Journal of Pharmacological Sciences (Mar 2022)

Methotrexate mediates the integrity of intestinal stem cells partly through nitric oxide-dependent Wnt/β-catenin signaling in methotrexate-induced rat ileal mucositis

  • Maiko Machida,
  • Takuji Machida,
  • Masaki Kikuchi,
  • Ayaka Shimizu,
  • Syunsuke Ida,
  • Yoshiki Tawaraya,
  • Risa Kato,
  • Keisuke Haramaki,
  • Kaori Yama,
  • Saki Shiga,
  • Masahiko Hirafuji,
  • Kenji Iizuka

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 148, no. 3
pp. 281 – 285

Abstract

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This study aimed to elucidate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in intestinal stem cells in methotrexate-induced ileal mucositis in rats. Methotrexate induced the mRNA expressions of the Wnt/β-catenin target genes Wnt3a, Sox9, and Lgr5 and the Wnt-antagonist gene sFRP-1 and the protein expressions of Lgr5 and sFRP-1. Methotrexate also induced Lgr5+ cells and lysozyme+ cells. A non-selective NO inhibitor inhibited the methotrexate induction of Wnt/β-catenin target genes and Lgr5+ cells but enhanced that of sFRP-1 expression. Thus, methotrexate mediates the integrity of intestinal stem cells partly through NO-dependent Wnt/β-catenin signaling and may enhance tolerability to methotrexate-induced injury.

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