Changes in esophagus interstitial cells of Cajal in response to acute stress

Abstract

Background

Thoracic trauma is common, and traffic accident-related traumatic injury can cause acute stress leading to esophageal motility disorders. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are regarded as gastrointestinal pacemaker cells.

Aim

This study explored the mechanism underlying changes in lower esophagus ICCs under acute stress conditions.

Methods

Fifty adult rabbits, randomly divided into one healthy control and four study groups, were subjected to right chest puncture using a Hopkinson bar. Thereafter, one group was immediately subjected to lower esophagectomy, whereas the other three groups were maintained for 24, 48 and 72 h after puncture and subjected to lower esophagectomy. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect ICC distribution, morphology and density, and TUNEL assays were used to determine ICC apoptosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to measure cortisol, epinephrine, dopamine, IL-9, cholecystokinin (CCK) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed to detect changes in SCF/c-kit and nNOS pathways.

Results

After puncture, lung tissue was hemorrhaged, alveoli in puncture areas were destroyed, esophageal pH was decreased, and serum cortisol, epinephrine and dopamine levels increased. ICC numbers increased and apoptotic ICCs decreased in all stress groups after puncture (all p < .01). IL-9, CCK and VIP levels in lower esophagus tissue were increased after puncture (all p < .01). Moreover, SCF/c-kit and nNOS pathways were upregulated in response to stress (all p < .01).

Conclusions

Acute stress promotes increases in lower esophageal ICCs that might affect esophagus ICC functions and esophageal motility.

Keywords:

• Interstitial cells of Cajal
• acute stress
• esophagus
• gastro-esophageal reflux

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Ming-wei Chen, Meng Bai, Yi-xin Cheng and Yue Liu for their assistance in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 11672228) and the Guangzhou Key Medical Discipline Construction Project Fund.