Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Loss of Cultured Rat Myenteric Neurons - Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal barrier function is vital for homeostasis. Conditions where the mucosal barrier is compromised lead to increased plasma content of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS acts on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and initiates cellular inflammatory responses. TLR4 receptors have been identified on enteric neurons and LPS exposure causes neuronal loss, counteracted by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), by unknown mechanisms. In addition AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) stimulation causes loss of enteric neurons. This study investigated a possible role of AMPK activation in LPS-induced neuronal loss. DESIGN: Primary cultures of myenteric neurons isolated from rat small intestine were used. Cultures were treated with LPS (0.2–20 µg/mL) with and without TAK1-inhibitor (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol (10(−6) M) or AMPK inhibitor compound C (10(−5) M). AMPK-induced neuronal loss was verified treating cultures with three different AMPK activators, AICAR (10(−4)−3×10(−3) M), metformin (0.2–20 µg/mL) and A-769662 (10(−5)−3×10(−4) M) with or without the presence of compound C (10(−5) M). Upstream activation of AMPK-induced neuronal loss was tested by treating cultures with AICAR (10(−3) M) in the presence of TAK1 inhibitor (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol (10(−6) M). Neuronal survival and relative numbers of neurons immunoreactive (IR) for VIP were evaluated using immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: LPS caused a concentration dependent loss of neurons. All AMPK activators induced loss of myenteric neurons in a concentration dependent manner. LPS-, AICAR- and metformin-,but not A-769662-, induced neuronal losses were inhibited by presence of compound C. LPS, AICAR or metformin exposure increased the relative number of VIP-IR neurons; co-treatment with (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol or compound C reversed the relative increase in VIP-IR neurons induced by LPS. (5Z)-7-Oxozeaenol, compound C or A-769662 did not per se change neuronal survival or relative numbers of VIP-IR neurons. CONCLUSION: AMPK activation mimics LPS-induced loss of cultured myenteric neurons and LPS-induced neuronal loss is counteracted by TAK1 and AMPK inhibition. This suggests enteric neuroimmune interactions involving AMPK regulation.