Transcriptomics of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection. Individual variation in intestinal gene expression correlates with intestinal function.
Acute secretory diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young animals and humans. Deaths result from excessive fluid and electrolyte losses. The disease is caused by non-invasive bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli which produce enterotoxins, however, much less is known about the role of individual host responses. Here we report the response of intact porcine small intestinal mucosa to infection with enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Jejunal segments in four piglets were infused with or without ETEC, and perfused for 8h, and net absorption measured. Microarray analysis at 8h post-infection showed significant differential regulation of on average fifteen transcripts in mucosa, with considerable individual variation. Differential net absorption varied between animals, and correlated negatively with the number of up regulated genes, and with one individual gene (THO complex 4). This shows that quantitative differences in gene regulation can be functionally linked to the physiological response in these four animals.
Niewold
Theo A
TA
Nutrition and Health Unit, and Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. theo.niewold@biw.kuleuven.be
van der Meulen
Jan
J
Kerstens
Hindrik H D
HH
Smits
Mari A
MA
Hulst
Marcel M
MM
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D054307:Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C000612141:REG3A protein, human