The toxin of diarrheic shellfish poisoning, okadaic acid, increases intestinal epithelial paracellular permeability.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Diarrhea associated with shellfish poisoning is poorly understood. The responsible toxin, dinophysistoxin 1, has been identified as okadaic acid, a potent phosphatase inhibitor, but its effects on intestinal epithelia have not been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of okadaic acid on intestinal epithelial function, both Cl- secretion and barrier function. METHODS: Cultured human intestinal epithelial T84 cell monolayers were used. The effect of okadaic acid on these monolayers was assessed by measuring electrophysiological parameters, lactate dehydrogenase release, and 22Na+ and [3H]mannitol flux rates. Protein phosphorylation studies were performed to identify potentially involved proteins. RESULTS: Okadaic acid does not directly stimulate Cl- secretion from intestinal epithelial cells. On the contrary, the response to well-characterized secretagogues is attenuated by okadaic acid. However, it does decrease transepithelial electrical resistance in a polarized fashion without inducing cytotoxicity. Sodium-mannitol flux studies suggest that the observed decrease in resistance is attributable to an increase in paracellular permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Okadaic acid, the toxin responsible for diarrheic shellfish poisoning, does not stimulate Cl- secretion but increases the paracellular permeability of intestinal epithelia. This alteration in intestinal epithelial physiology may contribute to the diarrhea of shellfish poisoning.

Expression of the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase increases paracellular permeability.

Contractile events resulting from phosphorylation of the 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) have been implicated in the regulation of epithelial tight junction permeability. To address this question, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells were transfected with a murine leukemia retroviral vector containing DNA encoding either the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase (tMK) or the beta-galactosidase gene (beta-gal). Autoradiograms of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of myosin immunoprecipitated from 32Pi-labeled transfected cells demonstrated that MLC20 phosphorylation was increased 3.1 +/- 0.9-fold in cells expressing tMK compared with cells expressing beta-gal. Phosphopeptide mapping confirmed that myosin light chain kinase was responsible for the increased MLC20 phosphorylation. Transepithelial electrical resistance, a measurement of barrier function, of tMK cell monolayers was consistently < 10% (123 +/- 20 omega.cm2) of that of monolayers comprised of wild-type cells (1,456 +/- 178 omega.cm2) or cells expressing beta-gal (1,452 +/- 174 omega.cm2). Dual 22Na+ and [3H]mannitol flux studies indicated that the decrease in resistance in tMK cells was attributable to increased paracellular flow. These data support the idea that MLC20 phosphorylation by myosin light chain kinase is involved in regulating epithelial tight junction permeability.

Fibroblast contractility without an increase in basal myosin light chain phosphorylation in wild type cells and cells expressing the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase.

We investigated the role of myosin light chain (MLC20) phosphorylation (MLC-P) in non-muscle contractility by comparing MLC-P and the contractile properties of wild type 3T3 fibroblasts and 3T3 fibroblasts expressing the catalytic domain of myosin light chain kinase (tMK). MLC-P is 0.96 MOL of PO4/mol of MOL20 in cell expressing tMK compared to 0.20 mol of PO4/mol of MLC20 in control cells. Expressing tMK also results in a 2-fold increase in cortical stiffness compared to control cells. Contractile properties were quantified by growing wild type and transfected fibroblasts in collagen and attaching the ensuing fibers to an apparatus for performing mechanical measurements. Serum stimulation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in force with maximal force generated in the presence of 30% (v/v) serum. Surprisingly, MLC-P did not increase in wild type cells following stimulation with 30% serum, and tMK expression did not affect the contractile properties of fibers made from these cells. Moreover, the dose responses to serum, maximal force, force-velocity relationships, and dynamic stiffness were similar in the wild type cells and fibroblasts expressing tMK. These data demonstrate that non-muscle cells can generate force without an increase in MLC-P, and that an increase in MLC-P does not affect the contractile properties of fibroblast fibers.