GPR39 is coupled to TMEM16A in intestinal fibroblast-like cells.

Zeng, Fanning; Wind, Nicholas; McClenaghan, Conor; Verkuyl, J Martin; Watson, Robert P; Nash, Mark S · PLoS One · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

GPR39 is a GPCR implicated as a regulator of gastrointestinal motility, although the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that GPR39 is expressed by a specific cell population cultured from mouse small intestine muscle layers, which was subsequently identified as fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) that have recently been shown to modulate gut motility. Application of the GPR39 agonist, Zn(2+), induced large currents and membrane depolarization in FLCs cultured from wild-type mice, but not Gpr39(-/-) mice. This Zn(2+)-induced current could be suppressed by application of a TMEM16A antagonist, CaCC(inh)-A01, or by silencing Tmem16a expression. These data suggest that GPR39 might modulate gut motility via regulating TMEM16A function in FLCs.

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