title: Live Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in an apical anaerobic model of the intestinal epithelial barrier.
abstract: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, an abundant member of the human commensal microbiota, has been proposed to have a protective role in the intestine. However, it is an obligate anaerobe, difficult to co-culture in viable form with oxygen-requiring intestinal cells. To overcome this limitation, a unique apical anaerobic model of the intestinal barrier, which enabled co-culture of live obligate anaerobes with the human intestinal cell line Caco-2, was developed. Caco-2 cells remained viable and maintained an intact barrier for at least 12 h, consistent with gene expression data, which suggested Caco-2 cells had adapted to survive in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere. Live F. prausnitzii cells, but not ultraviolet (UV)-killed F. prausnitzii, increased the permeability of mannitol across the epithelial barrier. Gene expression analysis showed inflammatory mediators to be expressed at lower amounts in Caco-2 cells exposed to live F. prausnitzii than UV-killed F. prausnitzii, This, consistent with previous reports, implies that live F. prausnitzii produces an anti-inflammatory compound in the culture supernatant, demonstrating the value of a physiologically relevant co-culture system that allows obligate anaerobic bacteria to remain viable.
authors.affiliation: Food Nutrition & Health Team, Food & Bio-Based Products Group, AgResearch Grasslands, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand; Riddet Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Dulantha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ulluwishewa
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Warren C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: McNabb
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Baarlen
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Moughan
authors.forename: Jerry M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Nicole C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002470:Cell Survival; D003013:Clostridium / Q000254:growth & development*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010539:Permeability
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008353:Mannitol