₁-Antitrypsin (AAT) is secreted by the enterocyte, but its regulation of expression, intramucosal distribution, and functional status are unclear. After corn oil gavage (plus Pluronic L-81 to block chylomicron release), rat intestine was examined for mRNA encoding AAT, immunoreactivity by light and electron microscopy, and protein content by Western blot. Species-specific antisera used were raised against both AAT and surfactant-like particle (SLP), a membrane secreted by the enterocyte in response to fat feeding. Purified luminal SLP was fractionated by Bio-Gel P-200 chromatography to assess its interaction with AAT. Triacylglycerol feeding maximally increased mucosal mRNA-encoding AAT and AAT intracellular protein content by 3 and 5 h, respectively. Immunocytochemistry revealed predominance of AAT in basolateral spaces around enterocytes and Pluronic-blocked extracellular accumulation of AAT, patterns nearly identical to those of secreted SLP. About 10% of AAT was reversibly associated with SLP. Luminal AAT was smaller (51 kDa) than mature AAT (55 kDa) and did not form a complex with pancreatic elastase. When the common bile duct was tied, excluding pancreatic proteases from the lumen, mature AAT that was cleaved by pancreatic elastase was secreted. The luminal secretion of AAT and its reversible association with SLP suggest an intracellular association and a possible role for AAT during lipid digestion and absorption.

immunocytochemistry; fat absorption; surfactant-like particle

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