Gut organoids are stem cell derived 3D models of the intestinal epithelium that are useful for studying interactions between enteric pathogens and their host. While the organoid model has been used for both bacterial and viral infections, this is a closed system with the luminal side being inaccessible without microinjection or disruption of the organoid polarization. In order to overcome this and simplify their applicability for transepithelial studies, permeable membrane based monolayer approaches are needed. In this paper, we demonstrate a method for generating a monolayer model of the human fetal intestinal polarized epithelium that is fully characterized and validated. Proximal and distal small intestinal organoids were used to generate 2D monolayer cultures, which were characterized with respect to epithelial cell types, polarization, barrier function, and gene expression. In addition, viral replication and bacterial translocation after apical infection with enteric pathogens Enterovirus A71 and Listeria monocytogenes were evaluated, with subsequent monitoring of the pro-inflammatory host response. This human 2D fetal intestinal monolayer model will be a valuable tool to study host-pathogen interactions and potentially reduce the use of animals in research.
During the suckling‐to‐weaning transition, the intestinal epithelium matures, allowing digestion of solid food. Transplantation experiments with rodent fetal epithelium into subcutaneous tissue of adult animals suggest that this transition is intrinsically programmed and occurs in the absence of dietary or hormonal signals. Here, we show that organoids derived from mouse primary fetal intestinal epithelial cells express markers of late fetal and neonatal development. In a stable culture medium, these fetal epithelium‐derived organoids lose all markers of neonatal epithelium and start expressing hallmarks of adult epithelium in a time frame that mirrors epithelial maturation in vivo. In vitro postnatal development of the fetal‐derived organoids accelerates by dexamethasone, a drug used to accelerate intestinal maturation in vivo. Together, our data show that organoids derived from fetal epithelium undergo suckling‐to‐weaning transition, that the speed of maturation can be modulated, and that fetal organoids can be used to model the molecular mechanisms of postnatal epithelial maturation.
Lactobacilli are widely used as probiotics with beneficial effects on infection-associated diarrhea, but also used in clinical trials of e.g., necrotizing enterocolitis and inflammatory bowel diseases. The possibility of using probiotic metabolic products, so-called postbiotics, is desirable as it could prevent possible side effects of live bacteria in individuals with a disturbed gut epithelial barrier. Here, we studied how Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 cell-free supernatant (L. reuteri-CFS) influenced retinoic acid (RA)-driven mucosal-like dendritic cells (DC) and their subsequent effect on T regulatory cells (Treg) in vitro. RA clearly imprinted a mucosal-like DC phenotype with higher IL10 production, increased CD103 and CD1d expression, and a downregulated mRNA expression of several inflammatory-associated genes (NFκB1, RELB, and TNF). Treatment with L. reuteri-CFS further influenced the tolerogenic phenotype of RA-DC by downregulating most genes involved in antigen uptake, antigen presentation, and signal transduction as well as several chemokine receptors, while upregulating IL10 production. L. reuteri-CFS also augmented CCR7 expression on RA-DC. In cocultures, RA-DC increased IL10 and FOXP3 expression in Treg, but pre-treatment with L. reuteri-CFS did not further influence the Treg phenotype. In conclusion, L. reuteri-CFS modulates the phenotype and function of mucosal-like DC, implicating its potential application as postbiotic.
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