Glycosphingolipids are essential for intestinal endocytic function

Abstract

Background:The intestine contains high concentrations of glycosphingolipids, but their function remained unclear. Results: In newborn mice lacking glycosphingolipids, intestinal epithelia were indistinguishable from control littermates. However, a few days after birth, severe defects in epithelial differentiation occurred. Conclusion: Glycosphingolipid expression in the intestinal epithelium is quintessential for maintenance of resorptive function. Significance: Glycosphingolipids are essential for enterocyte function but not for brush border formation.

A comprehensive review of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum: ecology, pathology and prevention

“…) as the intestinal lining of fish is rich in glycosphingolipids – critical components of endocytotic functions in fish digestion (Jennemann et al . ) – upon which the pathogen is able to utilize as a key attachment site for colonization (Chisada et al . ).…”

“…Adhesion occurs more frequently within the mucus of fish intestines as opposed to surface skin cells (Chabrill on et al 2004) as the intestinal lining of fish is rich in glycosphingolipidscritical components of endocytotic functions in fish digestion (Jennemann et al 2012)upon which the pathogen is able to utilize as a key attachment site for colonization (Chisada et al 2013). Research suggests that V. anguillarum adhesion to host cells is facilitated using afimbrial means (Wang & Leung 2000), but the pathogen inherently holds the capability to assemble type IV pili (Rodkhum et al 2006) which have been investigated for their role in host adhesion and virulence (Frans et al 2013a), data which remain inconclusive at the present time, in terms of virulence contribution.…”

NPC1L1-dependent intestinal cholesterol absorption requires ganglioside GM3 in membrane microdomains

“…Developmental changes in intestinal GSL composition have been found to be synchronized with expression levels of intestinal nutrient transporters (29). The knockdown of intestinal glucosylceramide synthase resulted in retarded growth and early death in mice because of defects in intestinal intracellular vesicular transport (35). These studies suggest that GSLs are physiologically important for intestinal nutrient absorption, but they did not address the role of GSLs in the NPC1L1 pathway.…”

Emerging concepts of ganglioside metabolism

“…). GM3 and GGs of many other organs, like liver and intestine, prefer long‐chain fatty acids and palmitic acid in their ceramide anchor . Interestingly, the length of the acyl chain may affect the endosomal and intracellular trafficking of GM1 in cell culture as demonstrated by the incorporation of different acyl chains into synthetically prepared GM1 .…”

“…Corresponding mouse models revealed reduced levels of neuronal ceramides , sphingomyelins and GGs with stearic acid, leaving about half the neuronal GG levels . Deficiencies of CerS2 , of CerS4 , of CerS5 , and of CerS6 as well as that of glucosylceramide synthase have been analyzed so far only in genetically engineered mice and are reviewed briefly elsewhere .…”