WO2010144140A2 - Egfr and par2 regulation of intestinal permeability - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating an autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of increasing transepithelial electrical resistance leading to decreased cell permeability. Further provided is ajnethod of treating celiac disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin thereby inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor and inhibiting PAR₂.

Description

EGFR AND PAR2 REGULATION OF INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY

Federal Funding Legend

This invention was made with government support under Grant number DK048373 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.

Cross-Reference to Related Application

This international application claims benefit of priority under 35 U. S. C. §119(e) of provisional U.S. Serial No. 61/185,662, filed June 10, 2009, now abandoned, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the fields of cell biology and intestinal permeability.

More specifically, the present invention relates to EGFR and PAR2 regulation of intestinal permeability.

Description of the Related Art Increased hygiene leading to a reduced exposure to various microorganisms has been implicated as a cause for the 'epidemic' of allergic, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases recorded in industrialized countries during the past 3-4 decades (1 ). Apart from genetic makeup and exposure to environmental triggers, a third key element, i.e., increased intestinal permeability (IP), has been proposed in the pathogenesis of these diseases (2-4). Intestinal permeability, together with antigen sampling by enterocytes and luminal dendritic cells, regulates molecular trafficking between the intestinal lumen and the submucosa, leading to either tolerance or immunity to non-self antigens (5). However, the dimensions of the paracellular space (10 to 15 A) suggest that solutes with a molecular radius exceeding 15 A (-3.5 kDa) (including proteins) are normally excluded from this uptake route. The intercellular tight junctions (TJs) tightly regulate this paracellular antigen trafficking. Tight junctions are dynamic structures operative in several key functions of the intestinal epithelium under both physiological and pathological circumstances (3). However, despite major progress in the knowledge on the composition and function of intercellular tight junctions, the mechanism(s) by which they are regulated is(are) still incompletely understood.

The discovery of Vibrio cholerae zonula occludens toxin (Zot), a toxin that increases tight junction permeability, led to the identification of its eukaryotic counterpart, zonulin, as the only physiological mediator known to reversibly regulate intestinal permeability by modulating intercellular tight junctions (6, 7). Human zonulin is a ~47 kDa protein that increases intestinal permeability in non-human primate intestinal epithelia (7), participates in intestinal innate immunity (8), and is overexpressed in autoimmune disorders in which tight junction dysfunction is central, including celiac disease (CD) (9, 10) and type 1 diabetes (T1 D) (11).

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute-phase response protein, synthesised mainly in the liver as well as arterial walls, endometrium and peritoneum. The core function of haptoglobin is as a haemoglobin (Hb) binding protein, required for terminal processing and disposal of free haemoglobin, mostly in the reticular endothelial system of the liver. This system allows the iron present in the Hb moiety to be conserved.

Haptoglobin has a tetrameric structure comprising two .alpha, and two .beta, chains, linked by disulphide linkages. The .beta, chain (245 amino acids) has a mass of about 40 kDa (of which approximately 30% w/w is carbohydrate) and is shared by all phenotypes. The .alpha, chain exists in two forms: . alpha.1 , (83 amino acids, 9 kDa) and .alpha.2 (142 amino acids, 17.3 kDa) and therefore haptoglobin occurs as three phenotypes, referred to as Hp1- 1 , Hp2-1 and Hp2-2. Hp1-1 contains two .alpha.1 chains, Hp2-2 contains two .alpha.2 chains, and Hp2-1 contains one .alpha.1 and one .alpha.2 chain. Hp 1-1 has a molecular mass of 100 kDa, or 165 kDa when complexed with Hb. Hp1-1 exists as a single isoform, and is also referred to as Hp dimer. Hp2-1 has an average molecular mass of 220 kDa and forms linear polymers. Hp2-2 has an average molecular mass of 400 kDa and forms cyclic polymers. Each different polymeric form is a different isoform. Haptoglobin is a potential treatment for renal disorders caused by haemolysis. It is potentially useful therapeutically as a means of removing free haemoglobin; the complexes thus formed having potential additional benefits as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or angiogenic agents. However, haptoglobin is considered difficult to isolate in large amounts whilst retaining its biological activity. There is a recognized need in the art for a functional characterization of pre- haptoglobin 2 as well as methods of regulating intestinal permeability. The present invention fulfills this long standing need in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While zonulin's role as an intestinal permeating modulator in health and disease has been described functionally, its biochemical characterization has remained elusive. The present invention shows that through proteomic analysis of human sera, zonulin is identical to pre-haptoglobin (HP)2, a molecule that, to date, has only been regarded as the inactive precursor for HP2, one of the two genetic variants (together with HP1 ) of human pre- haptoglobins. The present invention demonstrates the functional characterization of zonulin as pre-haptoglobin 2, a multifunctional protein that, in its intact single chain precursor form, appears to regulate intestinal permeability by transactivating the EGFR via PAR₂ activation, while in its cleaved two-chain form acts as a Hb scavenger.

Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating an autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of increasing transepithelial electrical resistance leading to decreased cell permeability.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating an autoimmune disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor; and inhibiting PAR₂. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating celiac disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin thereby inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor and inhibiting PAR₂.

Other and further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the matter in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become clear, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular descriptions and certain embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings form a part of the specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting in their scope. Figure 1 shows Western blotting using zonulin cross-reacting anti-Zot polyclonal Ab on CD patient sera that were depleted of albumin and immunoglobulins. Three main patterns were detected: sera showing a 18 kDa immunoreactive band and a fainter -45 kDa band

(lane 1), sera showing only a 9 kDa band (lane 2), and sera showing both the 18 kDa and 9 kDa bands (lane 3).

Figures 2A-2B shows Coomassie and Western immunoblotting (WB) of purified human homozygote HP1-1 and HP2-2 both untreated and after deglycosylation with PGNase. Figure 2A: Coomassie staining of untreated HPs showed a shared glycosylated b chain migrating at a MW -52 kDa, while the a of HP1-1 (a1) and of HP2-2 (a2) migrated at the predicted MW of 8 and 18 kDa, respectively. Deglycosylation with PGNase caused a shift of the b chain to a MW of ~36 kDa (complete deglycosylation) or higher (incomplete deglycosylation). As expected, no shifts were observed in the non-glycosylated a1 and a2 chains. Figure 2B: WB of purified human homozygote HP1-1 and HP2-2 both untreated and after deglycosylation with PGNase run in triplicate on a single gel, transferred, and then separately subjected to WB analysis using polyclonal anti-Zot (left panel), monoclonal anti- HP (center panel), or polyclonal anti-HP Ab (right panel). The three Ab tested recognized both the a1 and a2 chains (all panels, lanes 1 and 2) whose pattern of reactivity did not change after deglycosylation of both HP1-1 and HP2-2 protein preparations (lanes 3 and 4). Conversely, deglycosylation caused the expected gel mobility shift of the β chain in both HP1-1 and HP2-2 detected by either the anti-HP monoclonal (center panel, lanes 3 and 4) or anti-HP polyclonal Ab (right panel, lanes 3 and 4). The zonulin cross-reacting anti-Zot Ab recognized an extra ~45 kDa band in HP2-2 but not in HP1 -1 that did not shift after deglycosylation (arrows). MS/MS analysis and N-terminal sequencing identified this ~47 kDa band as pre-HP2. Figure 3 shows that zonulin increased intestinal permeability in C57BL/6 WT mice in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Zonulin was applied to the luminal side of C57BL/6 WT intestinal segments at 5, 10, 25 and 50 μg/well. Trypsin-cleaved pre-HP2 was applied at 50 μg/well. Starting at 60 min post-exposure, zonulin induced significant drop in TEER when applied at concentrations > 10 μg/well (P value ranging from 0.03 to 0.036). Data are mean values ± SEM from 4 independent experiments.

Figures 4A-4D show the effect of zonulin on mouse gastrointestinal permeability in vivo. Zonulin (closed bars) (170 mg/mouse) increases both mouse small intestinal (Figure 4A) and gastroduodenal (Figure 4B) permeability as compared to BSA-treated controls (open bars). The differences in lacman ratio (small IP) and sucrose fractional excretion (gastroduodenal permeability) are shown as percentage of change in permeability between the measurements on the challenge day and 3 days before challenge. Mature two-chain HP2 (dotted bars) (170 mg/mouse) caused no changes in either small intestinal or gastroduodenal permeability. The effect of zonulin was completely reversible, since both small intestinal (Figure 4C) and gastroduodenal (Figure 4D) permeability returned to pre- challenge values within 48 h. The differences in lacman or sucrose fractional excretion are shown as percentage of permeability change between the value of 2 d after the challenge and the challenge day. *Lacman P<0.0024 compared to both BSA control and 2-chain HP2; ^*Sucrose P<0.0049 compared to both BSA control and 2-chain HP2 (n = 10 for each group of treatment).

Figures 5A-5D show the effect of zonulin on EGFR phosphorylation. Figure 5A: Zonulin at increasing concentrations was incubated on serum-starved Caco-2 cells. The cells were lysed, immunoprecipitated using anti-EGFR Ab, and processed for WB using anti- phospho EGFR (PY Plus) Ab. To ensure equal loading, the blots were stripped and re- probed for EGFR. Zonulin caused a dose-dependent increase in EGFR phosphorylation that reached a plateau at 3 ml/ml. Figure 5B: Zonulin at 10 ml/well was incubated either alone (lane 2) or in the presence of 5 μM of the EGFR-selective PTK inhibitor AG1478 (lane 3) on serum-starved Caco-2 cells. Cells exposed to media (lane 1) or AG1478 alone (lane 4) were used as additional controls. Zonulin caused an increase in EGFR phosphorylation that was completely abolished by the PTK inhibitor AG1478 (n = 3 experiments). Figure 5C: Zonulin 10 mg/ml, either alone or in the presence of 5 μM of AG1478, was applied to the luminal side of C57BL/6 WT intestinal segments at a concentration of 10 μg/well and TEER measured at baseline (open bars) and 90 min post-incubation (closed bars). Zonulin caused a significant drop in TEER that was prevented by the presence of AG 1478 (n = 4 mice for each group). Figure 5D: The zonulin-induced EGFR phosphorylation was significantly reduced following treatment with two-chain mature HP2 (10 ml/ml) (lane 3) compared with single chain zonulin (lane 2). Lane 1 shows EGFR phosphorylation in cells treated with media alone.

Figures 6A-6B illustrate the effects of zonulin on EGFR phosphorylation and IP. Figure 6A: Zonulin-induced EGFR phosphorylation was decreased when PAR₂ was silenced. PAR₂ expression was silenced in Caco-2 using two different PAR₂ siRNAs. Cells were then treated with zonulin (10 mg/ml) or media control, lysed, immunoprecipitated using anti-EGFR Ab, and processed for WB with anti-phospho-EGFR PY-plus Ab. Zonulin- mediated EGFR phosphorylation was prevented by PAR₂ silencing. Equivalent protein loading and transfer was confirmed by stripping and reprobing the blots for EGFR. Figure 6B: Zonulin did not increase intestinal permeability in PAR₂ ^"'^' mice. Segments of small intestine from both C57BL/6 WT and PAR₂'^" mice were mounted onto the microsnapwell system, exposed for 30 min to medium alone or to the medium containing 10 mg the purified recombinant zonulin, and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) monitored at time 0 (open bars) and after 90 min incubation (closed bars). The zonulin-induced drop in TEER observed in wild-type mice was ablated in PAR₂'^' mice (n = 5).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following abbreviations may be used herein. Ab: Antibodies; EGFR: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor; HP: Haptoglobin; IP: Intestinal Permeability; PAR: Proteinase Activating Receptor; TJ: Tight Junctions; WB: Western Blot; CD: celiac disease. As used herein, the term "a" or "an", when used in conjunction with the term

"comprising" in the claims and/or the specification, may refer to "one", but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one". Some embodiments of the invention may consist of or consist essentially of one or more elements, method steps, and/or methods of the invention. It is contemplated that any device, compound, composition, or method described herein can be implemented with respect to any other device, compound, composition, or method described herein.

As used herein, the term "or" in the claims refers to "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and "and/or". As used herein, the term "contacting" refers to any suitable method of bringing one or more of the compounds described herein with or without one or more other therapeutic agents into contact with one or more cells. For in vivo applications, any known method of administration is suitable as described herein.

As used herein, the terms "effective amount", "pharmacologically effective amount" or "therapeutically effective amount" are interchangeable and refer to an amount that results in an effect against cells in vitro or an improvement. Those of skill in the art understand that the effective amount may improve the patient's or subject's condition, but may not be a complete cure.

As used herein, the term "subject" refers to any target of the treatment. Thus, the present invention is directed to a method of treating an autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of increasing transepithelial electrical resistance leading to decreased cell permeability. This method would be applicable to any autoimmune disease in which decreased cell permeability is desired. Representative cells include but are not limited to small intestinal cells or gastroduodenal cells. In one aspect, such cell would have a decreased expression of zonulin mRNA. In a related aspect, this method further comprises the step of inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor. A person having ordinary skill in this art would readily recognize known techiques to inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor to use in this method. A preferred embodiment is in which epidermal growth factor receptor is inhibited by administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin. In another related aspect, this method further comprises the step of inhibiting PAR₂. A person having ordinary skill in this art would readily recognize known techiques to inhibit PAR₂.

In preferred embodiments of this method of the present invetnion, PAR₂ is inhibited using an antibody directed against single chain zonulin or using an siRNA. In another related aspect, this method further comprises the step of avoiding zonulin release by gliadin through CXCR3 receptor binding.. Representative autoimmune diseases which may be treating using this method of the present invention include but are not limited to T1D, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and schizophrenia.

The present invention is further directed to a method of treating an autoimmune disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor; and inhibiting PAR₂. Using this method, transepithelial electrical resistance is increased leading to decreased cell permeability. Cell permeability may be decreased in any cell including but not limited to small intestinal cells or gastroduodenal cells. Typically, such cell will exhibit decreased expression of zonulin mRNA. Epidermal growth factor receptor and PAR₂ may be inhibited as described above. In an additional aspect, this method further comprising the step of inhibiting gliadin using any technique known to those of ordinary skill in this art, including anti-gliadin antibodies. Representative diseases which may be treated using this method of the present invention include but are not limited to autoimmune disease such as T1 D, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and schizophrenia.

The present invention is further directed to a method of treating celiac disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin thereby inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor and inhibiting PAR₂. Using this method of the present invention, transepithelial electrical resistance is increased leading to decreased cell permeability. Representative cells include small intestinal cells or gastroduodenal cells but this method could be useful in many cell types. In a related aspect of this method, PAR₂ is further inhibited using an siRNA. In addition, this method may further comprise the step of inhibiting gliadin.

The following example(s) are given for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the present invention in any fashion. Increased intestinal permeability (IP) has emerged as a common, underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of allergic, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. The characterization of zonulin, the only physiological mediator known to reversibly regulate intestinal permeability has remained elusive. Through proteomic analysis of human sera, the present invention identified human zonulin as the precursor for haptoglobin-2 (pre-HP2). While mature HP is known to scavenge free hemoglobin to inhibit its oxidative activity, no function has ever been ascribed to its uncleaved precursor form. The present invention demonstrates that the single chain zonulin contains an EGF-like motif that leads to transactivation of EGF receptor (EGFR) via Proteinase Activated Receptor (PAR)₂ activation. Activation of these two receptors was coupled to increased intestinal permeability. siRNA-induced silencing of PAR₂ or the use of PAR₂ ^"'^" mice prevented loss of barrier integrity. Proteolytic cleavage of zonulin into its a2 and b subunits neutralized its ability to both activate EGFR and increase intestinal permeability. Quantitative gene expression revealed that zonulin is overexpressed in the intestinal mucosa of subjects with celiac disease. This is the first example of a molecule that in its precursor form exerts a biological activity that is distinct from the function of its mature form. These results, therefore, characterize zonulin as a novel ligand that engages a key signalosome involved in the pathogenesis of human immune-mediated diseases that can be targeted for therapeutic interventions.

EXAMPLE 1 Human serum samples

Human sera from both healthy and CD volunteers were obtained from the Center for Celiac Research serum bank. All samples were depleted of albumin and IgG using commercially available kits (Enchant™ Life Science kit; Pall Corporation, Ann Arbor, Ml, USA) and IgG ImmunoPure immobilized protein G plus (PIERCE, Rockford, IL, USA), respectively). The albumin- and IgG-depleted sera were analyzed by SDS-PAGE₁ 2-D electrophoresis, and WB analysis.

EXAMPLE 2

Human Haptoglobins

HP1-1 and HP2-2 extracted from human plasma were purchased from Sigma (St.

Louis, MO, USA). HP SDS-PAGE, both mono- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis WB, and mass-spectrometry analyses were performed. HP deglycosylation was performed by addition of Λ/-glycosidase F (PNGase F) according to the manufacturer's instructions (Sigma,

St Louis, MO, USA).

EXAMPLE 3 SDS/PAGE and WB Analysis

Albumin- and IgG-depleted sera (50 mg per well), human HP1-1 (1 mg per well), and human HP2-2 (1 mg per well) were resolved by SDS/PAGE under both denaturing and nondenaturing conditions on 18% or 12% SDS/PAGE Tris-Glycine gels (Invitrogen), respectively. The denaturing condition required addition of 30 mL of Laemmli buffer to the samples, followed by a 5-min boiling step before SDS/PAGE. Proteins were either stained with SimplyBlue SafeStain solution (Invitrogen) or transferred onto a PVDF membrane (Millipore) and probed with either 5 mg/mL affinitypurified rabbit polyclonal anti-Zot IgG Ab, which were previously shown to cross-react with purified human zonulin (1) using the ImmunoPure IgG (Protein A) Purification Kit (PIERCE), or with 2 mg/mL mouse monoclonal anti-human HP (Sigma) or 1 mg/mL rabbit polyclonal anti-human HP (Sigma) as the primary Ab. HRP-labeled polyclonal anti-rabbit IgG (1 :5,000; Amersham) or anti-mouse IgG (1 :10,000; Sigma) was used as a secondary Ab. Bands were detected with ECL Plus reagents (Amersham).

EXAMPLE 4

2-DE Analysis and 2-DE WB

2-DE was performed using the ZOOM IPGRunner System (Invitrogen). Briefly, albumin and IgG depleted sera were added to the commercial sample rehydration buffer containing urea, detergent, reducing agent, ampholyte solution, and a dye (ReadyPrep Rehydration/Sample buffer; Bio-Rad) in a ratio of 1 :2 to rehydrate the ZOOM STRIP pH 5.3-6.3 (Invitrogen) for 1 h at room temperature (RT). The strips were then loaded in the ZOOM IPGRunner Cassette (Invitrogen) to perform the isoelectric focusing (IEF). To fractionate samples, an IEF step voltage protocol of 200 V for 20 min, 450 V for 15 min, 750 V for 15 min, and 2,000 V for 105 min was used. After IEF, before the 2-DE SDS/PAGE, strips were equilibrated for 15 min in NuPAGE LDS Sample buffer (Invitrogen) containing NuPAGE Sample Reducing Agent and alkylated for 15 min in NuPAGE LDS Sample buffer containing freshly added iodoacetamide (125 mM; BioRad). 2-DE SDS/PAGE was run using NuNovex 4-20% Tris-GlycineZOOMGels (1.0 mm) in an immobilized pH gradient well (Invitrogen). Protein bands were visualized by SimplyBlue SafeStain solution (Invitrogen). Protein bands were transferred onto PVDF membrane (Millipore) and probed using affinity- purified [Immuno-Pure IgG (Protein A) Purification Kit; PIERCE] rabbit polyclonal zonulin cross-reacting anti-Zot IgG (5 mg/mL) as the primary Ab and anti-rabbit IgG (ECL Rabbit IgG, HRP-Linked; Amersham Biosciences) as the secondary Ab. Films were developed after exposure of the PVDF membrane with ECL detection reagent (Amersham Biosciences).

EXAMPLE 5

MS Analysis

In-gel tryptic digest for protein band identification was performed on gel bands prestained with SimplyBlue excised from the SDS/PAGE or 2-DE and analyzed by MS/MS to identify the protein using the protein sequencing/mass mapping facility at the Stanford Protein and Nucleic Acid Biotechnology Facility (Beckman Center, Stanford, CA).

EXAMPLE 6

Expression of the Zonulin/Pre-HP2 in Insect Cells

Human full-length cDNA clone encoding for the HP2 was purchased from OriGene (TC116954; accession no. NM_005143; OriGene Technologies, Inc.). Recombinant baculoviruses containing WT human zonulin cDNA, with a 6xHis tag at the C-terminus, were constructed using pDESTδ and the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Zonulin was then transferred from the pENTR/D- TOPO vector into the pDESTδ through recombination using Gateway technology (Invitrogen). MAX Efficiency DHIOBac cells carrying bacmid DNA were transformed with pDESTδ-zonulin. Recombinant bacmid was isolated from DHIOBac cells and transfected into Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells using Cellfectin reagent (Invitrogen) to generate recombinant baculoviruses. Sf9 cells were used for expression of zonulin protein. For protein expression of zonulin, Sf9 cells (3 x 10⁷) were grown in suspension flasks in SFM-900 III medium (Invitrogen) at 27⁰C. Cells were infected by recombinant baculoviruses at a multiplicity of infection of 3. At 72 h after infection, Sf9 cells were collected by centrifugation for 10 min at 2,000 x g. For purification of the zonulin, phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and NaCI were added to the conditioned medium to final concentrations of 20mMand 0.5 M, respectively (2). The solution was applied to a chelatingsepharose (His-bind resin; Novagen) column charged with Ni2⁺ and then eluted with 200 mM imidazole and dialyzed into PBS. The purified human zonulin was aliquoted and stored at -8O⁰C until use. EXAMPLE 7

Ex Vivo IP Studies Ex Vivo IP Studies by the Microsnapwell System

The effect of zonulin/pre-HP2 on ex vivo intestinal permeability was monitored in the microsnapwell system as described (3). Briefly, segments of small intestine from C57BL/6 WT mice were mounted onto the microsnapwell system, and their luminal side was exposed for 30 min to medium alone or to the medium containing increasing concentrations of the purified recombinant zonulin. TEER was measured at time 0 and at 30-min time intervals for a period of 2 h using a planar electrode (Endohm SNAP electrode attached to an Evom-G WPI analyzer; World Precision Instruments) and expressed in Ω/cm² after normalization. All the TEER microsnapwell experiments were performed on mouse small intestine with a baseline TEER value of 77.9 ± 3.5 Ω/cm² (n = 23). In selected experiments, the effect of zonulin on TEER was monitored both under basal conditions and after pretreatment with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG 1478. In another set of experiments, zonulin was tested both in C57BU6 WT and PAR2-/- mice.

EXAMPLE 8 In Vivo IP

129/SvEv WT mice were randomized into 3 groups of 30 mice. They were acclimatized to the experimental techniques for 3 wk, by fasting the animals for 3 h, gavaging the animals with a sugar probe, and placing them in metabolic cages twice each wk. On the day of protein challenge, the animals received either 170 mg of the purified single-chain zonulin in a 60-mL solution or a similar amount of purified 2-chain cleaved HP2, together with the sugar gavage as described (4). Mice were placed in metabolic cages and offered drinking water ad libitum for the following 22 h; during this time, their urine was collected, and the mice were then returned to conventional cages. Two days after the drug challenge day, mice were again placed in metabolic cages to measure their recovery from the treatment.

EXAMPLE 9 Knockdown of PAR2 Through RNA Interference

PAR2 expression in Caco-2 cells was silenced using 2 different PAR2 siRNAs [HSS103471 and HSS103473 (50 nM each); Invitrogen]. The cells were transfected following the manufacturer's instructions with the PAR2 siRNAs using DharmaFECTI transfection reagent (Dharmacon) in a 10-cm plate in the presence of 5% FCS for 24 h. PAR2 knockdown efficiency was confirmed by bothWB and real-time PCR analysis. EXAMPLE 10

Total RNA Extraction from Intestinal Biopsies

Total RNA was extracted using the TRizol RNA purification protocol. Briefly, each intestinal tissue specimen was homogenized in 1 ml_ of TRizol Reagent (Invitrogen) using the Polytron power homogenizer PT 3100 (KINEMATICA AG). RNA was extracted by adding 0.2 ml. of chloroform. After shaking the tube vigorously by hand for 15 sec, samples were incubated at RT for 5 min and centrifuged at 15,000 x g for 15 min at 4°C (Marathon 21000R centrifuge; Fisher Scientific). After transferring the RNA-rich aqueous phase to another tube, RNA was precipitated by adding 0.5 mL of isopropyl alcohol per 1 mL of TRizol Reagent used for the initial homogenization. Samples were incubated at RT for 10 min and centrifuged at 15,000 x g for 10 min at 4°C. After removing the supernatant, the RNA pellet was washed once with 75% ice-cold ethanol, adding at least 1 mL of 75% ethanol per 1mL of TRizol Reagent used for the initial homogenization. The pellet was air-dried for no more than 2 min, dissolved in 20 mL of RNase-free water, and stored at -80⁰C. The RNA concentration was read at 260 nm by spectrophotometer (DU530, UV/vis; Beckman Coulter). The 260:280 ratio was determined for each sample.

EXAMPLE 11 cDNA Synthesis Two micrograms of total RNA was reversetranscribed with the High-Capacity cDNA

Archive Kit according to manufacturer's instructions (Applied Biosystems).

EXAMPLE 12

PCR Amplification of HP in Human Intestinal Biopsies Aliquots of the cDNA were utilized for PCR of fragments specific to HP2 using the following primer pairs, which were specifically designed to cover different exons: forward primer (exon 5) δ'-ATGGCTATGTGGAGCACTCG-S' (SEQ ID NO: 1) and reverse primer (exon 7) 5'-TACAGGGCTCTTCGGTGTCT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 2). PCR was performed with 0.1 mg of cDNA, 2.5 units of TaqDNA polymerase (Promega), 0.2 mM dNTP mix, 0.5 mM each primer, 5 mM MgCI2, and 1:10 volume of 10ml PCR standard buffer (Promega). The PCR was run in the thermal cycler (Thermo Electro Corporation). After an initial 1 min of denaturation at 94 ⁰C, 30 cycles comprising 30 sec at 94 ⁰C (denaturation), 30 sec at 58 ⁰C (annealing), and 30 sec at 72 ⁰C (extension) were completed, followed by a 10-min final extension at 72 ⁰C. The PCR products were then separated on a 2%agarose gel, stained with ethidium bromide, excised out of the gel, purified using a gel band purification kit (Amersham Biosciences), and sequenced by a 373OxI DNA Analyzer (Applied Biosystems). EXAMPLE 13

Real-Time PCR with the TaqMan Procedure

Real-time PCR was performed on the cDNA from only HP2-2 or HP2-1 phenotype subjects and was performed with HP2-specific gene primers and probes (product ID: Hs00978377_m1) and housekeeping 18S (product ID: Hs99999901_S1 (Applied

Biosystems). The reaction was performed with TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (Applied

Biosystems, manufactured by Roche) and run on the 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System

(Applied Biosystems). All reactions were performed in duplicate. Relative gene expression was calculated using the comparative Ct method with 18S as a housekeeping gene. The fold change in zonulin mRNA expression in active CD patients and CD patients on a GFD diet relative to zonulin mRNA expression in non-CD controls after normalization to 18S mRNA was recorded.

EXAMPLE 14 Human zonulin-preHP2 cloning and expression in a baculovirus expression system and its cleavage by proteases

Recombinant zonulin/preHP2 protein production using a baculovirus system and its purification are described above. Purified single chain zonulin was subjected to proteolytic cleavage using the serine proteases indicated, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and then stained with SimplyBlue™ SafeStain solution (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). For generation of two chain HP2, single chain zonulin was exposed to trypsin-agarose beads (Sigma T-1763) for 20 min at 25 ⁰C. The beads were removed by centrifugation, and the effectiveness of the removal of trypsin confirmed by assay of trypsin peptidase activity against the substrate GIu- Gly-Arg-pNA (Bachem Bioscience).

EXAMPLE 15 Ex vivo and in vivo IP studies

The effect of zonulin on ex vivo and in vivo intestinal permeability was performed as described (8, 14) and reported above. To determine whether zonulin can activate EGFR, increasing concentrations of either zonulin or two-chain mature HP2 were added for increasing exposure times to serum-starved, high EGFR-expressing Caco-2 cells. The cells were lysed and processed for WB with anti-phospho EGFR (Y1068) Ab (Cell Signaling Technol. Inc.) as reported (40). Experiments were repeated in the presence of 5 μM of the EGFR-selective PTK inhibitor AG1478 (Calbiochem, Gibbstown, NJ, USA). EXAMPLE 16

Zonulin gene sequencing and quantification from intestinal tissue from celiac disease (CD) and non-CD patients

Samples of small-intestine mucosae were obtained from the second/third portion of the duodenum from subjects undergoing a diagnostic upper gastrointestinal (Gl) endoscopy. Subjects included were 10 healthy controls, 7 patients with active CD at diagnosis, 3 patients with CD on treatment with a gluten-free diet for at least 6 months. All patients had clinical indications for the procedure and gave their informed consent to undergo an additional biopsy for the purpose of this study. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Maryland. The small-intestine biopsies were immediately collected in RNA/ater RNA Stabilization Reagent (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA) and stored at -20⁰C until processed. Total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and real time PCR are described above.

All values are expressed as mean ± SE (standard error). The analysis of differences was performed by two-tailed Student's t tests to test differences between two groups for either paired or unpaired varieties. Multi-variate analysis was performed where appropriate. Values of P ≤/ 0.05 were regarded as significant.

EXAMPLE 17 Characterization Of Zonulin From CD Human Sera

Since zonulin is detected in human sera by a zonulin cross-reacting anti-Zot Ab (Ab)- based ELISA (7-10) and is increased in patients with CD compared to normal controls (10), Western analysis was initially used to detect zonulin immunoreactivity of proteins in albumin- and IgG-depleted sera from CD subjects. These sera displayed two major protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 18 and 9 kDa (Fig. 1). Three distinct patterns of reactivity were identified in CD sera: a 18 kDa protein band (Fig. 1 , lane 1), a 9 kDa protein band (Fig. 1 , lane 2), and both 9 and 18 kDa protein bands (Fig. 1 , lane 3). Of note, ~45 kDa band was detected only in sera that displayed the single 18 kDa band (Fig. 1 , lane 1), but not detected in sera with either the 9 kDa band or both bands (Fig. 1 , lane 2 and 3). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of sera from CD patients who expressed the 18 kDa band revealed two zonulin immunoreactive spots that were subjected to MS/MS mass spectrometry analysis. The 18 kDa spot was identified as the a2 chain of HP2 (accession no. Gl:223976) and the 9 kDa spot as the a1 chain of HP1 (accession no. GI:3337390). A random screening of 14 sera from CD patients revealed that 7% were HP1 homozygous, 57% HP1/HP2 heterozygous, and 36% HP2 homozygous. EXAMPLE 18

Characterization of zonulin from human HP preparations

To confirm the identity of the immunoreactive bands recognized by the polyclonal zonulin-cross reacting anti-Zot IgG Ab in human CD sera, commercially purified preparations of human HP from subjects homozygote for either HP1 (HP1-1) or HP2 (HP2-2) were simultaneously resolved on a single gel by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Coomassie staining (Fig. 2A). As expected, the a1 -chain of HP1-1 exhibited a MW of ~9 kDa (Fig. 2A, lane 1), while the a2-chain of HP2-2 was ~18 kDa (Fig. 2A, lane 2). Due to its glycosylation, the b chain exhibited a MW of -52 kDa in both HP1-1 and HP2-2 preparations (Fig. 2A, lanes 1 and 2). After a 3 h deglycosylation reaction with Λ/-glycosidase F (PGNase F), the b chain of both HP1-1 and HP2-2 ran as multiple bands below 52 kDa presumably due to varying degrees of deglycosylation (Fig. 2A, lanes 3 and 4). As anticipated, after glycosidase treatment, no changes in gel mobility for either the a1 -chain of HP1-1 (Fig. 24, compare lanes 1 and 3) or the a2 chain of HP2-2 (Fig. 2A, compare lanes 2 and 4) were evident. Figure 28 presents immunoblots of commercially available purified homozygous

HP1-1 and HP2-2 proteins both before and after deglycosylation. Proteins were run simultaneously on a single gel and immunoblotted with polyclonal zonulin-cross reacting anti-Zot Ab (Fig. 2B, left panel), monoclonal anti-glycosylated b chain HP (Fig. 26, center panel), or polyclonal anti-HP Ab (Fig. 2S, right panel). Anti-Zot Ab reacted strongly with both the HP1-1 a1 chain and the HP2-2 a2 chain and revealed an additional band at ~45 kDa present in the HP2-2, but not in the HP1-1 preparations (Fig. 2S, left panel, lanes 2 and 1 , respectively). As expected, the monoclonal anti-HP antibody, raised against the ~52 kDa HP b glycosylated subunit, recognized only the b chain of either HP1-1 or HP2-2 (Fig. 2B, center panel, lanes 1 and 2, respectively), while the polyclonal anti-HP Ab recognized epitopes of the a1 , a2 andb chains of both HP1-1 and HP2-2 (Fig. 2B, right panel, lanes 1 and 2, respectively). Figure 2B also shows immunoblotted HP1-1 and HP2-2 preparations after deglycosylation using the same three Ab. The pattern of reactivity of the three Ab tested for the non-glycosylated 9 kDa a1 and the 18 kDa a2 subunits did not change after deglycosylation (Fig. IB, all 3 panels, lanes 3 and 4, respectively). However, deglycosylation caused the expected gel mobility shift of the β chain in both HP1-1 and HP2-2. The monoclonal anti-HP Ab (Fig. 2S₁ center panel, lanes 3 and 4) recognized only 2 incomplete deglycosylated β chain bands, while the polyclonal anti-HP Ab recognized also the completely deglycosylated ~36 kDa β chain (Fig. 2S₁ right panel, lanes 3 and 4). The 45 kDa band that was present only in the HP2-2 preparation and recognized by anti-Zot Ab did not show any change in gel mobility upon deglycosylation, but it appeared less intense (Fig. 2S, left panel, lane 4). MS/MS analysis and NH₂-terminal sequencing of this 45 kDa protein band performed on two distinct samples analyzed at different times identified this protein as the human HP2 precursor (pre-HP2, accession no. P00738). The combined MS/MS analysis covered a total of 49.8% of non-overlapping protein and 13 unique peptides spanning the entire protein sequence. Therefore, in addition to a1 and a2 chains, the anZ-ot Ab recognize the uncleaved single chain pre-HP2, but not the b chain.

These results suggest that the anti-Zot Ab used to measure serum zonulin by ELISA should supposedly detect the highly abundant HP1 and HP2 proteins, as well as pre-HP2. However, the amount of serum zonulin detected by ELISA is in the ng/ml range (11), while the entire HP pool in serum is in the mg/ml range (12). To address this apparent discrepancy, the WB analysis of both human sera and purified HPs was repeated under non-denaturing conditions using anti-Zot Ab. The WB showed a series of bands in HP2-2 phenotype sera and in commercially purified HP2-2, while no bands were detected in either HP1-1 phenotype sera or in commercial purified HP1-1. Conversely, the anti-HP polyclonal Ab, that did not recognize the uncleaved pre-HP2, detected bands both in commercially purified HP1-1 and HP2-2 preparations. Combined, these data suggest that under non- denaturing conditions, the anti-Zot Ab detect only the single chain pre-HP2, but not the two- chain mature HPs, further supporting the notion that the single chain pre-HP2, but not its cleaved two-chain mature form, corresponds to the zonulin molecule.

EXAMPLE 19

Functional analysis of recombinant zonulin

The primary translation product of the mammalian HP2 mRNA transcript is a polypeptide that dimerizes co-translationally and is proteolytically cleaved while still in the endoplasmic reticulum by the serine protease, CrI LP (13). Conversely, zonulin is detectable in human serum as uncleaved pre-HP2 (see above). To confirm the identification of zonulin as the single chain pre-HP2 and not the cleaved mature two chain HP2, recombinant pre- HP2 was expressed by inserting the pre-HP2 cDNA into an insect cell vector and expressed it using a baculovirus expression system. Highly purified recombinant pre-HP2 was obtained that was recognized by the anti-Zot polyclonal Ab similarly to Figure 2B and that migrated at an apparent MW of ~53 kDa due to the 6xHis tag attached at the C-terminus. The single chain pre-HP2 was then subjected to proteolytic cleavage using a series of serine proteases. Matriptase, urokinase, thrombin, and plasma kallikrein did not cleave pre-HP2, while plasmin caused complete degradation of the protein. In contrast, treatment with the intestinal serine protease trypsin led to the appearance of two major bands that migrated with molecular weights compatible with the a2 and b subunits of zonulin. NH₂-terminal sequencing of these 2 bands showed the 2 proteins to be identical the pre-H2 a2 and b chains cleaved at the predicted Arg¹⁶¹ cleavage site. The intact single chain pre-HP2 and the cleaved two-chain mature HP2, obtained after trypsin digestion, were both tested for their biological activities in the studies below.

EXAMPLE 20

Ex vivo effect of recombinant zonulin on TEER in mouse small intestine mounted in the micro-snapwell system

Recombinant pre-HP2 (from now on defined as zonulin) was applied to WT C57BL/6 murine small intestine segments mounted in microsnapwells. Recombinant single chain zonulin added to the mucosal (luminal) aspect of mouse intestinal segments decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), i.e., increased permeability, when applied at concentrations ≥ 40 μg/ml (Fig. 3). In contrast, no consistent TEER changes were detected when the trypsin-cleaved two chain HP2 was tested (Fig. 3).

EXAMPLE 21

In vivo effect of recombinant zonulin on mouse gastrointestinal permeability

To establish whether zonulin might alter intestinal permeability in vivo, mice were gavaged with the single chain recombinant pre-HP2 protein (170 mg/mouse), and gastroduodenal and small intestinal permeability tested using specific sugar probes (sucrose and lactulose/mannitol, respectively) as described (14). Zonulin/preHP2 increased both small intestinal (Fig. 4A) and gastroduodenal (Fig. 4S) permeability compared to bovine serum albumin (BSA)-treated controls. Gastroduodenal and small intestinal permeability each returned to baseline within 48 h following exposure to zonulin/preHP2 (Fig. AC and 4D). To determine whether the two-chain mature HP2 affected IP, the in vivo experiments described above were repeated by administering two-chain proteolytically cleaved protein. In contrast to the single chain zonulin, two-chain HP2 (170 mg/mouse) failed to alter either gastroduodenal or small intestinal permeability compared to BSA-treated controls (Fig. 4A and 48). Combined, these data indicate that the single chain zonulin, but not its two-chain mature HP2 form generated by proteolytic cleavage, retains the reversible permeating activity reported for zonulin.

EXAMPLE 22

Zonulin mRNA expression and quantification in human intestinal mucosae Using specific primers and the cDNA of human intestinal biopsies from zonulin positive subjects, a 686 bp fragment was amplified, 144 bp of which belongs to the a-chain and 542 bp belonging to the b-chain of both HP1 and HP2 genes. Sequencing of this fragment confirmed its identity as HP, but HP1 could not be distinguished from HP2 because of the common sequence in the amplified region. To overcome this and to specifically quantify the expression of the zonulin gene in the human intestine, cDNA obtained from the intestinal mucosae of healthy individuals (n = 10), CD patients (disease in acute phase (n = 7), and CD patients disease in remission following a gluten-free diet (GFD) (n = 3) were analyzed by real-time PCR using primers and probes specific for the a2 chain. Compared to healthy individuals, zonulin mRNA expression was increased in the intestinal mucosae of CD subjects with active disease (3-fold increase, P < 0.05). Intestinal mucosae of three celiac subjects adhering to a gluten-free diet showed only 1.5 fold increase zonulin expression compared to controls.

EXAMPLE 23

Recombinant zonulin increases tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR Gliadin, a glycoprotein present in wheat and several other cereals and the environmental trigger responsible for the autoimmune damage of the small intestine typical of CD (15), fully reproduces the effects of EGF on the actin cytoskeleton (16), effects that are very similar of zonulin (7, 10, 16). Furthermore, structural analysis revealed that the pre- HP-2 b chain includes an EGF motif that contains 6 spatially conserved cysteine residues that form 3 intramolecular disulfide bonds necessary for EGF-like activity.

To determine whether zonulin can activate EGFR, increasing concentrations of baculovirus-derived, recombinant zonulin were added to Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. The cells were lysed, immunoprecipitated with anti-EGFR Ab, and processed for phosphotyrosine immunoblotting (PY-Plus). At concentrations ≥ 3 mg/ml, zonulin increased tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR (Fig. 5A). To further establish the role of EGFR in zonulin- induced alterations in TEER, both in vitro and ex vivo experiments described above were performed in the presence of the EGFR-selective PTK inhibitor, AG1478. Pre-incubation of Caco-2 cells for 2 h with the EGFR selective protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AG1478 (5 mM), prevented zonulin/preHP2-induced EGFR phosphorylation on Y1068 (Fig. 5S). Similarly, pretreatment with AG1478 abolished TEER reduction in response of zonulin (Fig. 5C). Finally, trypsin digestion of zonulin dramatically reduced its ability to activate EGFR (Fig. 5D). Combined, these data suggest that the single chain zonulin activates EGFR and induces an EGFR-driven decrease in TEER, whereas the cleaved two-chain HP2 fails to both activate EGFR and to increase IP. EXAMPLE 24

Recombinant zonujin-induced EGFR activation and TEER changes are PAR?-dependent

Zot active peptide FCIGRL (AT1002) has structural similarities with the PAR₂- Activating Peptide (AP)₁ SLIGRL, and causes PAR_∑-dependent changes in TEER (17), a finding that was demonstrated in WT, but not PAR2^"'^" mice. Further, several G protein coupled receptors (GPCR), including PAR₂, transactivate EGFR (18). Since Zot and zonulin share a similar mechanism of action (6) and the zonulin protein sequence contains a Zot-like and PAR₂ AP-like motif in its b chain (FCAGMS), whether zonulin-induced EGFR activation might be PAR₂-dependent was determined. siRNA-induced silencing of PAR₂ in Caco-2 cells diminished EGFR Y1068 phosphorylation in response to recombinant zonulin (10 mg/ml)(Fig. 6>A), compatible with PARr-dependent transactivation of EGFR.

To further establish a role for PAR₂ in EGFR activation in response to zonulin, small intestinal barrier function was studied in the microsnapwell system using segments isolated from either C57BL/6 WT or PAR₂ '^" mice. As anticipated, recombinant zonulin decreased TEER in intestinal segments from C57BL/6 WT mice, while it failed to reduce TEER in small intestinal segments from PAR₂ ^"'^" mice (Fig. 6S), so linking zonulin-induced PAR₂-dependent transactivation of EGFR with barrier function modulation.

The present invention identified zonulin as the precursor of HP2. Mature human HPs are heterodimeric plasma glycoproteins composed of a and b polypeptide chains that are covalently associated by disulfide bonds and in which only the b chain is glycosylated (19). Unlike the b chain (36 kDa), the a chain exists in two forms, i.e., GM (~9 kDa) and 0,2 (~18 kDa). The presence of one or both of the 2 chains results in the three phenotypes, HP1-1 , HP2-1 , and HP2-2. These HP variants evolved from a mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP) (12, 20), with the a chain containing a complement control protein and the b chain a catalytically dead chymotrypsin-like serine protease domain (21-24). Other members of the MASP family include a series of plasminogen-related growth factors (EGF₁ HGF, etc.) involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and disruption of intercellular junctions. Despite this multidomain structure, the only function assigned to HPs, to date, is to bind Hb to form stable HP-Hb complexes thereby preventing Hb-induced oxidative tissue damage (25). No function has ever been described for their precursor forms.

HPs are unusual secretory proteins in that their precursor proteins, instead of being cleaved in the trans-Golgi complex, are proteolytically processed by complement C1 r-like protease (CrI LP) in the endoplasmic reticulum (13). Of interest, the endoplasmic reticulum fraction was the cellular fraction in which the highest zonulin concentrations were detected (9). Since the key biological effect of zonulin is to regulate intercellular TJ function (7, 9- 11), recombinant pre-HP2 was exanubed in intestinal permeability assays. Pre-HP2 dose- and time-dependently reduced TEER across murine small intestinal mucosa both ex vivo and in vivo. The observation that zonulin lost its permeating activity after cleavage into its two a2 and b subunits further supports the notion that zonulin/pre-HP-2 and mature two- chain HP2 exert distinct biological functions. The importance of protein conformation in dictating HP protein function is further supported by the finding that zonulin-cross reactive anti-Zot Ab recognized the HP1 a1 chain under denaturing conditions (Fig. λA and 2S)₁ but failed to recognize non-denatured HP1. Combined, these data confirm the identity of zonulin as pre-HP2.

The NHfc-terminal amino acid sequence of zonulin has striking similarities with the light chain of human g globulins (7), a similarity also noted for HP (26). Clearance of the HP- Hb complex can be mediated by the monocyte/macrophage scavenger receptor, CD163 (25). Clustal W dendogram analysis showed a region in the zonulin b chain just upstream of the CD163 binding site with the following gamma globulin-like consensus motif: QLVE — V — P. Discrepancies between the previously reported zonulin sequence and this pre-HP2 consensus motif may be due to intra-species differences.

Zonulin contains growth factor-like repeats. Like zonulin, growth factors affect intercellular tight junction integrity (27, 28). The present invention shows that the single chain zonulin, but not its cleaved mature form, transactivates EGFR via PAR₂ and that its effect on TEER is prevented by pharmacological inhibition of EGFR or siRNA-induced PAR₂ silencing. This suggests that the growth factor motif in the single chain zonulin, but not in the mature two-chain HP2, has the molecular conformation required to induce tight junctions disassembly by indirect transactivation via PAR₂. Gliadin, the environmental trigger of CD, reportedly reproduces the effects of EGF on the actin cytoskeleton (16). These effects are very similar to the effects reported for zonulin (7). Gliadin binds to the CXCR3 chemokine receptor (29) and this interaction is coupled to zonulin-pre-HP2 release from both intestinal cells (9) and whole intestinal tissues (10). Hence, it is likely that the gliadin-related EGF effects are mediated through zonulin release. Intestinal bacterial colonization is also a stimulus for zonulin release (8). Gliadin and microorganisms both cause polarized, luminal secretion of zonulin (8). Therefore, studies were focused on early zonulin action, i.e., its activity at intestinal luminal side. This approach may appear counterintuitive, given the observation that both EGFR and PAR₂ are expressed basolaterally (3, 30). However, evidence exists that they also are apically expressed (31). The fact that zonulin exerted a permeating effect, both in ex vivo and in vivo, when applied to the luminal aspect of the intestinal mucosa does not dispute the possibility that the protein acts basolaterally as well. When environmental triggers {i.e. bacteria, gluten) are present in the intestinal lumen, zonulin is released from enterocytes, a process that is mediated, at least for gliadin, by CXCR3 (29). Following zonulin release and subsequent increase in intestinal permeability, these triggers can reach the submucosa where zonulin-expressing immune cells can present zonulin to the basolateral side. A similar bilateral action has been reported for mucosal mast cell protease II, another serine protease that controls intestinal permeability acting both from luminal and serosal sides (32).

The role of both EGFR and PAR₂ in regulating epithelial permeability has been previously reported (33, 34). However, the present invention provides the first evidence that the two receptors work cooperatively to regulate small intestinal permeability.

It has been reported that zonulin is upregulated during the acute phase of CD (9, 10). Using HP-specific primers, the present invention reports for the first time the expression of zonulin mRNA in human intestine. Furthermore, real time PCR experiments showed that zonulin expression was increased in CD patients compared to normal controls. The enhanced expression of zonulin correlated with disease activity as CD patients who were on a gluten-free diet showed mean values for zonulin expression that were intermediate to active CD patients and normal controls. Interestingly, Papp and co-workers recently reported that a polymorphism in the HP gene represents a novel genetic risk factor for CD development and its clinical manifestations (35). The human plasma levels of pre-HPs are between 100 and 300 mg/100ml, with HP2-

2 ranging between 100-260 mg/100 ml (36). Almost 8% of HPs are secreted in their pro-form (37), suggesting that under physiological circumstances 80-208 mg/ml of pre-HP2 are present in human plasma. Therefore, the concentrations of zonulin used herein are within physiological range and are most likely indicative of the signaling pathways activated when zonulin is upregulated during pathological processes. Besides CD, elevated levels of zonulin have been reported in other autoimmune diseases, including T1 D (1 1), systemic lupus erythematosus (38), and ankylosing spondylitis (39), further delineating the importance of the zonulin pathway in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. These findings, together with the observation that zonulin is overexpressed during the acute phase of several immune-mediated diseases and its blockage prevents the onset of the autoimmune response, suggest that zonulin contributes to the pathogenesis of these conditions, opening new paradigms in the pathobiology and treatment options of immune-mediated diseases. The following references were cited herein: 1. Rook GA, Stanford JL ( 1998) Immunol Today 19: 113- 1 16. 2. Arrieta et al., (2006) Alterations in intestinal permeability. Gut 55: 1512-1520.

3. Fasano et al., (2005) Nat CHn Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol 2:416-422. 4. Wapenaar et al., (2008) Gut 57:463-467.

5. Rescigno et al., (2008) Curr Opin Immunol 20:669-675.

6. Fasano A (2000) Ann N Y Acad Sci 915:214-222.

7. Wang et al., (2000) J Cell Sci 113 Pt 24:4435-4440. 8. El et al., (2002) Gastroenterology 123: 1607-1615.

9. Drago et al., (2006) Scand J Gastroenterol 41 :408-419.

10. Fasano et al., (2000) Lancet 355: 1518-1519.

11. Sapone et al., (2006) Diabetes 55: 1443-1449.

12. Bowman BH, Kurosky A (1982) Adv Hum Genet 12: 189-4. 13. Wicher KB, Fries E (2004) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101: 14390-14395.

14. Meddings JB, Swain MG (2000) Gastroenterology 119: 1019-1028.

15. Sollid LM (2002) Nat Rev Immunol 2:647-655.

16. Barone et al., (2007) Gut 56:480-488.

17. Cenac et al., (2004) J Physiol 558:913-925. 18. van der Merwe et al., (2008) Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol

294:G441-G451.

19. Haugen et al., (1981) J Biol Chem 256: 1055-1057.

20. Maeda et al., (1984) Nature 309: 131-135.

21. Kurosky et al., (1980) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 77:3388-3392. 22. Nielsen et al., (2007) J Biol Chem 282: 1072-1079.

23. Polticelli et al., (2008) FEBS J 275:5648-5656.

24. Wicher KB, Fries E (2006) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:4168-4173.

25. Asleh et al., (2003) Circ Res 92: 1193-1200.

26. Hunt et al., ( 1972) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 47:699-704. 27. Hollande et al., (2001) Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 280:G910-

G921.

28. Jin et al., (2002) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:2782-2790.

29. Lammers et al., (2008) Gastroenterology 135: 194-204.

30. Playford et al., (1996) Gut 39:262-266. 31. Barnard JA, McHugh KM (2006) Growth Factors in the Gastrointestinal

Tract. 1 ed. in physiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract Edition IV, eds Johnson LR, Elsevier Academic Press, 2006:183-246.

32. Jacob et al., (2005) J Biol Chem 280:31936-31948. 33. Bueno L, Fioramonti J (2008) Neurogastroenterol Motil 20:580-587.

34. Raimondi et al., (2008) Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 294:G906- G913.

35. Papp (2008) Clin Chem 54:697-704.

36. scrippslabs. (http://www.scrippslabs.com/datatables/protein levels.html.

37. Misumi et al., (1983) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 114:729-736.

38. Pa von et al., (2006) Proteomics 6 Suppl 1:S282-S292.

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40. Yaish et al., (1988) Science 242:933-935.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of treating an autoimmune disease, comprising the steps of: increasing transepithelial electrical resistance leading to decreased cell permeability.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell is small intestinal or gastroduodenal cell.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said cell has a decreased expression of zonulin mRNA.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said epidermal growth factor receptor is inhibited by administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of inhibiting PAR₂.

7. The method of claim 6, administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said PAR₂ is inhibited using an siRNA.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of avoiding zonulin release by gliadin through CXCR3 receptor binding.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of T1 D, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and schizophrenia.

11. A method of treating an autoimmune disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor; and inhibiting PAR₂.

12. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein transepithelial electrical resistance is increased leading to decreased cell permeability.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said cell is small intestinal or gastroduodenal cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said cell has a decreased expression of zonulin mRNA.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said epidermal growth factor receptor is inhibited by administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said PAR₂ is inhibited using an siRNA.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of inhibiting gliadin.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of T1 D, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and schizophrenia

19. A method of treating celiac disease in an individual in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: administering an antibody directed against single chain zonulin thereby inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor and inhibiting PAR₂.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transepithelial electrical resistance is increased leading to decreased cell permeability.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said cell is small intestinal or gastroduodenal cell.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said cell has a decreased expression of zonulin mRNA.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said PAR₂ is further inhibited using an siRNA.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of inhibiting gliadin.