A team of scientists from Hokkaido University have discovered that the molecule R-Spondin1 can stimulate stem cells that can be differentiated into Paneth cells. These Paneth cells can then secrete antimicrobial peptides called α-defensins and fight against pathological bacteria. The work can be found in yesterday's Journal of Experimental Medicine.
In a study using mice, a team led by Takanori Teshima, administered R-Spondin1 into healthy mice and saw an increase in the number of Paneth cells and amount of α-defensin secretion. However, they did not see a change in the gut microbiota, suggesting that symbiotic microbes were left untouched.
In a previous study, the team showed that graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), an inflammatory complication that occurs after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, showed a loss of Paneth cells. So in this study, the team used mice with GVHD and found that when administered R-Spondin1, the depletion of Paneth cells was prevented and the intestinal microbiota was largely restored.
"The two molecules we tested, R-Spondin1 and α-defensin, are both intrinsic to mammals, including humans, and found to have little effect on healthy microbiota. So, our results suggest a novel and physiological approach to restore the gut's ecosystem and homeostasis while avoiding adverse effects," says Teshima.
Image: The administration of R -Spondin1 resulted in the increased secretion of α-defensin (right) compared to the control experiment (left). Image courtesy of Hokkaido University.