OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of TMEMl6A in the colon of intractable functional constipation patients and its clinical implications.

METHODSA total of 30 patients with intractable chronic functional constipation were selected as trial group (full thickness tissue of sigmoid colon), 30 patients with colon cancer as control group (distant tissues at least 5 cm away from cancer). Tissues from two groups were collected in our hospital from February 2012 to June 2014 and confirmed by pathological diagnosis. Immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression of TMEM16A and c-kit in colon.

RESULTSTMEM16A and c-kit protein expressions were observed in similar sites of colon tissues in two groups. Expressions of TMEM16A and C-kit in colon tissues detected by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and Western blotting were significantly lower in trial group than those in control group (TMEM16A: mean A 1.84±0.25 vs. 3.65±0.32, P<0.05, gray intensity ratio 0.66±0.07 vs. 1.04±0.17, P<0.05, relative mRNA 0.41±0.05 vs. 1.00, P<0.05; c-kit: mean A 3.38±0.24 vs. 5.06±0.31, gray intensity ratio 0.64±0.06 vs. 0.98±0.09, relative mRNA 0.18±0.08 vs. 1.00, all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMEM16A expression in colon tissues of intractable functional constipation patients is significantly lower and may adjust the movement of colonic smooth muscle by regulating the c-kit expression. TMEMl6A may be used as a new candidate target for diagnosis and treatment of intractable functional constipation.