Mechanism of transmem-brane protein 16A in the impairment of intestinal cell of Cajal induced by interleukin-4 in postinfectious irritable syndrome

Objective To investigate the mechanism of transmem-brane protein 16A (TMEMI6A) in impaired intestinal cell of Cajal (ICC) induced by interleukin-4 (IL-4) in postinfectious irritable syndrome (PI-IBS).Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group (n =15) and the control group (n =15).Rats in the model group were given 2,46-trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS) to establish a PI-IBS model.Other rats in the control group were given the same amount of saline as control.Animals were sacrificed aftcr 4 weeks.enzyme linked imnunosorbent assay (ELISA)test,immunohistochemistry,reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to observe the expression of IL-4 and TMEM16A and the changes of ICC ultrastructure.Results The Elisa test showed that the concentration of colonic IL-4 in the model group was higher than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01).Immunofluorescence and RT-PCR suggested that the distribution and expression of TMEM16A were relatively lower compared with the controls.The TEM revealed the injury of ICC ultrastructure and its decreasing connection with other cells.Conclusion IL-4 may induce the injury of ICC by influencing the distribution and expression of TMEM16A,it could change the gastrointestinal motility and finally result in the occurrence of PI-IBS. Key words: Postinfectious irritable syndrome;  Intestinal cell of Cajal;  Transmem-brane protein 16A;  Interleukin-4;  Gastrointestinal motility