Human Enterocyte-like Cells Research Articles

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from Unexplored Tunisian Ecological Niches: Antimicrobial Potential, Probiotic and Food Applications.

The continued exploration of the diversity of lactic acid bacteria in little-studied ecological niches represents a fundamental activity to understand the diffusion and biotechnological significance of this heterogeneous class of prokaryotes. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lpb. plantarum) strains were isolated from Tunisian vegetable sources, including fermented olive and fermented pepper, and from dead locust intestines, which were subsequently evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli O157:H7 CECT 4267 and Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4031, as well as against some fungi, including Penicillium expansum, Aspergilus niger, and Botrytis cinerea. In addition, their resistance to oro-gastro-intestinal transit, aggregation capabilities, biofilm production capacity, adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells, and cytotoxicity to colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line were determined. Further, adhesion to tomatoes and the biocontrol potential of this model food matrix were analyzed. It was found that all the strains were able to inhibit the indicator growth, mostly through organic acid production. Furthermore, these strains showed promising probiotic traits, including in vitro tolerance to oro-gastrointestinal conditions, and adhesion to abiotic surfaces and Caco-2 cells. Moreover, all tested Lpb. plantarum strains were able to adhere to tomatoes with similar rates (4.0-6.0 LogCFU/g tomato). The co-culture of LAB strains with pathogens on tomatoes showed that Lpb. plantarum could be a good candidate to control pathogen growth. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to guarantee their use as probiotic strains for biocontrol on food matrices.

Antimicrobial Properties, Functional Characterisation and Application of Fructobacillus fructosus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Isolated from Artisanal Honey.

Honey is a valuable reservoir of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and, particularly, of fructophilic LAB (FLAB), a relatively novel subgroup of LAB whose functional potential for human and food application has yet to be explored. In this study, FLAB and LAB strains have been isolated from honeys of different floral origins and selected for their broad antimicrobial activity against typical foodborne pathogenic bacteria and spoilage filamentous fungi. The best candidates, two strains belonging to the species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Fructobacillus fructosus, were submitted to partial characterisation of their cell free supernatants (CFS) in order to identify the secreted metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Besides, these strains were examined to assess some major functional features, including in vitro tolerance to the oro-gastrointestinal conditions, potential cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells, adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells and capability to stimulate macrophages. Moreover, when the tested strains were applied on table grapes artificially contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or filamentous fungi, they showed a good ability to antagonise the growth of undesired microbes, as well as to survive on the fruit surface at a concentration that is recommended to develop a probiotic effect. In conclusion, both LAB and FLAB honey-isolated strains characterised in this work exhibit functional properties that validate their potential use as biocontrol agents and for the design of novel functional foods. We reported antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic evaluation, probiotic properties and direct food application of a F. fructosus strain, improving the knowledge of this species, in particular, and on FLAB, more generally.

Next-Generation Intestinal Toxicity Model of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Enterocyte-Like Cells.

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common exposure route of xenobiotics, and intestinal toxicity can result in systemic toxicity in most cases. It is important to develop intestinal toxicity assays mimicking the human system; thus, stem cells are rapidly being developed as new paradigms of toxicity assessment. In this study, we established human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived enterocyte-like cells (ELCs) and compared them to existing in vivo and in vitro models. We found that hESC-ELCs and the in vivo model showed transcriptomically similar expression patterns of a total of 10,020 genes than the commercialized cell lines. Besides, we treated the hESC-ELCs, in vivo rats, Caco-2 cells, and Hutu-80 cells with quarter log units of lethal dose 50 or lethal concentration 50 of eight drugs—chloramphenicol, cycloheximide, cytarabine, diclofenac, fluorouracil, indomethacin, methotrexate, and oxytetracycline—and then subsequently analyzed the biomolecular markers and morphological changes. While the four models showed similar tendencies in general toxicological reaction, hESC-ELCs showed a stronger correlation with the in vivo model than the immortalized cell lines. These results indicate that hESC-ELCs can serve as a next-generation intestinal toxicity model.

Knock out of sHSP genes determines some modifications in the probiotic attitude of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

ObjectiveWe investigated whether the knock out of small heat shock protein (sHSP) genes (hsp1, hsp2 and hsp3) impact on probiotic features of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1, aiming to find specific microbial effectors involved in microbe-host interplay.ResultsThe probiotic properties of L. plantarum WCFS1 wild type, hsp1, hsp2 and hsp3 mutant clones were evaluated and compared through in vitro trials. Oro-gastro-intestinal assays pointed to significantly lower survival for hsp1 and hsp2 mutants under stomach-like conditions, and for hsp3 mutant under intestinal stress. Adhesion to human enterocyte-like cells was similar for all clones, though the hsp2 mutant exhibited higher adhesiveness. L. plantarum cells attenuated the transcriptional induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines on lipopolysaccharide-treated human macrophages, with some exception for the hsp1 mutant. Intriguingly, this clone also induced a higher IL10/IL12 ratio, which is assumed to indicate the anti-inflammatory potential of probiotics.ConclusionssHSP genes deletion determined some differences in gut stress resistance, cellular adhesion and immuno-modulation, also implying effects on in vivo interaction with the host. HSP1 might contribute to immunomodulatory mechanisms, though additional experiments are necessary to test this feature.

RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL Contribute to Cell Death Caused by Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin.

Clostridium perfringens type F strains cause gastrointestinal disease when they produce a pore-forming toxin named C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). In human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells, low CPE concentrations cause caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, while high CPE concentrations cause necrosis. Since necrosis or apoptosis sometimes involves receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase-1 or 3 (RIP1 or RIP3), this study examined whether those kinases are important for CPE-induced apoptosis or necrosis. Highly specific RIP1 or RIP3 inhibitors reduced both CPE-induced apoptosis and necrosis in Caco-2 cells. Those findings suggested that the form of necrosis induced by treating Caco-2 cells with high CPE concentrations involves necroptosis, which was confirmed when high, but not low, CPE concentrations were shown to induce oligomerization of mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), a key late step in necroptosis. Furthermore, an MLKL oligomerization inhibitor reduced cell death caused by high, but not low, CPE concentrations. Supporting RIP1 and RIP3 involvement in CPE-induced necroptosis, inhibitors of those kinases also reduced MLKL oligomerization during treatment with high CPE concentrations. Calpain inhibitors similarly blocked MLKL oligomerization induced by high CPE concentrations, implicating calpain activation as a key intermediate in initiating CPE-induced necroptosis. In two other CPE-sensitive cell lines, i.e., Vero cells and human enterocyte-like T84 cells, low CPE concentrations also caused primarily apoptosis/late apoptosis, while high CPE concentrations mainly induced necroptosis. Collectively, these results establish that high, but not low, CPE concentrations cause necroptosis and suggest that RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, or calpain inhibitors can be explored as potential therapeutics against CPE effects in vivoIMPORTANCEC. perfringens type F strains are a common cause of food poisoning and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Type F strain virulence requires production of C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). In Caco-2 cells, high CPE concentrations cause necrosis while low enterotoxin concentrations induce apoptosis. The current study determined that receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinases 1 and 3 are involved in both CPE-induced apoptosis and necrosis in Caco-2 cells, while mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) oligomerization is involved in CPE-induced necrosis, thereby indicating that this form of CPE-induced cell death involves necroptosis. High CPE concentrations also caused necroptosis in T84 and Vero cells. Calpain activation was identified as a key intermediate for CPE-induced necroptosis. These results suggest inhibitors of RIP1, RIP3, MLKL oligomerization, or calpain are useful therapeutics against CPE-mediated diseases.

Method of preservation and type of protective agent strongly influence probiotic properties of Lactococcus lactis: A complete process of probiotic preparation manufacture and use

In order to assess the essential probiotic properties of a strain dedicated for administration in humans and animals, characteristics of finally formulated products, rather than the cells solely, seems to be of crucial importance. In this study, composition of protective blends for manufacture of L. lactis probiotic powders was optimized using a statistical experimental design. The powders, generated by either spray- or freeze-drying techniques, were subsequently subjected to storage testing, and in vitro digestion in simulated stomach and small intestine. Finally, maintenance of adherence capability to human enterocyte-like cell lines, was evaluated. Our data demonstrated that 10% trehalose ensures the highest viability of L. lactis bacteria upon both drying techniques (viability of 60–68%). Moreover, skimmed milk-protected spray-dried cells exhibit the highest resistance to harsh environmental conditions of stomach (53.9 ± 7.6% survival rate) and higher adhesion ability to HT-29 cell line after digestion (528 ± 29 cells per 100 epithelial cells).

Evaluating the Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus plantarum Strains from Algerian Infant Feces: Towards the Design of Probiotic Starter Cultures Tailored for Developing Countries.

Lactobacilli naturally present in the neonatal gut are believed to be beneficial for the human hosts and are investigated as potential probiotics. In this study, we aimed to characterize six Lactobacillus plantarum strains derived from the feces of a breast-fed infant, for the development of new probiotic cultures. Our attention was focused on L. plantarum in reason of the presence, within such species, of both pro-technological and probiotic strains, i.e., a combination of particular interest to design tailored probiotic starter cultures for developing countries. The bacterial isolates exhibiting lactobacilli-like phenotypic characteristics were identified as members of the L. plantarum group by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and their diversity was evaluated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR patterns. The selected strains were screened for probiotic potential through in vitro tests. Firstly, bacterial survival was evaluated in an in vitro system simulating the human oro-gastrointestinal tract, using also milk as a carrier matrix. Besides, physiological traits such as antibiotic susceptibility, antimicrobial activity against selected enteric pathogens, and adhesion to abiotic surfaces and to gastric mucin were studied. Considering the resistance to simulated gastrointestinal digestion and the results from the biofilm and mucin adhesion tests, a strain-denominated L. plantarum LSC3 was selected for further evaluation of in vitro adhesion ability to intestinal mucosa and immunomodulatory activities. L. plantarum LSC3 was able to adhere efficiently to human enterocyte-like cells (Caco-2 cells), and decreased IL-8 transcription while increasing IL-10 mRNA level, as revealed by transcriptional analysis on LPS-stimulated human (THP-1) macrophages. Our results highlight that L. plantarum LSC3 fulfills major in vitro probiotic criteria as well as interesting immunostimulatory properties, and thus may be a promising candidate for further in vivo studies aiming at the development of novel probiotic starter cultures.

NanI Sialidase Can Support the Growth and Survival of Clostridium perfringens Strain F4969 in the Presence of Sialyated Host Macromolecules (Mucin) or Caco-2 Cells.

Enterotoxin-producing Clostridium perfringens type A strains cause human gastrointestinal (GI) infections, including a very common food poisoning and 5 to 10% of all cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This bacterium can utilize free sialic acid for growth, but most sialic acids in the GI tract are sequestered on macromolecules, such as the mucin proteins of mucus or glycoconjugates in host cells. However, many C. perfringens strains produce sialidases that might promote growth and survival by generating free sialic acid from those sialyated host macromolecules or by exposing underlying carbohydrates or proteins for digestion by other enzymes. The current study tested that possibility and found that the C. perfringens nonfoodborne human GI disease strain F4969 can use either a mucin preparation or Caco-2 cells, which are human enterocyte-like cells, to support its growth and survival. An isogenic nanI null mutant and complemented strain were used to show that this enhanced growth and survival using mucin or Caco-2 cells involved NanI, which is the major exosialidase of F4969 and many other C. perfringens strains. Experiments also suggested that, at least in part, this growth promotion involves utilization of NanI-generated sialic acid. In addition, a sialidase inhibitor named siastatin B reduced the growth and survival of F4969 growing with either the mucin preparation or Caco-2 cells. These findings suggest that, when produced, NanI may be a significant contributor to C. perfringens human GI infections by promoting the intestinal growth and survival of this bacterium. They also suggest the possibility that sialidase inhibitors might inhibit C. perfringens infections.

Enterocyte-Associated Microbiome of the Hadza Hunter-Gatherers.

By means of a recently developed non-invasive ex vivo minimal model based on the interaction of the human enterocyte-like HT29 cell line and fecal slurries, we explored the enterocyte-associated microbiome of 21 Hadza hunter-gatherers and nine urban living Italians. Though reductionist, this model allows inferring the microbiota structural and functional arrangement as it interacts with enterocytes. Microbial suspensions obtained from Hadza or Italian stools were first evaluated for structural integrity by high resolution-scanning electron microscopy and co-incubated with HT29 cell monolayers. The enterocyte adherent microbiota fraction was then characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and predictive functional profiling using PICRUSt. Compared to Italians, the Hadza enterocyte-associated microbiome was characterized by a greater amount of adhesive microorganisms with pathogenic potential, such as Proteobacteria, Erysipelotrichaceae, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Sarcina. These compositional characteristics were reflected in a functional enrichment in membrane transport, signal transduction, signaling molecules and interaction. Our results depict a new interesting mutualistic configuration of the enterocyte-associated microbiome in Hadza, stressing the importance of microbe-host interaction at the mucosal surface along the course of human evolution.

The inflammation regulation effects of Enterococcus faecium HDRsEf1 on human enterocyte-like HT-29 cells

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecium HDRsEf1 strain used as a probiotic to inhibit intestine inflammation and improve animal growth performance has been proved by our research team; however, it remains unclear how HDRsEf1 was recognized by intestine cells and how it activates the downstream pathway which benefit intestine health. In this study, HDRsEf1 was used to stimulate HT-29 cell line to partially uncover the intestine benefit mechanism of HDRsEf1. The results of cell viability assays showed that HDRsEf1 had no toxicity on HT-29 at concentrations up to 1 × 108 CFU/mL, HDRsEf1 could upregulate the TLR1, TLR2, and TLR6 mRNA level, especially TLR2, and significantly downregulate the mRNA level of TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8, but did not significantly affect the mRNA or protein level of MyD88, which suggests that HDRsEf1 activates the TLR2 pathway in an MyD88-independent pattern. HDRsEf1 could significantly downregulate the mRNA level of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p35, IL-17, and TNF-α and did not affect the anti-inflammatory factors IL-10, PPAR-γ, and TSLP; besides HDRsEf1 did not upregulate the degradation of IκB in HT-29 cells. By contrast, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 strongly up-regulated the mRNA level of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, and TNF-α, downregulated obviously anti-inflammatory factor PPAR-ɣ, and obviously upregulated the degradation of IκB, which suggested that HDRsEf1 may act as an antagonist to regulate intestine inflammation response to intestine pathogen. These findings shed a light on the intestine benefit mechanism of HDRsEf1.

Inhibition of enteropathogens adhesion to human enterocyte-like HT-29 cells by a dairy strain of Propionibacterium acidipropionici

Adhesion to the host intestinal mucosa is considered relevant for orally delivered probiotics as it prolongs their persistence in the gut and their health promoting effects. Classical propionibacteria are microorganisms of interest due to their role as dairy starters as well as for their functions as probiotics. Propionibacterium acidipropionici Q4, is a dairy strain isolated from a Swiss-type cheese made in Argentina that displays probiotic potential. In the present work we assessed the ability of this strain to adhere to the human enterocyte-like HT-29 cell line and to counteract the adhesion of two common human enteropathogens, such as Escherichia coli C3 and Salmonella Enteritidis 90/390. The results were compared with those obtained with the well-known probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. P. acidipropionici Q4 showed a high adhesion capacity, even higher than the reference strain L. rhamnosus GG (42.3±4.4% and 36.2±2.3%, respectively), whereas adhesion of enteropathogens was significantly lower (25.2±2.2% for E. coli and 21.0±3.4% for S. Enteritidis). Propionibacteria as well as lactobacilli were able to inhibit by exclusion and competition the adherence of E. coli C3 and S. Enteritidis 90/390 whereas only L. rhamnosus GG displaced S. Enteritidis from HT-29 intestinal cells. Inhibition of pathogens by propionibacteria was not exerted by antimicrobials or coaggregation but was mainly due to exclusion by cell surface components, such as proteins and carbohydrates. The relevance of cell surface proteins (CSP) for preventing pathogens infection was confirmed by their concentration dependent effect observed for both pathogens: 100 µg/ml of CSP inhibited E. coli attachment almost as untreated propionibacteria, whereas it partially inhibited the attachment of S. Enteritidis. Results suggest that P. acidipropionici Q4 could be considered for the development of propionibacteria containing functional foods helpful in counteracting enteropathogen infection.

Hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol sulfate metabolites protect against the oxidized cholesterol pro-oxidant effect in Caco-2 human enterocyte-like cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of the sulfate metabolites of hydroxytyrosol (HT) and tyrosol (TYR) to act as antioxidants counteracting the pro-oxidant effect of oxidized cholesterol in intestinal cells. For this purpose, we synthesized sulfate metabolites of HT and TYR using a chemical methodology and examined their antioxidant activity in Caco-2 monolayers in comparison with the parent compounds. Exposure to oxidized cholesterol led to ROS production, oxidative damage, as indicated by the MDA increase, a decrease of reduced glutathione concentration and an enhancement of glutathione peroxidase activity. All the tested compounds were able to counteract the oxidizing action of oxidized cholesterol; HT and TYR sulfate metabolites showed an efficiency in protecting intestinal cells comparable to that of the parent compounds, strengthening the assumption that the potential beneficial effect of the parent compounds is retained, although extensive metabolisation occurs, the resulting metabolites being able to exert a biological action themselves.

Retinoic acid amplifies the FXR-dependent FGF19 gene expression in human enterocyte-like HT-29 cells by a bi-phasic mechanism

Background and aims: The intestine-derived hormone Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 (FGF19) and its mouse ortholog Ffg15 are key regulators of bile acid synthesis and energy metabolism. FGF15/19 expression is induced by bile acid-mediated activation of FXR. Moreover, vitamin A (VA) has been shown to activate Fgf15 in an RXR/FXR-dependent manner in mice. Whether VA derivatives regulate FGF19 in human enterocytes and which nuclear receptors contribute to this regulation is currently unknown.

Antisecretory factor peptide AF-16 inhibits the secreted autotransporter toxin-stimulated transcellular and paracellular passages of fluid in cultured human enterocyte-like cells.

Both the endogenous antisecretory factor (AF) protein and peptide AF-16, which has a sequence that matches that of the active N-terminal region of AF, inhibit the increase in the epithelial transport of fluid and electrolytes induced by bacterial toxins in animal and ex vivo models. We conducted a study to investigate the inhibitory effect of peptide AF-16 against the increase of transcellular passage and paracellular permeability promoted by the secreted autotransporter toxin (Sat) in a cultured cellular model of the human intestinal epithelial barrier. Peptide AF-16 produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the Sat-induced increase in the formation of fluid domes, in the mucosal-to-serosal passage of D-[1-(14)C]mannitol, and in the rearrangements in the distribution and protein expression of the tight junction (TJ)-associated proteins ZO-1 and occludin in cultured human enterocyte-like Caco-2/TC7 cell monolayers. In addition, we show that peptide AF-16 also inhibits the cholera toxin-induced increase of transcellular passage and the Clostridium difficile toxin-induced effects on paracellular permeability and TJ protein organization in Caco-2/TC7 cell monolayers. Treatment of cell monolayers by the lipid raft disorganizer methyl-β-cyclodextrin abolished the inhibitory activity of peptide AF-16 at the transcellular passage level and did not modify the effect of the peptide at the paracellular level.

Escherichia coli-derived outer membrane vesicles are genotoxic to human enterocyte-like cells.

BackgroundColorectal cancers are the third most common type in the world. The causes of the disease are poorly understood, but since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori as a causative agent of gastric cancer, attention has turned to bacteria as a possible trigger for colorectal cancer. Recently H. pylori outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) were revealed as potentially genotoxic which can be important first step in carcinogenesis. We therefore investigated whether OMVs from intestinal Escherichia coli could be genotoxic.MethodsOMVs from the avirulent DH5α strain, a pathogenic adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) and an enterohaemolytic (EHEC) strain of E. coli were enriched by ultracentrifugation. The effect on the growth and viability of human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells by OMVs was determined by trypan blue exclusion, MTT and BrdU incorporation assays. The ability of OMVs to induce DNA damage was assayed by single-cell gel electrophoresis, and 8-oxo-dG and γH2Ax immunofluorescence staining. Cytopathological changes were assessed by microscopy. The induction of aneuploidy by the OMVs was measured by flow cytometry in Caco-2 and LoVo cells.ResultsWe found that OMVs derived were internalised by Caco-2 cells, increased cell numbers, induced double-stranded DNA breaks, recruited γH2Ax to the nucleus, initiated DNA rereplication, and produced distended multinucleate cells. DH5α and AIEC OMVs caused free radical generation as indicated by the reduction of glutathione in cells, leading to the development of mutagenic 8-oxo-dG adducts in DNA. Flow cytometry revealed that DH5α and EHEC OMVs increased aneuploidy in p53 mutant Caco-2 cells, but not in p53 wild type LoVo cells.ConclusionWe conclude that E. coli derived OMVs, whether from avirulent or pathogenic strains are potentially genotoxic.

Intracellular Retention and Subsequent Release of Bovine Milk Lactoferrin Taken Up by Human Enterocyte-Like Cell Lines, Caco-2, C2BBe1 and HT-29

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein contained in milk and other exocrine fluids, and is believed to have multiple biological functions. We investigated the intracellular dynamics of LF taken up by three lines of human enterocytes and the subsequent release of internalized LF by using two-site ELISA and confocal microscopy. LF taken up by Caco-2 cells was kept partially intact within the cells and subsequently released to the medium as degraded fragments of 30-50 kDa. The retention and subsequent release of LF by Caco-2 cells were much more abundant than those of ovalbumin, ovomucoid and lysozyme. Such results characteristic of LF were also similarly observed in C2BBe1 and HT29 cells more markedly. LF was detected as punctate signals and partially colocalized with the lactoferrin receptor, intelectin-1, in the respective cytoplasm and nuclei of Caco-2 and C2BBe1 cells. In contrast, LF within the HT-29 cells was detected as much smaller punctate signals scattered in the cytoplasm.

Phenolic compounds present in Sardinian wine extracts protect against the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by oxysterols in CaCo-2 human enterocyte-like cells

Cholesterol auto-oxidation products, namely oxysterols, are widely present in cholesterol-rich foods. They are thought to potentially interfere with homeostasis of the human digestive tract, playing a role in intestinal mucosal damage. This report concerns the marked up-regulation in differentiated CaCo-2 colonic epithelial cells of two key inflammatory interleukins, IL-6 and IL-8, caused by a mixture of oxysterols representative of a high cholesterol diet.This strong pro-inflammatory effect appeared to be dependent on the net imbalance of red-ox equilibrium with the production of excessive levels of reactive oxygen species through the colonic NADPH-oxidase NOX1 activation. Induction of NOX1 was markedly while not fully inhibited by CaCo-2 cell pre-incubation with phenolic extracts obtained from well-selected wines from typical grape varieties grown in Sardinia. Oxysterol-dependent NOX1 activation, as well as interleukin synthesis, were completely prevented by Cannonau red wine extract that contains an abundant phenolic fraction, in particular phenolic acids and flavonoids. Conversely, cell pre-treatment with Vermentino white wine extract with smaller phenolic fraction showed only a partial NOX1 down-regulation and was ineffective in interleukin synthesis induced by dietary oxysterols.It is thus likely that the effects of Sardinian wine extracts against intestinal inflammation induced by dietary oxysterols are mainly due to their high phenolic content: low doses of phenolics would be responsible only for direct scavenging oxysterol-dependent ROS production. Besides this direct activity, an excess of phenolic compounds detectable in red wine, may exert an additional indirect action by blocking oxysterol-related NOX1 induction, thus totally preventing the pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory events triggered by dietary oxysterols.

Immunomodulatory effects of Clostridium butyricum on human enterocyte-like HT-29 cells

Oral administration of Clostridium butyricum as probiotics is increasingly gaining importance in the treatment of intestinal inflammations and improvement of animal performance. The mechanisms of host cell receptor recognition of C. butyricum and downstream immune signaling pathways leading to this beneficial event, however, remain unclear. In this study, C. butyricum was investigated for its capability to influence the innate immune response of HT-29 cells to explore its mechanism of action. Our data showed that C. butyricum was able to stimulate toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) production at mRNA level; however, TLR4, TLR5, TLR9, and myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) transcription levels remain unaltered. The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels in response to C. butyricum were significantly increased, indicating that HT-29 cells were sensitised by C. butyricum. It is the first time that our findings have showed the specific signaling pathways in HT-29 cells stimulated by C. butyricum, which, at least in part, can help to explain the beneficial properties of C. butyricum.

Adherence of Aeromonas hydrophila strains to human enterocyte-like cells pre-infected with rotavirus.

The interest grown in these years about emerging pathogens in the onset of intestinal disease showed that the pathogenic mechanism is a multifactorial event. Our objective was to evaluate the role of co-infection with rotavirus in the expression of Aeromonas spp adhesiveness. The rate of co-infection involves contact of Caco-2 cells with the virus, followed by adsorption for 1 and 2 hours. Aliquots of bacterial suspensions were added to tissue-culture plates. After infection, cell monolayers were lysed; serially diluted lysates were plated to determine the number of bound bacteria by performing colony forming units (CFU) counts. Non-adhesive strains were not subject to variations resulting from co-infection, while those who had medium or high adhesiveness gave rise to an increase of the same. Infection with rotavirus promotes the Aeromonas ability to adhere to Caco-2 cells and this effect depends on the duration of infection and on the starting adhesiveness of bacteria strain.

Polyphenols from Sardinian red wine can modulate NOX1-dependent reactive oxygen species production in human enterocyte-like cells treated with a dietary mixture of oxysterols

Polyphenols from Sardinian red wine can modulate NOX1-dependent reactive oxygen species production in human enterocyte-like cells treated with a dietary mixture of oxysterols