Preoperative administration of the 5-HT4 receptor agonist prucalopride reduces intestinal inflammation and shortens postoperative ileus via cholinergic enteric neurons.

Objectives: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), most likely via enteric neurons, prevents postoperative ileus (POI) by reducing activation of alpha7 nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR) positive macrophages (mMφ) and dampening surgery-induced intestinal inflammation. Here, we evaluated if 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) agonist prucalopride can mimic this effect in mice and human.

Design: Using Ca imaging, the effect of electrical field stimulation (EFS) and prucalopride was evaluated in situ on mMφ activation evoked by ATP in jejunal tissue.

CCR2-dependent monocyte-derived macrophages resolve inflammation and restore gut motility in postoperative ileus.

Objective: Postoperative ileus (POI) is assumed to result from myeloid cells infiltrating the intestinal (ME) in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In the current study, we investigated the role of infiltrating monocytes in a murine model of intestinal manipulation (IM)-induced POI in order to clarify whether monocytes mediate tissue damage and intestinal dysfunction or they are rather involved in the recovery of gastrointestinal (GI) motility.

Design: IM was performed in mice with defective monocyte migration to tissues (C-C motif chemokine receptor 2, mice) and wild-type (WT) mice to study the role of monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MΦs) during onset and resolution of ME inflammation.

Vagotomy affects the development of oral tolerance and increases susceptibility to develop colitis independently of the alpha-7 nicotinic receptor.

Vagotomy (VGX) increases the susceptibility to develop colitis suggesting a crucial role for the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the regulation of the immune responses. Since oral tolerance and the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial to preserve mucosal immune homeostasis, we studied the effect of vagotomy and the involvement of α7 nicotinic receptors (α7nAChR) at the steady state and during colitis. Therefore, the development of both oral tolerance and colitis (induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) or via T cell transfer) was studied in vagotomized mice and in α7nAChR mice.

The spleen responds to intestinal manipulation but does not participate in the inflammatory response in a mouse model of postoperative ileus.

Background: Postoperative ileus is characterized by a transient impairment of the gastrointestinal motility after abdominal surgery. The intestinal inflammation, triggered by handling of the intestine, is the main factor responsible for the prolonged dysmotility of the gastrointestinal tract. Secondary lymphoid organs of the intestine were identified as essential components in the dissemination of inflammation to the entire gastrointestinal tract also called field effect.

Absence of intestinal inflammation and postoperative ileus in a mouse model of laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) is characterized by impaired gastrointestinal motility resulting from intestinal handling-associated inflammation. The introduction of laparoscopic surgery has dramatically reduced the duration of POI. However, it remains unclear to what extent this results in a reduction of intestinal inflammation.

Mast cells play no role in the pathogenesis of postoperative ileus induced by intestinal manipulation.

Introduction: Intestinal manipulation (IM) during abdominal surgery results in intestinal inflammation leading to hypomotility or ileus. Mast cell activation is thought to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of postoperative ileus (POI). However, this conclusion was mainly drawn using mast cell-deficient mouse models with abnormal Kit signaling.

Inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase as treatment of postoperative ileus.

Objective: Intestinal inflammation resulting from manipulation-induced mast cell activation is a crucial mechanism in the pathophysiology of postoperative ileus (POI). Recently it has been shown that spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is involved in mast cell degranulation. Therefore, we have evaluated the effect of the Syk-inhibitor GSK compound 143 (GSK143) as potential treatment to shorten POI.