Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2003; 9(8): 1786-1790
Published online Aug 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i8.1786
Effect of gastrin on differentiation of rat intestinal epithelial cells in vitro
Zhou Wang, Wei-Wen Chen, Ru-Liu Li, Bin Wen, Jing-Bo Sun
Zhou Wang, Wei-Wen Chen, Ru-Liu Li, Bin Wen, Piwei Institute, Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Jing-Bo Sun, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) No.G19990544 and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.39970906
Correspondence to: Dr. Wei-Wen Chen, Piwei Institute, Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong Province, China. chenww@gzhtcm.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-20-36585080 Fax: +86-20-36586563
Received: March 4, 2003
Revised: March 11, 2003
Accepted: April 3, 2003
Published online: August 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of gastrin on differentiation of IEC-6 cell line in vitro.

METHODS: IEC-6 cells were incubated with gastrin. On day 7 after treatment, cell morphology was examined by light microscope, and on day 20, the cellular ultrastructures were examined by electron microscope. After exposure to gastrin for 6 hours, villin mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and on day 7, the expression of villin was examined by immunocytochemical analysis with laser confocal microscope.

RESULTS: After exposure to gastrin, IEC-6 cells showed differentiated phenotypes as villas enterocytes and contained an abundance of plasma, small nuclei with nucleoli, and were arranged regularly. There were numerous microvilli around edge of the cells, and several cells showed columnar structures. Villin mRNA expression in cytoplasm was increased in comparison with control.

CONCLUSION: Differentiated characteristics of villus enterocytes and phenotypic changes of rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) are induced by gastrin, and the effects of gastrin are correlated to increased villin expression.

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