Aiping M Zhao

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Mast cell-mediated changes in smooth muscle contractility during mouse giardiasis.

Erqiu Li; Aiping Zhao; Terez Shea-Donohue; Steven M Singer (Profiled Authors: Terez Shea-Donohue; Aiping M Zhao)

Department of Biology, Reiss Building, Room 406, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
Infection and immunity 2007;75(9):4514-8.

Giardia intestinalis is a significant cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. Infections in animal models have been shown to cause changes in gastrointestinal transit that depend on adaptive immune responses and are mediated, in part, through neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and we therefore investigated potential excitatory pathways that might be involved in the response to Giardia infection. Infected mice exhibited increased spontaneous and cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced contractions of longitudinal smooth muscle. In contrast, enhanced contractile responses were not observed in response to acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, or the protease-activated receptor-1 agonist peptide TFFLR. Giardia-induced changes in smooth muscle function appear to be mediated primarily by mast cells, as both spontaneous and CCK-induced contractions were blocked by pretreatment with either ketotifen or compound 48/80. Together, these data support a model in which CCK release triggers mast cell degranulation, leading to increases in smooth muscle contractility. These contractions, coupled with nitric oxide-mediated muscle relaxation, promote intestinal transit and parasite elimination.

1 Originating Grant

• 1.

  SHEA-DONOHUE, TEREZ

  GI Nematodes and Gut Functional Responses to Inflammation

  1 April 2001 - 30 November 2012

  NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Scientific Context

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