Characterization of the Cysteinyl Leukotriene 2 Receptor in Novel Expression Sites of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs: LTC4 , LTD4 , and LTE4 ) are pro-inflammatory lipid molecules synthesized from arachidonic acid. They exert their actions on at least two cysLT receptors (CysLT1 R and CysLT2 R). Endothelial expression and activation of these receptors is linked to vasoactive responses and to the promotion of vascular permeability. Here we track the expression pattern of CysLT2 R in a loss-of-function murine model (CysLT2 R-LacZ) to neurons of the myenteric and submucosal plexus in the small intestine, colonic myenteric plexus, dorsal root ganglia, and nodose ganglion. Cysteinyl leukotriene (LTC4 /D4 ) stimulation of colonic submucosal venules elicited a greater permeability response in wild-type mice. In a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colon inflammation model, the disease activity index and colonic edema (measured by wet:dry weights and submucosal thickness) were significantly reduced in knockout (KO) mice compared to controls. Tumor necrosis factor-α levels in colon tissue were significantly lower in KO mice; however, myeloperoxidase activity was similar in both the KO and wild-type groups. Finally, patch-clamp recordings of basal neuronal activity of colonic-projecting nociceptive neurons from dorsal root ganglia (T9-13) revealed significantly higher excitability in KO neurons compared to wild type. These results suggest that a lack of neuronal expression of CysLT2 R in the murine colonic myenteric plexus attenuates colitis disease progression via a reduction in inflammation-associated tissue edema and increases neuronal sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli.