Sodium/hydrogen-exchanger-2 modulates colonocyte lineage differentiation

Aim The sodium/hydrogen exchanger 2 (NHE2) is an intestinal acid extruder with crypt-predominant localization and unresolved physiological significance. Our aim was to decipher its role in colonic epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and electrolyte transport. Methods Alterations induced by NHE2-deficiency were addressed in murine nhe2(-/-) and nhe2(+/+) colonic crypts and colonoids, and NHE2-knockdown and control Caco2Bbe cells using pH-fluorometry, gene expression analysis and immunofluorescence. Results pH(i)-measurements along the colonic cryptal axis revealed significantly decreased intracellular pH (pH(i)) in the middle segment of nhe2(-/-) compared to nhe2(+/+) crypts. Increased Nhe2 mRNA expression was detected in murine colonoids in the transiently amplifying/progenitor cell stage (TA/PE). Lack of Nhe2 altered the differentiation programme of colonic epithelial cells with reduced expression of absorptive lineage markers alkaline phosphatase (iAlp), Slc26a3 and transcription factor hairy and enhancer-of-split 1 (Hes1), but increased expression of secretory lineage markers Mucin 2, trefoil factor 3 (Tff3), enteroendocrine marker chromogranin A and murine atonal homolog 1 (Math1). Enterocyte differentiation was found to be pH(i) dependent with acidic pH(i) reducing, and alkaline pH(i) stimulating the expression of enterocyte differentiation markers in Caco2Bbe cells. A thicker mucus layer, longer crypts and an expanded brush border membrane zone of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) abundance may explain the lack of inflammation and the normal fluid absorptive rate in nhe2(-/-) colon. Conclusions The results suggest that NHE2 expression is activated when colonocytes emerge from the stem cell niche. Its activity increases progenitor cell pH(i) and thereby supports absorptive enterocyte differentiation.