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Dickson KB, Stadnyk AW, Zhou J, Lehmann C. Mucosal Immunity: Lessons from the Lower Respiratory and Small Intestinal Epithelia. Biomedicines 2025; 13:1052. [PMID: 40426880 PMCID: PMC12108762 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13051052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2025] [Revised: 04/23/2025] [Accepted: 04/24/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Mucosal epithelia represent a diverse group of tissues that function as a barrier against the external environment and exert a wide variety of tissue-specific secondary functions. This review focuses on the lower respiratory tract and small intestinal epithelia, which serve as two distinct sites within the body with respect to their physiological functions. This review provides an overview of their physiology, including both physiological and mechanical defense systems, and their immune responses, which allow both tissues to tolerate commensal organisms while mounting a response against potential pathogens. By highlighting the commonalities and differences across the two tissue types, opportunities to learn from these tissues emerge, which can inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies that harness the unique properties of mucosal epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayle B. Dickson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (K.B.D.); (A.W.S.)
| | - Andrew W. Stadnyk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (K.B.D.); (A.W.S.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Juan Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada;
| | - Christian Lehmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (K.B.D.); (A.W.S.)
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada;
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Zan GX, Qu HZ, Li XY, Peng QL, Wang XF, Li RS, Zhao YG, Yan HC, Zhou JY, Wang XQ. Iturin A Potentiates Differentiation of Intestinal Epithelial Defense Cells by Modulating Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling to Mitigate Oxidative Damage Induced by Heat-Stable Enterotoxin B. Antioxidants (Basel) 2025; 14:478. [PMID: 40298845 PMCID: PMC12024041 DOI: 10.3390/antiox14040478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2025] [Revised: 04/14/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) maintain epithelial renewal through their proliferation and differentiation capabilities, responding to various intestinal insults. However, the impact of iturin A, a natural antimicrobial peptide, on ISC viability and its potential to mitigate heat-stable enterotoxin b (STb)-induced intestinal damage remains unclear. Our recent study demonstrated that oral administration of iturin A enhances tight junction protein expression, accelerates crypt-villus regeneration, and restores epithelial barrier integrity in STb-exposed mice. Furthermore, iturin A promotes ISC proliferation and differentiation, significantly increasing the numbers of goblet and Paneth cells in the jejunum following STb exposure. Notably, iturin A regulates intestinal homeostasis by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), while elevating total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels in both serum and jejunal mucosa. Mechanistically, iturin A facilitates nuclear factor-erythroid 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2) release by disrupting Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), leading to the upregulation of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). In conclusion, our findings indicate that iturin A alleviates oxidative stress induced by STb through modulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and promotes ISC differentiation into goblet and Paneth cells, thereby enhancing resistance to STb-induced damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng-Xiu Zan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Hao-Zhan Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Xin-Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Qi-Liang Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Xiao-Fan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Run-Sheng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 518057, China;
| | - Yu-Guang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK;
| | - Hui-Chao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Jia-Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
| | - Xiu-Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Guangzhou 510642, China; (G.-X.Z.); (H.-Z.Q.); (X.-Y.L.); (Q.-L.P.); (X.-F.W.); (H.-C.Y.); (J.-Y.Z.)
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