Specific interaction of food proteins with apical membranes of the human intestinal cell lines Caco-2 and T84

Evaluation of an in vitro experimental platform of human polarized intestinal epithelial monolayers for the hazard assessment of insecticidal proteins

Previous work demonstrated the utility of using human-derived intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) lines cultured as polarized monolayers on Transwell® filters to differentiate between hazardous and non-hazardous proteins. The current study seeks to further resolve appropriate concentrations for evaluating proteins of unknown hazard potential using the IEC experimental platform and leverages these parameters for evaluating the potential toxicity of insecticidal proteins characteristic of those expressed in genetically modified (GM) agricultural biotechnology crops. To establish optimal test protein concentrations, effects of several known hazardous (C. perfringens epsilon toxin, Listeriolysin O, Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin, E. coli Shiga toxin 1, C. difficile Toxin B and wheat germ agglutinin) and non-hazardous (Ara-h2, β-lactoglobulin, fibronectin and Rubisco) proteins on IEC barrier integrity and cell viability were evaluated at concentration ranges. Two insecticidal proteins (AfIP-1A and AfIP-1B) were evaluated for effects in the IEC assay, a seven-day insecticidal bioassay, and assessed in a high-dose 14-day acute oral toxicity study in mice. The results obtained from the human in vitro IEC assay were consistent with results obtained from an in vivo acute oral toxicity study, both demonstrating that the combination of AfIP-1A and AfIP-1B do not exhibit any identifiable harmful impacts on mammalian cells.

Diet associations in endometriosis: a critical narrative assessment with special reference to gluten

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus. The etiology remains largely unknown. Despite adequate treatment, patients can still experience symptoms or side effects resulting in therapy incompliance and in self-management strategies such as dietary measures is increasing. A gluten free diet is thought to be contributory in reducing endometriosis-related pain, thereby optimizing quality of life. However, data is conflicting and currently provides no evidence for causality. This narrative review aims to put the effect of dietary self-management strategies on endometriosis in a balanced perspective, especially the effect of gluten and a gluten free diet. Several studies have found a strong overlap in symptoms, metabolic and immune responses associated with endometriosis and those associated with celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and non-celiac wheat sensitivity. However, it remains unclear whether these diseases and/or disorders are causal to an increased risk of endometriosis. Some studies have found a positive effect on the risk of endometriosis, endometriosis-related symptoms and quality of life (QoL) when women either avoided certain nutrients or foods, or applied a specific nutrient supplementation. This includes the avoidance of red meat, an increasing intake of foods rich in anti-oxidants, omega-3, micronutrients and dietary fibers (e.g., fruit, vegetables) and the appliance of a gluten free diet. However, data from the available studies were generally graded of low quality and it was noted that placebo and/or nocebo effects influenced the reported positive effects. In addition, such effects were no longer seen when adjusting for confounders such as overweight, when a translation was made from in vitro to in vivo, or when the nutrients were not supplemented as isolated sources but as part of a mixed daily diet. Finally, some studies showed that long-term adherence to a gluten free diet is often associated with an impaired diet quality and nutrient intake, leading to negative health outcomes and reduced QoL. Concluding, scientific evidence on the efficacy of dietary interventions on well-defined clinical endpoints of endometriosis is lacking and recommending a gluten free diet to women solely diagnosed with endometriosis should therefore not be advised.

Do gluten peptides stimulate weight gain in humans?

Observations from animal and in vitro laboratory research, and anecdotal evidence, have led to the suggestion that gluten consumption stimulates weight gain by the presence of peptides expressing opioid activity. Another proposed mechanism is that gluten peptides decrease resting energy expenditure resulting in a positive energy balance. In order to induce such effects in vivo, intact food peptides must be absorbed in sufficient quantities, remain intact in the blood for sufficient time to have long-lasting biological activity and bind to receptors involved in appetite, satiety and energy regulation. However, although peptides from food may pass from the intestine into the blood in extremely low quantities, they are generally rapidly degraded by plasma and vasculum-bound aminopeptidases, resulting in very short half-lives and loss of bioactivity. At present, gluten peptide sequences that influence regulators of energy metabolism have not been identified. Furthermore, data on the quantitative absorption of gluten peptides in the blood stream, their stability and lasting bioactivity are also lacking. Therefore, there is no evidence for proposed effects on driving appetite by the brain, nor on energy expenditure and weight gain. Furthermore, the level of overweight observed in various countries appears to be independent of the level of wheat consumption, and abundant observational evidence in humans shows that the levels of gluten consumption are neither related to daily calorie intake nor to BMI. This narrative review therefore discusses the proposed effects of gluten on bodyweight (BW) and putative biological mechanisms in the light of the current evidence.

HNF4α and CDX2 Regulate Intestinal YAP1 Promoter Activity

The Hippo pathway is important for tissue homeostasis, regulation of organ size and growth in most tissues. The co-transcription factor yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) serves as a main downstream effector of the Hippo pathway and its dysregulation increases cancer development and blocks colonic tissue repair. Nevertheless, little is known about the transcriptional regulation of YAP1 in intestinal cells. The aim of this study to identify gene control regions in the YAP1 gene and transcription factors important for intestinal expression. Bioinformatic analysis of caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) chromatin immunoprecipitated DNA from differentiated Caco-2 cells revealed potential intragenic enhancers in the YAP1 gene. Transfection of luciferase-expressing YAP1 promoter-reporter constructs containing the potential enhancer regions validated one potent enhancer of the YAP1 promoter activity in Caco-2 and T84 cells. Two potential CDX2 and one HNF4α binding sites were identified in the enhancer by in silico transcription factor binding site analysis and protein-DNA binding was confirmed in vitro using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. It was found by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments that CDX2 and HNF4α bind to the YAP1 enhancer in Caco-2 cells. These results reveal a previously unknown enhancer of the YAP1 promoter activity in the YAP1 gene, with importance for high expression levels in intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally, CDX2 and HNF4α binding are important for the YAP1 enhancer activity in intestinal epithelial cells.

T84 monolayers are superior to Caco-2 as a model system of colonocytes

Colonic adenocarcinoma-derived Caco-2 and T84 epithelial cell lines are frequently used as in vitro model systems of functional epithelial barriers. Both are utilised interchangeably despite evidence that differentiated Caco-2 cells are more reminiscent of small intestinal enterocytes than of colonocytes, whereas differentiated T84 cells are less well characterised. The aim of this study was, therefore, to further characterise and compare differentiated Caco-2 and T84 cells. The objectives were to (1) compare the brush border morphology, (2) measure the expression of enterocyte- and colonocyte-specific genes and (3) compare their response to butyrate, which is dependent on the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1), an apical protein expressed primarily in colonocytes. T84 microvilli were significantly shorter than those of Caco-2 cells, which is a characteristic difference between small intestinal enterocytes and colonocytes. Also, enterocyte-associated brush border enzymes expressed in differentiated Caco-2 cells were not increased during T84 maturation, whereas colonic markers such as MCT1 were more abundant in differentiated T84 cells compared to differentiated Caco-2 cells. Consequently, T84 cells displayed a dose-responsive improvement of barrier function towards butyrate, which was absent in Caco-2 cells. On the other hand, differences in epithelial toll-like receptor expression between Caco-2 and T84 monolayers did not result in a corresponding differential functional response. We conclude that differentiated Caco-2 and T84 cells have distinct morphological, biochemical and functional characteristics, suggesting that T84 cells do not acquire the biochemical signature of mature small intestinal enterocytes like Caco-2 cells, but retain much of their original colonic characteristics throughout differentiation. These findings can help investigators select the appropriate intestinal epithelial cell line for specific in vitro research purposes.

In vitro evaluation of bi-layer silk fibroin scaffolds for gastrointestinal tissue engineering

Silk fibroin scaffolds were investigated for their ability to support attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of human gastrointestinal epithelial and smooth muscle cell lines in order to ascertain their potential for tissue engineering. A bi-layer silk fibroin matrix composed of a porous silk fibroin foam annealed to a homogeneous silk fibroin film was evaluated in parallel with small intestinal submucosa scaffolds. AlamarBlue analysis revealed that silk fibroin scaffolds supported significantly higher levels of small intestinal smooth muscle cell, colon smooth muscle cell, and esophageal smooth muscle cell attachment in comparison to small intestinal submucosa. Following 7 days of culture, relative numbers of each smooth muscle cell population maintained on both scaffold groups were significantly elevated over respective 1-day levels—indicative of cell proliferation. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that both silk fibroin and small intestinal submucosa scaffolds were permissive for contractile differentiation of small intestinal smooth muscle cell, colon smooth muscle cell, esophageal smooth muscle cell as determined by significant upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin and SM22α messenger RNA and protein expression levels following transforming growth factor-β1 stimulation. AlamarBlue analysis demonstrated that both matrix groups supported similar degrees of attachment and proliferation of gastrointestinal epithelial cell lines including colonic T84 cells and esophageal epithelial cells. Following 14 days of culture on both matrices, spontaneous differentiation of T84 cells toward an enterocyte lineage was confirmed by expression of brush border enzymes, lactase, and maltase, as determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses. In contrast to small intestinal submucosa scaffolds, silk fibroin scaffolds supported spontaneous differentiation of esophageal epithelial cells toward a suprabasal cell lineage as indicated by significant upregulation of cytokeratin 4 and cytokeratin 13 messenger RNA transcript levels. In addition, esophageal epithelial cells maintained on silk fibroin scaffolds also produced significantly higher involucrin messenger RNA transcript levels in comparison to small intestinal submucosa counterparts, indicating an increased propensity for superficial, squamous cell specification. Collectively, these data provide evidence for the potential of silk fibroin scaffolds for gastrointestinal tissue engineering applications.

In vitro models for gluten toxicity: relevance for celiac disease pathogenesis and development of novel treatment options

In genetically predisposed individuals, dietary gluten in wheat, rye and barley triggers celiac disease, a systemic autoimmune disorder hallmarked by an extensive small-bowel mucosal immune response. The current conception of celiac disease pathogenesis is that it involves components of both innate and adaptive immunity whose activation typically leads to small-bowel villous atrophy with crypt hyperplasia. Currently, the only effective treatment for celiac disease is a strict lifelong gluten-free diet excluding all wheat-, rye- and barley-containing food products. During the diet, the clinical symptoms improve and the small-bowel mucosal damage recovers, while re-introduction of gluten into the diet leads to re-appearance of the symptoms and deterioration of the small-bowel mucosal architecture. In view of the restricted nature of the diet, alternative treatment is warranted. Improved understanding of the molecular basis of celiac disease has enabled researchers to suggest other therapeutic approaches. Although there is no animal model reproducing all features of celiac disease, the use of in vitro approaches including a variety of cell lines and the celiac patient small-bowel mucosal biopsy organ culture has generated knowledge about pathogenesis of celiac disease. In these culture systems, gluten induces different effects that can be quantified, thus also enabling studies concerning the efficacy of candidate therapeutic compounds for celiac disease. This review describes the intestinal epithelial cell models, celiac patient T-cell lines and clones, as well as the small-bowel mucosal organ culture methods widely used in studies of celiac disease, and summarizes the major findings obtained with these systems.

Transepithelial transport of macromolecular substances in IL-4 treated human intestinal T84 cell monolayers

The effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a cytokine associated with allergy and inflammation, on the permeability of the intestinal epithelium was investigated. IL-4 reduced transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and increased permeation to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and Lucifer Yellow (LY) of human intestinal T84 cell monolayers. The increased permeation due to IL-4 treatment was also observed at 4 degrees C. The permeability of T84 cell monolayers to beta-lactogulobulin (beta-Lg), ovalbumin (OVA), and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran of various molecular sizes was also high in the IL-4-treated cell monolayers. Sodium azide (NaN(3)), which inhibits ATP synthesis of the cells, did not inhibit the increases in these substances. Even 150 kDa FITC-dextran significantly permeated the T84 cells when the monolayers were treated with IL-4. These results suggest that fairly large molecules are able to permeate intestinal epithelial monolayers via the energy-independent paracellular pathway when the monolayers are exposed to excessive IL-4.

Rapid identification of differentiation markers from whole epithelial cells by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry and statistical analysis

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was applied to identify markers for cellular differentiation. The differentiation of a human colon epithelial carcinoma T84 cell line was monitored over a period of 28 days by transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) measurements, alkaline phosphatase (AP) assay, and MALDI-TOF mass spectral fingerprints combined with statistical analysis. MALDI-MS generated specific mass spectral fingerprints characteristic of cell differentiation. Twenty-two ions were selected as diagnostic signals of fully differentiated T84 cells. Ten protein ion signals, detected by MALDI-MS and validated by statistical analysis, were proposed as T84 cell differentiation markers. Among these signals, ubiquitin was identified as a T84 cell differentiation marker by nanospray liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC/MS/MS). Moreover, depending on the concentration of the cells seeded on the growth support, it was possible to predict the timing of the exponential phase and of cellular differentiation by MALDI-MS-derived marker ions. MALDI-TOFMS was compared to other methods for the determination of cellular differentiation: TER measurements are rapid but yield limited information as to the cellular differentiation state. AP assays are more specific for the differentiation state but take more time. By contrast, MALDI-MS has been found to be a fast, sensitive and precise method for cell differentiation assessment and provides the opportunity for multiplexing and high throughput. Moreover, the consumable costs per assay are very low.

Evaluation of Dodecylmaltoside as a Permeability Enhancer for Insulin Using Human Carcinoma Cells

Dodecylmaltoside (DDM), an alkylglycoside showing tissue-permeability-enhancing properties, has been successful in improving nasal and ocular transport of poorly absorbed drugs. It was hypothesized that optimization of DDM concentration would improve the transport of insulin across epithelial monolayers without causing cell damage. Samples of markers and insulin were collected over a 6-h period and transepithelial electrical resistance was measured at concurrent time points to ascertain the effect of DDM on tight junctions. Samples were analyzed for lucifer yellow and insulin using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and for (3)[H]-mannitol by scintillation counting. A significant increase in the transport of markers and insulin was recorded in DDM-treated cells compared with controls. DDM enhanced the transport of markers and insulin in a concentration-dependent manner. Decreased transepithelial electrical resistance values confirmed that enhanced transport is caused by loosening of tight junctions. Cell recovery was >95% in 8 h indicating the potential of DDM as a penetration enhancer for clinical administration of insulin and other poorly absorbed drugs without causing cell damage.

Horseradish peroxidase binding to intestinal brush-border membranes of Cyprinus carpio. Identification of a putative receptor

Morphologic studies have shown that the classic endocytosis tracer horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is actively internalized by vesicular transport in the carp intestine, suggesting the existence of specific binding sites in the apical membrane of enterocytes. The aim of the present study was to develop an in vitro binding assay using isolated carp intestinal brush-border membranes (BBM) to demonstrate and characterize these specific HRP binding sites. The results obtained show that HRP binding to BBM exhibits a saturable mode and high affinity (K(d) = 22 nM). In addition, HRP binding sites are highly enriched in BBM compared to basolateral membranes. On the other hand, HRP interaction with these sites is apparently of an ionic character because binding increased concomitantly with decreasing NaCl concentrations in the assay, reaching a maximum in the absence of NaCl. Other proteins that are also internalized in carp intestine did not significantly inhibit HRP binding to BBM. A lectin-type of interaction was discarded because neither manan nor ovoalbumin inhibited HRP binding. Proteinase K treatment of BBM reduced HRP binding by 70%, suggesting a proteic nature for this binding site. Finally, ligand blotting assays showed that HRP binds specifically to a 15.3-kDa protein. Taken together, these results are consistent with the existence of a functional receptor for HRP in carp intestinal mucosa that could mediate its internalization.

Enhanced peptide-binding capacities of small intestinal brush border membranes in celiac disease

In pathogenesis of celiac disease, the significance of prolamin peptide interactions with enterocytes is controversial. Changes in cellular metabolism induced by gliadin peptides, as well as uptake and presentation by enterocytes, are discussed. We analyzed peptide binding to enterocytic membranes as a potential key event. Binding capacities of brush border membranes isolated from small intestinal biopsies of untreated (n = 49) and treated celiac patients on a gluten-free diet (n = 30), as well as control subjects (n = 43), were measured with a dot blot chemiluminescence assay. Synthetic gliadin peptides comprising amino acid position 8-19 (G XIV) and 30-41 (G XI) of alpha-gliadins, a peptic-tryptic digest of gliadin (PT-GLI), and a synthetic zein peptide were used. Comparing treated celiac patients with controls, we observed significantly enhanced membrane-binding of PT-GLI [mean 122.4 densitometric units/microg (95% confidence interval 116.0-128.9) vs 108.9 (102.1-115.7)] and of zein peptide [50.2 (38.4-61.9) vs 28.8 (13.4-44.2)], but only slightly increased binding of the synthetic gliadin peptides G XIV [65.5 (60.6-70.5) vs 62.4 (56.3-68.5) and G XI [75.2 (69.8-80.6) vs 65.9 (55.2-76.5)]. Independent of patient group, membrane-binding capacities for celiac-active gliadin peptides exceeded those of the zein peptide. Thus, interaction of gliadin peptides with the apical enterocytic membrane was not found exclusively in celiac disease. Furthermore, increased binding capacities in treated celiac disease were not confined to celiac-active peptides. Quantitative differences in gliadin peptide binding as a primary characteristic in celiac disease might contribute to pathogenetic effects exerted on small intestinal epithelial cells.

Transepithelial electrical resistance and tight junctions of human gingival keratinocytes

Human gingival keratinocytes (HGKs) were studied by means of freeze-fracture technique, conventional electron microscopy and the transepithelial electrical resistance for the investigation of intercellular contacts. For the purpose of comparison, MDCK cells and HaCat cells were also included. An unexpected finding was the presence of tight junctions in the HGKs. In vivo the tight junctions, which were of low complexity and P-face-associated, were co-distributed with desmosomes; in one case, the strands ran directly through desmosomal plaques. Where tight junctions and desmosomes occurred together, no gap junctions were seen. In contrast, where no tight junctions were present, gap junctions and desmosomes were co-localized. However, the unfavourable fracture planes through the tissue did not allow a clearcut allocation of gap junction/tight junction occurrence to certain strata. In vitro, HGKs also expressed tight junctions which formed networks of low complexity and high P-face association. Whereas desmosomes were highly expressed, gap junctions were not observed in cultured keratinocytes. Transepithelial electrical resistances (TEER) of cultured HGKs were higher than the values in low resistance-MDCK cells and HaCat cells but considerably lower than the values in high resistance MDCK cells, supporting the fundamental correlation between tight junction morphology and TEER. The results with this cell culture model of the human gingiva provide some valuable information about in vitro differentation and concommittent changes in cellular contacts of human gingival keratinocytes.