title: Higher molecular weight polyethylene glycol increases cell proliferation while improving barrier function in an in vitro colon cancer model.
abstract: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been previously shown to protect against enteric pathogens and prevent colon cancer invasion. To determine if PEG could indeed protect against previously observed pro-invasive effects of commensal E. coli and EPEC, Caco-2 cells grown in an in vitro model of colon cancer were infected with strains of human commensal E. coli or EPEC and treated with 10% PEG 3350, PEG 8000, and PEG 20,000, respectively. At 24 hours after infection, MMP-1 and MMP-13 activities, cell cluster thickness, depth of invasion, and proliferation were determined using standard molecular biology techniques and advanced imaging. We found that higher molecular weight PEG, especially PEG 8000 and 20,000, regardless of bacterial infection, increased proliferation and depth of invasion although a decrease in cellular density and MMP-1 activity was also noted. Maximum proliferation and depth of invasion of Caco-2 cells was observed in scaffolds treated with a combination of commensal E. coli strain, HS4 and PEG 8000. In conclusion, we found that PEG 8000 increased cell proliferation and led to the preservation of cell density in cells treated with commensal bacteria. This is important, because the preservation of a proliferative response in colon cancer results in a more chemo-responsive tumor.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Road, Box 100214, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors: Shruthi
authors: S
authors: Bharadwaj
authors: Ramana
authors: R
authors: Vishnubhotla
authors: Sun
authors: S
authors: Shan
authors: Chinmay
authors: C
authors: Chauhan
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Cho
authors: Sarah C
authors: SC
authors: Glover
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology*; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000378:metabolism; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1