Goblet cell LRRC26 regulates BK channel activation and protects against colitis in mice

Goblet cells (GCs) are specialized cells of the intestinal epithelium contributing critically to mucosal homeostasis. One of the functions of GCs is to produce and secrete MUC2, the mucin that forms the scaffold of the intestinal mucus layer coating the epithelium and separates the luminal pathogens and commensal microbiota from the host tissues. Although a variety of ion channels and transporters are thought to impact on MUC2 secretion, the specific cellular mechanisms that regulate GC function remain incompletely understood. Previously, we demonstrated that leucine-rich-repeat-containing protein 26 (LRRC26), a known regulatory subunit of the Ca2+-and voltage-activated K+ channel (BK channel), localizes specifically to secretory cells within the intestinal tract. Here, utilizing a mouse model in which MUC2 is fluorescently tagged allowing visualization of single GCs in intact colonic crypts, we show that murine colonic GCs have functional LRRC26-associated BK channels. In the absence of LRRC26, BK channels are present in GCs, but are not activated at physiological conditions. In contrast, all tested MUC2-negative cells completely lacked BK channels. Moreover, LRRC26-associated BK channels underlie the BK channel contribution to the resting transepithelial current across mouse distal colonic mucosa. Genetic ablation of either LRRC26 or BK-pore forming -subunit in mice results in a dramatically enhanced susceptibility to colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). These results demonstrate that normal potassium flux through LRRC26-associated BK channels in GCs has protective effects against colitis in mice. SignificanceA primary function of goblet cells (GCs) of the intestinal epithelium is to generate a protective mucus layer lining the intestinal lumen. GC dysfunction is linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). GC mucus secretion is thought to be dependent on contributions of an ensemble of anion and cation fluxes, although understanding remains limited. Here, it is shown in mouse colon that the Ca2+- and voltage-dependent BK-type K+ channel, specifically in association with the LRRC26 regulatory subunit, plays a critical role in normal GC function, protecting mice against chemically-induced colitis. The results demonstrate that normal K+ fluxes mediated by LRRC26-containing BK channels are required for normal GC function, potentially providing insights into the potential role of BK channels in IBD.