Intraperitoneal microbial contamination drives post-surgical peritoneal adhesions by mesothelial EGFR-signaling.
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ABSTRACT: Abdominal surgeries are lifesaving procedures but can be complicated by the formation of peritoneal adhesions, intra-abdominal scars that cause intestinal obstruction, pain, infertility, and significant health costs. Despite this burden, the mechanisms underlying adhesion formation remain unclear and no cure exists. Here, we show that contamination of gut microbes increases post-surgical adhesion formation. Using genetic lineage tracing we show that adhesion myofibroblasts arose from the mesothelium. This transformation was driven by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. The EGFR ligands Amphiregulin and Heparin-binding Epidermal Growth Factor, were sufficient to induce these changes. Correspondingly, EGFR inhibition led to a significant reduction of adhesion formation in mice. Adhesions isolated from human patients were enriched in EGFR positive cells of mesothelial origin and human mesothelium showed an increase of mesothelial EGFR expression during bacterial peritonitis. In conclusion, bacterial contamination drives adhesion formation through mesothelial EGFR signaling. This mechanism may represent a therapeutic target for the prevention of adhesions after intra-abdominal surgery.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE186658 | GEO | 2021/11/08
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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