NF-kappaB also participates in the prevention of apoptosis during hepatic regeneration (14).

We hypothesized that the intestinal inflammatory process triggered by the amniotic fluid in gastroschisis may be sufficient to activate specific pathways of the inflammatory response not only in the intestine, but also in the liver. For this purpose, we assessed the levels of cytokines in the liver and intestine in an experimental rat model of gastroschisis.

Material and Methods

The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Research Committee of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and followed the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (internal #281-1).

Model

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were mated and checked for introital plugging. The day of plugging was defined as gestational day 0 for time dating (term = 22 days). The pregnant rats were kept in individual cages and acclimated to dark/light cycling conditions.

On day 18.5 of gestation, the animals underwent surgery in order to create experimental gastroschisis. The procedure was performed under anesthesia with ketamine (50 mg/mL; Pfizer do Brasil Ltda., Brazil) in combination with xylazine (10 mg/mL; Rompun^®, Bayer do Brasil Ltda., Brazil) administered in the right posterior limb. The abdominal ventral region was shaven with an electric razor (Sunbeam^®, USA) and cleaned with chlorohexidine soap. The abdominal wall was opened through a median longitudinal incision and the uterus was exposed. Fetuses were operated upon according to the technique of Correia-Pinto et al. (15). For creation of gastroschisis, a purse-string suture was placed in the uterine wall near the lower body of the fetus. The uterus and the amniotic cavity was then opened and the lower body of the fetus was carefully exposed through the incision. A 3-mm incision was then made on the abdominal wall of the fetus to the right of the umbilicus, through which the fetal bowel was exposed. We modified the technique of Correia-Pinto et al. (15) with a maneuver that facilitated the abdominal opening procedure. We exposed both legs of the fetus and made the incision with a direct view of the umbilical cord. This position permitted a very safe and controlled incision without damage to the umbilical vasculature. After exposure of the fetal bowel, the lower body of the fetus was carefully placed back into the amniotic cavity and the uterus and the purse-string suture of the uterine wall was closed. The first and last fetuses in each uterine horn were not used. The remaining fetuses were then sequentially used as follows: the second fetus, the first to be operated upon, was the fetus with gastroschisis, the subsequent one was the control fetus, the next one was the sham fetus, and so on. Control fetuses were left undisturbed and sham fetuses were exposed to hysterectomy and manipulated but without abdominal wall opening. After gastroschisis and sham operations were made in both uterine horns, the uterus was placed back in the abdominal cavity of the mother and the abdominal wall was closed in two layers. A total of 24 fetuses were included in each group - gastroschisis, control and sham.

Fetuses were harvested by cesarean section on day 21.5 of gestation. Fetuses were weighed and then sacrificed with a lethal dose of anesthetic. The intestinal tract was removed from pylorus to rectum and its length was measured.

The three groups of fetuses were compared for body weight (BW), liver weight (LW), intestine weight (IW), intestine length (IL), liver weight/body weight ratio (LW/BW), intestine weight/body weight ratio (IW/BW) and intestine weight/intestine length ratio (IW/IL).

Immunoprecipitation

Liver and intestine fragments were homogenized in immunoprecipitation buffer containing 1% Triton X-100, 100 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 100 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 100 mM sodium fluoride, 10 mM EDTA, 10 mM sodium orthovanadate, 2 mM PMSF, and 0.1 mg/mL aprotinin at 4°C. The homogenized sample was then centrifuged at 11,000 rpm for 20 min. Supernatant protein concentration was measured by the method of Lowry and immunoprecipitation was achieved with a specific anti-NF-kappaB antibody in a 1:10,000 dilution according to manufacturer instructions (Pierce Biotechnology, USA). Following incubation, immunocomplexes were recovered with Protein A Sepharose 6 MB for 2 h at 4°C and decanted by centrifugation for 20 min at 4°C/11,000 rpm. The precipitate was washed three times at 5-min intervals, with a washing buffer (2 mM sodium orthovanadate, 100 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM RDTA, and 0.5% Triton X-100). The supernatant was discarded and only the precipitated proteins (immunocomplexes) were retained.

ELISA for cytokine determination

Tissue levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ were determined in total protein extracts of liver and intestine (2.0 mg/mL) using 25 µg total protein by ELISA (Pierce Biotechnology, USA) following manufacturer recommendations.

Determination of NF-kappaB activation

Liver and intestine NF-kappaB activation was determined in nuclear extracts by ELISA (Pierce Biotechnology, USA) according to manufacturer recommendations and using the positive and negative controls supplied.

Immunohistochemical procedures

Immunohistochemistry was performed using liver specimens from four fetuses. Six-micrometer cryostat sections were prepared from frozen liver, transferred to slides coated with poly-L-lysine and fixed in methanol for 10 min. The sections were washed twice in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4, and endogenous peroxidase was eliminated by exposure to 0.03% hydrogen peroxide (v/v) in methanol for 5 min at room temperature. Sections were washed in PBS followed by incubation in PBS with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA, w/v) for 30 min to block nonspecific background. Upon BSA removal, the sections were treated with mouse anti-rat CD68 (ED1) and CD163 (ED2; Serotec, USA) at a 1:50 dilution in PBS/BSA overnight at 4°C. After washing in PBS, slides were covered with a 1:200 dilution of biotinylated horse anti-mouse IgG (Vector Laboratories, USA) in PBS, as the second antibody for 45 min. The sections were subsequently washed in PBS and incubated for 30 min with streptoABC complex/HRP (Dako, Denmark) prepared according to manufacturer instructions. After washing in 10 mM Tris-buffered saline (TBS), pH 7.6, the antigen was visualized in tissue by staining for peroxidase activity with 3,3"-diaminobenzidine-tetra-hydrochloride (DAB, Sigma, USA) in TBS, pH 7.6, containing H₂O₂, and rinsing in distilled water. The sections were lightly counterstained with Ehrlich"s hematoxylin, rinsed in distilled water, dehydrated, and mounted with a permanent mounting medium. Negative immunohistochemistry controls were treated in the same way, omitting the primary antibody. After staining, the slides were examined by two different pathologists who counted the number of ED1 and ED2 hepatic cells.

Statistical analysis

Data are reported as means ± SD and were analyzed statistically by ANOVA using the Statistical Analysis System for Windows (SAS 8.01, SAS Institute Corporation 1999-2000, USA), with the level of significance set at 5% (P < 0.05).

Results

Morphometric evaluation of liver and intestine

The intestine and liver measurements are presented in Table 1. The liver of control fetuses was lighter compared to gastroschisis fetuses and the LW/BW relationship was lower in control fetuses compared to both gastroschisis and sham fetuses. The intestine was heavier and shorter in gastroschisis compared to control and sham fetuses and the IW/IL and IW/BW ratios were higher in gastroschisis fetuses (P < 0.05).

We then correlated IL and LW in the various groups using the Pearson"s correlation coefficient (r = Pearson"s coefficient), with the following results: gastroschisis (r = 0.518, P = 0.019), control (r = 0.071, P = 0.766) and sham (r = 0.017, P = 0.942). This shows that there is a statistical relationship between intestine length and liver weight in gastroschisis but not in control or sham fetuses (Figure 1). For the gastroschisis group, the linear least squares regression model was adjusted for analysis and the following estimated equation of intestine length based on liver weight was obtained: intestine length = 57.53 + 195.22 x liver weight (R² = 26.8%; S_xy = 23.86; CV = 19.1%; P = 0.0193) (Figure 1).

Determination of cytokine expression in liver and intestine

There were decreased levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the liver of gastroschisis fetuses. No significant differences in the amounts of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, or IFN-γ were found in the intestine (Table 2).

Determination of NF-kappaB concentration in liver and intestine. There was a 4- and 2-fold increase in NF-kappaB concentration in the liver and intestine, respectively (Table 3).

Determination of macrophage activation in the liver. Since an increase in NF-kappaB was detected in the liver, we investigated the presence of activated macrophages in this tissue with an immunohistochemical assay using anti-ED1 and anti-ED2 antibodies. The average number of cells stained for ED1 was 18 ± 5 in gastroschisis, 16 ± 6 in control and 19 ± 9 in sham fetuses. The numbers of cells stained for ED2 were 16 ± 3 in gastroschisis, 16 ± 7 in control and 12 ± 3 in sham fetuses. There were no significant differences among groups. Therefore, although we observed an increase in NF-kappaB in the liver of fetuses with gastroschisis this increase was not able to activate macrophages.

Figure 1.
Correlation between liver weight and intestinal length at 18.5 days of gestation in rats with gastroschisis.

Table 1.
Morphometric data for a rat model of gastroschisis.

Table 2.
IL, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels in the intestine of a rat model of gastroschisis.

Table 3.
Levels of NF-kappaB in the liver and intestine of a rat model of gastroschisis.

Discussion

The survival rate of neonates with gastroschisis has increased in the last decades. Intestinal damage is still responsible for the increased morbidity and eventual mortality of these patients. The factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality include prematurity, low birth weight and gastrointestinal complications such as atresia, stenosis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intestinal hypomotility derived from prolonged exposure of the intestine to components of the amniotic fluid (16,17).

The inflammatory process in gastroschisis starts in the uterus. Macroscopically, the exposed intestine is found to be thickened, shortened and coated with a fibrin layer (4,18,19). The intestine presents functional alterations such as loss of contractility, decreased enzymatic activity of the villi, and changes in collagen synthesis in the submucosal region (5). There are also alterations in the distal mesenteric vascular system (vasa recta), with a larger number and density of these small vessels.

We observed that the intestine of gastroschisis fetuses had an increased weight and decreased length, probably due to the intestinal edema resulting from exposure to amniotic fluid. Consequently, the IW/IL and IW/BW ratios were also significantly increased in gastroschisis.

On the other hand, in the experimental model of rat fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction, the liver weight is decreased (20). We have previously demonstrated intrauterine growth restriction in gastroschisis fetuses (21) but we did not correlate it with liver weight. In the present study, we observed that control fetuses were heavier than gastroschisis fetuses, but there was no difference between sham fetuses and gastroschisis or control fetuses. In addition, although the liver is proportionally larger in gastroschisis fetuses when adjusted to body weight (LW/BW), this difference was detected between gastroschisis versus controls (P < 0.05), but not between gastroschisis versus sham fetuses. This might be due to the fact that just the surgical stress of opening the amniotic cavity and manipulating the fetus without exposing their bowel to the amniotic cavity can affect the LW/BW ratio, so that the difference observed in gastroschisis fetuses might be attributed to surgical stress and not to gastroschisis.

Of particular interest is the finding that the correlation between liver weight and intestinal length was only observed in gastroschisis. We may speculate that perhaps, since inflammation shortens the intestine, the degree of the inflammatory response might be inversely related to intestinal length and thus, the greater the inflammatory response, the shorter the intestine and the lighter the liver.

To assess the degree of inflammatory reaction we investigated cytokine levels. Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1 are the main stimuli for the secretion of chemokines such as IL-6 and are detected during the acute phase of inflammation. Later, IL-6 down-regulates the production of TNF-α and IL-1 (22). During the gestation of human fetuses with gastroschisis a subchronic pattern of interleukins has been reported in the amniotic fluid with an increase of IL-6 and IL-8 (10). In the present study, the perinatal levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were normal in the intestine and there was a decrease of TNF-α and IL-1β in the liver of the fetuses with gastroschisis. This decrease could be due to a later stage of the inflammatory process during the perinatal period.

Intestinal inflammation has also been associated with the increase of NF-kappaB, which has been demonstrated to play a key role both in inflammatory bowel disease and gastroschisis (23-26). We also found elevation of NF-kappaB levels both in the intestine and liver of fetuses with gastroschisis (P < 0.05). These results show that there was activation of the inflammatory cascade both in the intestine and in the liver, suggesting that the inflammatory response in gastroschisis is activated in both organs.

The increase of NF-kappaB has been associated with an increased number of circulating and tissue histiocytes (ED1 and ED2) (13). However, in the gastroschisis model, we did not observe this phenomenon. Although the inflammation of the intestine might have been sufficient to increase NF-kappaB levels in both the intestine and the liver, it might not have been strong enough to increase the number of histiocytes, due to the lack of infectious stimuli of inflammation.

Finally, we observed that the inflammatory cascade activation expressed by an increase of NF-kB levels exists in the intestine and mainly in the liver of rats with experimental gastroschisis represented by an observed decrease of IL-1β and TNF-α. These data support the theory that the intestine-liver axis has a role in the inflammatory process of experimental gastroschisis. Moreover, shorter bowel loops accompany smaller livers. The implications of the hepatic inflammatory process activated in gastroschisis may stimulate new studies of the prognosis and treatment of fetal gastroschisis, as well as studies of responses to the fetal insulin receptors in the presence of in utero inflammatory processes and growth retardation in gastroschisis (27,28).

To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating activation of the inflammatory response in the liver of the rat model of gastroschisis. Further investigations are needed to elucidate other inflammatory pathways involved and their consequences.

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Acknowledgments

Research supported by FAPESP (#02/02563-8).

Address for correspondence: L. Sbragia, Disciplina de Cirurgia Pediátrica, Departamento de Cirurgia, FCM, UNICAMP, Rua Alexander Fleming, 40, 13084-970 Campinas, SP, Brasil. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]

Received August 20, 2009. Accepted December 17, 2009. Available online January 22, 2010. Published February 1, 2010.

The Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research is partially financed by

Correspondence and Footnotes

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Jan 2010
• Date of issue
  Feb 2010

History

• Received
  20 Aug 2009
• Accepted
  17 Dec 2009