The DHE cell line as a model for studying rat gastro-intestinal mucin expression: Effects of dexamethasone

Abstract

In summary, we demonstrated that rat DHE cells expressed a combination of rMuc1, rMuc2, rMuc3, rMuc4, and rMuc5AC mucin genes. This profile of mucin gene expression in quite similar to that observed in rat gastrointestinal epithelium. Rat LGA cells also expressed several gastrointestinal mucin genes but rMuc4 mRNA was only very weakly detected in these cells. Furthermore, we also provided evidence that glycoconjugate secretion from DHE cells was responsive to stimulation by bethanechol, PMA and calcium ionophore A23187. We Have thus identified and characterized a cell line derived from intestinal tract tissue that will prove reliable in better understanding the regulation of rat mucin glycoprotein secretion and of rat mucin gene expression. The DHE cell line thus represents the first rat cell model in this area and already led to the demonstration that dexamethasone has an opposite effect on rMuc2 and rMuc5AC expression and secretion.