Tryptamine Activates 5‐HT4 GPCR to Increase Secretion in the Mouse Proximal Colon
Authors: Bhattarai Yogesh , Williams Brianna , Battaglioli Eric J. , Grover Madhusudhan , Whitaker Weston R. , Linden David R. , Akiba Yasutada , Kandimalla Karunya , Zachos Nicholas , Kaunitz Jonathan D. , Sonnenburg Justin L. , Fischbach Michael A. , Farrugia Gianrico , kashyap Purna C. 
Published: June 2021

Background

Microbial conversion of dietary substrate to bioactive molecules represents a potential regulatory mechanism by which gut microbes can alter intestinal physiology. Tryptamine, a monoamine structurally similar to serotonin (5‐HT), can be generated via decarboxylation of tryptophan by the gut bacteria but its physiological effect is not known.

Aim

To determine the effect of bacterial metabolite tryptamine on colonic secretion.

Methods

We mounted proximal colon mucosa‐submucosa preparations from germ free (GF), humanized (HM; ex‐GF colonized with human gut bacteria for 4–5 weeks), conventionally raised WT and 5‐HT4 receptor knockout (5‐HT4R−/−) male mice in the Ussing chamber. The change in short circuit current (ΔIsc) was determined in response to application of increasing concentrations of tryptamine (3μM – 3mM) on the submucosal (basolateral) side either alone or in the presence of 5‐HT3R or 5‐HT4R antagonist, ondansetron (100nM) and GR‐113808 (30nM) respectively, with and without TTX (500nM). Colonoids (3‐dimensional epithelial organoids derived from colon) from GF and HM were used for swelling assay and ELISA based cAMP measurement.

Results

Tryptamine application significantly increased Isc in both GF and HM mice (n=6, P < 0.05, two‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni post‐hoc). Tryptamine mediated ΔIsc response was not significantly affected by amiloride, an inhibitor of epithelial sodium channels and Na+/H+ exchangers, which are primarily responsible for absorption but was significantly decreased by 5‐Nitro‐2‐(3‐phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB; anion blocker), a calcium‐sensitive chloride channel and sodium bicarbonate exchanger inhibitor responsible for anionic secretion in both GF and HM mice (n=4, P < 0.05, two‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni post‐hoc). Tryptamine evoked ΔIsc was not inhibited by 5‐HT3R (n=4, P > 0.05) but completely blocked by 5‐HT4R antagonist and was absent in 5HT4R knock out mice suggesting that the effect of tryptamine is mediated via 5HT4R. The increase in Isc in response to tryptamine and its inhibition by 5‐HT4R antagonist was also seen in presence of TTX (neuronal blocker; n=4, one‐way ANOVA, P < 0.05) suggesting that the epithelial 5‐HT4R alone can mediate the effect of tryptamine. Application of tryptamine (1mM) for 30 minutes led to a significant increase in the surface area of fluorescein labelled colonoids (n=5, one‐way ANOVA, P < 0.05), similar to forskolin, when compared to vehicle treated and 5HT4R antagonist pre‐treated GF and HM colonoids. Colonoids incubated with tryptamine (1mM) for 60 minutes had significantly higher cAMP levels (normalized to forskolin) compared to vehicle treated GF and HM colonoids, confirming that tryptamine activates 5‐HT4 GPCR (n=3, student's t‐test, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Tryptamine, a tryptophan‐derived microbial metabolite, increases colonic secretion via 5HT4 GPCR activation. The identification of a bacterial metabolite activating a host GPCR to alter GI function represents an important advance in the field, and provides a distinct example of small molecule mediated host‐microbe interaction. Engineered probiotics producing tryptamine could be used as therapeutics in diseases associated with constipation.

Support or Funding Information

NIH DK111850, DK114007 (PCK)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.