AIM2 contributes to the maintenance of intestinal integrity via Akt and protects against Salmonella mucosal infection

作者：Hu, G-Q; Song, P-X; Li, N.; Chen, W.; Lei, Q-Q; Yu, S-X; Zhang, X-J; Du, C-T; Deng, X-M; Han, W-Y; Yang, Y-J^*

来源：Mucosal Immunology, 2016, 9(5): 1330-1339.

DOI：10.1038/mi.2015.142

• EPITHELIAL BARRIER
• ULCERATIVE-COLITIS
• TIGHT JUNCTIONS
• CROHNS-DISEASE
• BETA-CATENIN
• MOUSE MODEL
• RECEPTOR 2
• INFLAMMASOME
• ACTIVATION
• CELLS

The mechanism regulating the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier remains poorly understood. We herein demonstrate that Absent in melanoma-2 (AIM2) contributes to the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity and defense against bacterial infection. AIM2-deficient mice displayed an increased susceptibility to mucosal but not systemic infection by Salmonella typhimurium, indicating a protective role for AIM2 in the gastrointestinal tract. In a Salmonella colitis model, compared with wild-type mice, AIM2(-/-) mice exhibited more severe body weight loss, intestinal damage, intestinal inflammation, and disruption of basal and activated epithelial cell turnover. In vivo and in vitro data showed that AIM2 restricted the early epithelial paracellular invasion of Salmonella and decreased epithelial permeability. The decreased epithelial barrier in AIM2(-/-) mice might be attributed to the altered expression of tight junction proteins that contribute to epithelial integrity. AIM2 promoted the expression of tight junction proteins through Akt activation. Together, these results suggest that AIM2 is required for maintaining the integrity of the epithelial barrier.

• 出版日期2016-9
• 单位吉林大学