Role of somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in the interaction between mucosal mast cells and enteric neurons during intestinal inflammation.

1.Identification and topographical localisation of somatostatin receptors in the enteric nervous system of the non-inflamed mouse ileum using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-PCR. The somatostatin receptor-containing neurons are neurochemically characterised by means of multiple immunofluerescence stainings.2.Comparison of the identity and expression pattern of somatostatin receptors in enteric neurons in 8-week Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice with non-inflamed ileum, using Real Time RT-PCR.3.Optimisation of the protocol for isolation of mucosal mast cells from the lamina propria of 8-week Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.4.Identification and quantification of somatostatin receptors on in vitro mucosal mast cells and on mucosal mast cells isolated from the lamina propria of 8-week infected mice by means of immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase-PCR and Real Time RT-PCR. These results are substantiated in vivo by immunofluorescent detection of somatostatin receptors on mucosal mast cells in the gastrointestinal tract of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.5.Study of a possible compensatory effect of somatostatin receptor type 2 deficiency on the identity and expression level of the somatostatin receptors in enteric neurons and musocal mast cells using immunohistochemistry, reverse transcriptase PCR and Real Time RT-PCR.6.Study of the effect of administration of SOM and SOM analogues on the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory mediators by mucosal mast cells using cDNA microarray and ELISA.7.Functional study of the effect of somatostatin on the neuroimmune interaction between mast cells and enteric neurons using mucosal mast cells and enteric neurons isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. Life cell imaging and multi-photon microscopy are applied to investigate the activity of both cell types after SOM stimulation.

Keywords:MOUSE MODELS, SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI, KNOCK OUT MOUSE, SOMATOSTATIN

Disciplines:Microbiology, Gastro-enterology and hepatology, Morphological sciences, Veterinary medicine