Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway Changes with Intestinal Epithelial Cells Renewal Along Crypt-Villus Axis

Abstract

Background/Aims: Understanding the mechanism that involves in regulating epithelial cells renewal is the fundamental of regulating intestinal mucosa development and functions and related diseases. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway involves in controlling various major processes by integrating intracellular and extracellular cues. The present experiment was conducted to test the correlation between the mTOR signaling pathway and intestinal epithelial cells renewal along crypt-villus axis (CVA). Methods: Intestinal epithelial cells were sequentially isolated from the jejunum of piglets along CVA, and the amount or phosphorylation level of proteins involved in cell cycle, mTOR signaling pathway, gene expression, and the antioxidant capacity in the isolated cells were measured. Results: The results showed that the amount of proteins involved in cell cycle decreased from crypt to villus tip. The amount or phosphorylation level of proteins related to mTOR signaling pathway in intestinal epithelial cells mainly decreased during maturation along CVA. The amount of proteins involved in gene expression and the antioxidant capacity also decreased from crypt to the top of villi. Conclusions: These results indicate that the mTOR signaling pathway may be involved in regulating the intestinal epithelial cells renewal along CVA and it may partly through affecting the antioxidant capacity and gene expression of intestinal epithelial cells. Further histological verification is needed to confirm the results of the present experiments.