Effects of medium-chain fatty acids on the structure and immune response of IPEC-J2 cells

Abstract

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) have been suggested as an alternative to the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition with promising results. First, we studied the sensitivity of Salmonella Enteritidis and an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain against caprylic (C8), capric (C10) and lauric (C12) acids. A porcine in vitro model using the porcine cell line IPEC-J2 was used to test the effects of MCFAs on structural and immunological traits without and with a concomitant challenge with E. coli or S. Enteritidis. The three MCFAs exerted an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth, stronger for C12 than C8 or C10, S. Enteritidis being more sensitive than the E. coli strain. Flow cytometry showed a numeric concentration dependent increase in the adhesion of E. coli or S. Enteritidis to IPEC-J2 cells. Measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance after bacterial challenge showed negative effects of all MCFAs on IPEC-J2 cells at the highest concentrations. Immune parameters were affected by C8, since a concentration dependent effect starting at 5 mM was observed for mRNA expression of IL-6 and TLR-4 (up-regulated) and IL-8 (down-regulated). TLR-4 was up-regulated with C10 at 2 and 5 mM. The three MCFAs affected also the epithelial morphology through downregulation of Occludin and up-regulation of Claudin-4 expression. In conclusion, the three MCFAs under study influenced bacterial growth rates and modified the gene expression to a different degree in the cell line IPEC-J2 but the effect on the morphological structure and response of the cells after bacterial challenge could not be assessed. Although these tests show a prior estimation of MCFAs effects in intestinal epithelium, in vivo confirmation is still needed.

Medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides as feed additives for pig production: towards gut health improvement and feed pathogen mitigation

“…It has been suggested that orally administered GML could be useful for reducing gut inflammation in vivo [46]. MCFAs, namely caprylic (C 8 ), capric (C 10 ), and lauric (C 12 ) acids, have also been shown to improve the immune responses of a porcine intestinal cell line in vitro [48].…”

Caprate Modulates Intestinal Barrier Function in Porcine Peyer’s Patch Follicle-Associated Epithelium

“…A human in vitro cell culture experiment, employing the colonic HT-29/B6 cell line, has revealed the cellular mechanisms involving the selective removal of claudin-5 and tricellulin from the TJ [8]. Recent in vitro experiments have provided evidence of the antibacterial effect of caprate in porcine epithelial cells when challenged with Salmonella enteritidis or an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain [35]. Furthermore, caprate has also been shown to reduce body fat and therefore, body weight [36].…”

Porcine Colostrum Protects the IPEC-J2 Cells and Piglet Colon Epithelium against Clostridioides (syn. Clostridium) difficile Toxin-Induced Effects

“…IPEC-J2 cells (ACC 701) obtained from the DSMZ (German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany) and stored at our institute, were grown in plastic flasks (Greiner Bio-One International GmbH, Kremsmünster, Austria) at 37 • C in an atmosphere of 5% CO 2 , and maintained in Dulbecco's MEM/Ham's F-12 (DMEM) (Biochrom GmbH, Berlin, Germany) supplemented with 5% foetal calf serum, 100 units penicillin/mL and 100 mg streptomycin/mL (Biochrom GmbH, Berlin, Germany), as previously described [18]. The cells from passage 43 to 62 were used for the experiments.…”