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The actin-bundling protein Fascin is overexpressed in inflammatory bowel disease and may be important in tissue repair

Qualtrough, David; Smallwood, Katie; Littlejohns, David; Pignatelli, Massimo

The actin-bundling protein Fascin is overexpressed in inflammatory bowel disease and may be important in tissue repair Thumbnail


Authors

David Qualtrough David.Qualtrough@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Science - Cellular

Katie Smallwood

David Littlejohns

Massimo Pignatelli



Abstract

Background: Fascin is associated with increased cell motility in colorectal tumours but is absent from the normal colonic epithelium. We examined the expression of fascin in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its location at regions undergoing restitution and regeneration. Tissue repair is essential for disease remission and we sought to determine the effects of therapeutic modalities on fascin expression and function using an in vitro model.Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on colonic tissue from IBD patients to determine changes in fascin expression and distribution. A human colorectal epithelial cell line was treated with 5-aminosalicylate (a common treatment for IBD), or sodium butyrate to determine the effect on fascin expression and cell motility.Results: Fascin overexpression was observed in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis and expression correlated with disease severity. Immunoreactivity was more intense and widespread in Crohn's compared to ulcerative colitis. Interestingly, highly expressing foci were consistently observed at the edges of ulcers where flattened, motile epithelial cells are actively involved in restitution, and also in areas of mucosal regeneration.5-aminosalicylate reduced fascin expression in colorectal epithelial cells and inhibited their motility. Conversely, sodium butyrate increased fascin expression and stimulated cell motility in the same cells.Conclusions: Our data shows that fascin is overexpressed in inflammatory bowel disease and its location is indicative of a role in tissue repair. Our in vitro studies show that different therapeutic modalities may have converse effects on fascin expression and may have significant consequences for disease remission and the clinical management of IBD. © 2011 Qualtrough et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 23, 2011
Deposit Date Sep 20, 2012
Publicly Available Date Nov 15, 2016
Journal BMC Gastroenterology
Electronic ISSN 1471-230X
Publisher BioMed Central
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 11
Issue 14
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-11-14
Keywords actin-bundling protein fascin, inflammatory bowel disease, tissue repair
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/965185
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-11-14
Contract Date Nov 15, 2016