Decrypting the communication between microbes and the intestinal mucosa—A brief review on Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire's latest research

Over the past 10 years, the “Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire” unit of Professor Philippe Sansonetti has studied the molecular cross talk between the intestinal microbiota and the gut epithelium, aiming to better understand how this mutualistic symbiosis delineates homoeostasis and, when perturbed, prompts pathology. To do so, the unit has manipulated both bacterial and epithelial cells, and used cutting‐edge technology. More recently, the lab has turned its focus also on studying the intestinal crypt and more specifically the intestinal stem cell for their role in epithelial regeneration and long‐term epithelium renewal. Here, we provide a brief review summarising recent results obtained from the lab, with particular focus on the intestinal crypt.     

多糖对肠道功能调节作用的研究进展

肠道是机体重要的消化器官,亦是共生微生物群的主要寄居场所,在维持机体正常生命活动如免疫和内分泌功能中发挥着重要作用。 肠道功能紊乱与疾病的发生以及发展过程密切相关。近年来,多项研究结果显示,多糖具有肠道功能调节作用,包括通过作用于肠道黏膜 参与机体免疫过程、保护肠道屏障结构和功能的完整性、调节肠道菌群组成以及刺激肠道内分泌。从伴随疾病过程中的肠道功能紊乱的角度, 对多糖调节肠道功能的作用机制进行综述。     

哺乳动物肠上皮屏障中非编码RNAs的调控作用

哺乳动物肠上皮是一种拥有快速自我更新能力的组织,在维持机体免疫稳态与肠道应激后的损伤修复中发挥重要作用。源于隐窝底部的多能肠干细胞不断进行增殖、迁移与分化,并沿隐窝 绒毛轴向上移动,从而维持肠上皮完整性。该过程受严格而复杂的基因调控网络参与。越来越多的数据表明,肠上皮完整性受到广泛的非编码RNA的调控,主要包括肠黏膜再生、保护与上皮屏障功能等方面。本文重点讨论了两类非编码RNA(包括microRNAs和lncRNAs)转录后调控肠上皮屏障功能的研究进展。其中,miR-503、miR-146和lnc-uc.173、lnc-SPRY4-IT1、lnc-plncRNA1、lnc-Gata6等,能够促进肠黏膜的更新,增强上皮屏障功能;相反,miR-222、miR-29b、miR-195和lnc-H19与lnc-BC012900等,抑制肠上皮再生并破坏肠上皮屏障功能。miRNAs、mRNAs与lncRNAs间构成复杂的分子网络,共同调控肠上皮稳态。深入研究与肠上皮相关的miRNAs和IncRNAs分子及其作用机制,探寻引起肠黏膜炎症的关键分子靶标,为肠道炎症临床诊治提供新方向与新方法。     

哺乳动物肠上皮屏障中非编码RNAs的调控作用

哺乳动物肠上皮是一种拥有快速自我更新能力的组织,在维持机体免疫稳态与肠道应激后的损伤修复中发挥重要作用。源于隐窝底部的多能肠干细胞不断进行增殖、迁移与分化,并沿隐窝 绒毛轴向上移动,从而维持肠上皮完整性。该过程受严格而复杂的基因调控网络参与。越来越多的数据表明,肠上皮完整性受到广泛的非编码RNA的调控,主要包括肠黏膜再生、保护与上皮屏障功能等方面。本文重点讨论了两类非编码RNA(包括microRNAs和lncRNAs)转录后调控肠上皮屏障功能的研究进展。其中,miR-503、miR-146和lnc-uc.173、lnc-SPRY4-IT1、lnc-plncRNA1、lnc-Gata6等,能够促进肠黏膜的更新,增强上皮屏障功能;相反,miR-222、miR-29b、miR-195和lnc-H19与lnc-BC012900等,抑制肠上皮再生并破坏肠上皮屏障功能。miRNAs、mRNAs与lncRNAs间构成复杂的分子网络,共同调控肠上皮稳态。深入研究与肠上皮相关的miRNAs和IncRNAs分子及其作用机制,探寻引起肠黏膜炎症的关键分子靶标,为肠道炎症临床诊治提供新方向与新方法。     

肠道上皮与肠道微生物相互作用的研究现状

肠道上皮是肠上皮细胞及其分泌物有机构成的黏膜界面。随着技术的进步和对肠道菌群作用的逐渐重视,研究者对肠道上皮与肠道微生物相互作用的认识也不断深入。研究表明,肠道上皮调节并维持肠道微生物的定殖与分布,肠道微生物也影响肠道上皮的多种屏障功能,二者通过一系列细胞分子机制紧密联系,共同维持肠道稳态。此外,其过程中产生的宿主-肠道菌群共代谢物被发现可以反映宿主的生理病理状态,作为指标被应用于临床疾病诊断、治疗效果评估和预后推测。本文基于近年的研究,综述了肠道上皮与肠道微生物的相互作用及其细胞分子机制,为进一步研究和临床应用总结了理论基础,并探讨了未来可能的研究方向。     

NLRP6炎症小体与肠道微生态研究进展

NLRP6炎症小体作为炎症反应的核心识别环节,由PRRs、ASC、Caspase三部分组成,可激活下游IL-1β、IL-18等炎症分子.肠道微生态主要由肠道内结构复杂的微生物、种类繁多的代谢物和肠道黏膜屏障组成,参与机体多种重要生命功能,与多种疾病发生发展密切相关.NLRP6炎症小体广泛分布于肠道组织中,可识别肠道内多...     

Murine intestinal organoids resemble intestinal epithelium in their microRNA profiles

Intestinal organoids were established as an ex vivo model of the intestinal epithelium. We investigated whether organoids resemble the intestinal epithelium in their microRNA (miRNA) profiles. Total RNA samples were obtained from crypt and villus fractions in murine intestine and from cultured organoids. Microarray analysis showed that organoids largely resembled intestinal epithelial cells in their miRNA profiles. In silico prediction followed by qRT-PCR suggested that six genes are regulated by corresponding miRNAs along the crypt-villus axis, suggesting miRNA regulation of epithelial cell renewal in the intestine. However, such expression patterns of miRNAs and their target mRNAs were not reproduced during organoids maturation. This might be due to lack of luminal factors and endocrine, nervous, and immune systems in organoids and different cell populations between in vivo epithelium and organoids. Nevertheless, we propose that intestinal organoids provide a useful in vitro model to investigate miRNA expression in intestinal epithelial cells.     

综述与专论: 肠神经胶质细胞在维持肠黏膜稳态与调控炎症中的作用

肠神经胶质细胞分布于消化道黏膜层、黏膜下层和肌层,其具有广泛的异质性和可塑性。黏膜层最靠近肠腔,易受病原体侵袭和炎症影响,因此黏膜稳态备受关注。肠黏膜神经胶质细胞（mucosal enteric glial cells,mEGCs）与肠上皮细胞、血管内皮细胞、免疫细胞等非神经元细胞具有复杂的相互作用关系。从结构和功能的角度来看,mEGCs可能处于中心调控位置。最近研究不断揭示mEGCs的亚型和新功能,表明mEGCs在病理条件下存在功能改变。了解mEGCs如何引起黏膜功能障碍及其在疾病发展中的作用至关重要。本文将总结mEGCs在维持粘膜内环境稳定和调节炎症方面的作用。     

兔急性肠道缺血再灌注损伤模型的建立

目的:建立小肠急性缺血再灌注损伤模型,确定合适的肠系膜上动脉阻断时间.方法:将70只新西兰兔随机按不同的肠系膜缺血时间(0、15、30、45、60min)分为A、B、C、D、E5组,每组14只,取8只用于恢复血供2h后留取各组兔下腔静脉血标本及肠组织,检测血清中MDA含量的变化,光镜下观察小肠组织形态学变化并对小肠黏膜损伤程度进行评分.另6只用于术后24h、 48h及72h生存率的观察.结果:A、B、C组的术后生存率均>83.3%.C、D、E组的MDA含量及肠黏膜损伤评分与A组比较,差异均有显著性(F=12.13～280.24,p<0.01).结论:肠系膜缺血30min,再灌注2h是建立兔小肠急性再灌注损伤的合适时间.     

肠道菌群功能与成瘾机制的研究进展

烟酒成瘾、药物滥用和停药反应的增多,对社会和家庭造成巨大的经济损失,同时也产生了一系列的健康问题,其中神经系统是成瘾的关键。近年来,越来越多的资料证明脑-肠轴的联系,人们发现肠道微生物的扰动对神经系统的调节有至关重要的作用。综述了烟酒和药物的成瘾机制,脑-肠轴影响宿主的代谢和对神经功能的调节,益生元和益生菌的摄入能引起肠道菌群的改变。深入分析脑-肠轴和肠道菌群代谢,通过益生菌,益生元改变菌群结构治疗成瘾成为今后研究的重点方向。     

The role of autophagy in maintaining intestinal mucosal barrier

The intestinal mucosal barrier is the first line to defense against luminal content penetration and performs numerous biological functions. The intestinal epithelium contains a huge surface that is lined by a monolayer of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). IECs are dominant mediators in maintaining intestinal homeostasis that drive diverse functions including nutrient absorption, physical segregation, secretion of antibacterial peptides, and modulation of immune responses. Autophagy is a cellular self-protection mechanism in response to various stresses, and accumulating studies have revealed its importance in participating physiological processes of IECs. The regulatory effects of autophagy depend on the specific IEC types. This review aims to elucidate the myriad roles of autophagy in regulating the functions of different IECs (stem cells, enterocytes, goblet cells, and Paneth cells), and present the progress of autophagy-targeting therapy in intestinal diseases. Understanding the involved mechanisms can provide new preventive and therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal dysfunction and diseases.     

Microbial Metabolites and Intestinal Stem Cells Tune Intestinal Homeostasis

Microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract, collectively known as the gut microbiota, are known to produce small molecules and metabolites that significantly contribute to host intestinal development, functions, and homeostasis. Emerging insights from microbiome research reveal that gut microbiota‐derived signals and molecules influence another key player maintaining intestinal homeostasis—the intestinal stem cell niche, which regulates epithelial self‐renewal. In this review, the literature on gut microbiota‐host crosstalk is surveyed, highlighting the effects of gut microbial metabolites on intestinal stem cells. The production of various classes of metabolites, their actions on intestinal stem cells are discussed and, finally, how the production and function of metabolites are modulated by aging and dietary intake is commented upon.     

对双歧杆菌DM9227菌株的实验研究IV对双歧杆菌DM9227菌株生物学特性的研究

本文对双歧杆菌ＤＭ９２２７菌株进行了形态学、生化反应特性、代谢酸分析及抗生素敏感性的研究。综合有关试验结果,初步认为该菌属婴儿双歧杆菌（Ｂｉｆｉｄｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍｉｎｆａｎｔｉｓ）。     

Capacity of the bovine intestinal mucus and its components to support growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of cattle by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli increases the risk of contamination of food products at slaughter. Our study aimed to shed more light on the mechanisms used by E. coli O157:H7 to thrive and compete with other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of cattle. We evaluated, in vitro, bovine intestinal mucus and its constituents in terms of their capacity to support growth of E. coli O157:H7 in presence or absence of fecal inoculum, with and without various enzymes. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 and total anaerobic bacteria were proportionate to the amount of mucus added as substrate. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 was similar for small and large intestinal mucus as substrate, and was partially inhibited with addition of fecal inoculum to cultures, presumably due to competition from other organisms. Whole mucus stimulated growth to the greatest degree compared with other compounds evaluated, but the pathogen was capable of utilizing all substrates to some extent. Addition of enzymes to cultures failed to impact growth of E. coli O157:H7 except for neuraminidase, which resulted in greater growth of E. coli O157 when combined with sialic acid as substrate. In conclusion, E. coli O157 has capacity to utilize small or large intestinal mucus, and growth is greatest with whole mucus compared with individual mucus components. There are two possible explanations for these findings (i) multiple substrates are needed to optimize growth, or alternatively, (ii) a component of mucus not evaluated in this experiment is a key ingredient for optimal growth of E. coli O157:H7.     

肠道类器官在肠疾病机制研究中的运用

肠道类器官由来自肠道的隐窝或干细胞在培养基质的三维（3D）支撑下构建形成,含有肠道的所有成熟细胞,已经成为研究肠道疾病机制全新且高效的平台。相较于二维（2D）细胞培养,肠道类器官不仅可以更加有效地模拟肠道的生理结构与功能,还可以在不同体外环境下更好地还原肠道的真实生态,因此在不同肠道疾病的发病机制研究中应用更为广泛。本文介绍了肠道类器官培养方式的新进展,综述了近年来肠道类器官在炎症性肠道疾病、结肠直肠癌和乳糜泻发病机制研究中的运用及进展,同时讨论了肠道类器官在药物研发与筛选方面的应用。     

发育过程中肝脏血管活性肠肽及其受体量的变化

已有的研究观察到,胚胎肝脏中血管活性肠肽(vasoactiveintestinalpolypeptide,VIP)及其受体(vasoactiveintesti-nalpolypeptidereceptor,VIPR)与造血干细胞生长和肝脏发育有关。本研究旨在了解发育过程中肝VIP及VIPR量的动态变化。采用放射免疫分析法、生物分子相互作用系统和RT-PCR等技术检测了各发育阶段大鼠肝组织VIP浓度、VIP受体结合量及VIP受体表达亚型,实验观察到胎鼠和新生鼠肝脏VIP浓度显著低于未成年鼠及成年鼠肝脏VIP浓度(P<0.05)。发育尚未成熟时(胎鼠、新生鼠、未成年鼠),肝VIPR表达均明显高于成年鼠(P<0.05),表明大鼠在发育过程中肝脏VIP与VIP受体量呈相反的变化趋势。大鼠发育各时期,肝脏均表达VIPR-1。这些结果部分解释了肝脏发育、肝脏造血转移等重要生理现象。     

Intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein mediates atherosclerotic progress through increasing intestinal inflammation and permeability

Atherosclerosis is one of leading phenotypes of cardiovascular diseases, featured with increased vascular intima‐media thickness (IMT) and unstable plaques. The interaction between gastrointestinal system and cardiovascular homeostasis is emerging as a hot topic. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the role of an intestinal protein, intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein (I‐FABP/FABP2) in the atherosclerotic progress. In western diet–fed ApoE^?/? mice, FABP2 was highly expressed in intestine. Silence of intestinal Fabp2 attenuated western diet–induced atherosclerotic phenotypes, including decreasing toxic lipid accumulation, vascular fibrosis and inflammatory response. Mechanistically, intestinal Fabp2 knockdown improved intestinal permeability through increasing the expression of tight junction proteins. Meanwhile, intestinal Fabp2 knockdown mice exhibited down‐regulation of intestinal inflammation in western diet–fed ApoE^?/? mice. In clinical patients, the circulating level of FABP2 was obviously increased in patients with cardiovascular disease and positively correlated with the value of carotid intima‐media thickness, total cholesterol and triglyceride. In conclusion, FABP2‐induced intestinal permeability could address a potential role of gastrointestinal system in the development of atherosclerosis, and targeting on intestinal FABP2 might provide a therapeutic approach to protect against atherosclerosis.     

Effects of dose and formulation of carvacrol and thymol on bacteria and some functional traits of the gut in piglets after weaning

Two trials were conducted to study the effects of dose and formulation of carvacrol and thymol on bacterial counts, metabolites and functional traits of the gut in weaned piglets. In the first experiment (Exp. I), 25 piglets (28 d, 6.59 ± 0.48 kg BW) were allocated to five dietary treatments: a control diet, or the same diet supplemented with either carvacrol or thymol at doses of 500 and 2000 mg kg^?1. In the second experiment (Exp. II), 35 piglets (28 d, 7.99 ± 0.73 kg BW) were assigned to seven dietary treatments: the same control diet as in Exp. I, or this diet supplemented with thymol in one of three formulations (on celite, on alphacel or microencapsulated) at doses of 500 and 2000 mg kg^?1. At 11/12 days post-weaning piglets were euthanised, and digesta from stomach, proximal and distal small intestine were sampled for bacteriological and biochemical analysis. Small intestinal tissue was sampled for histo-morphological determinations. In none of the experiments or sections of the gut was the number of bacteria lowered by the carvacrol or thymol supplementation. In Exp. I, the villus/crypt ratio at the distal small intestine for the experimental diets (1.30–1.32) was higher than for the control diet (1.24) (p < 0.05). Thymol fed animals in Exp. II had a lower number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes at the proximal (p < 0.05) and at the distal (p < 0.1) small intestine as compared to control animals. Mean concentration of the active ingredient in the stomach and proximal small intestine for the 2000 mg kg^?1 carvacrol diet was 521 and 5 mg kg^?1 fresh digesta, respectively, and for the 2000 mg kg^?1 thymol diets it ranged between 475 and 647 and between 13 and 24 mg kg^?1 fresh digesta, respectively. Cumulative absorption in the proximal small intestine was higher than 90% for all treatments and was not affected by formulation type. These data suggest that carvacrol and thymol can improve gut health, but evidence for clear antimicrobial effects towards the major culturable bacteria of the pig foregut is limited.     

Wnt activity and basal niche position sensitize intestinal stem and progenitor cells to DNA damage

Aging and carcinogenesis coincide with the accumulation of DNA damage and mutations in stem and progenitor cells. Molecular mechanisms that influence responses of stem and progenitor cells to DNA damage remain to be delineated. Here, we show that niche positioning and Wnt signaling activity modulate the sensitivity of intestinal stem and progenitor cells (ISPCs) to DNA damage. ISPCs at the crypt bottom with high Wnt/β‐catenin activity are more sensitive to DNA damage compared to ISPCs in position 4 with low Wnt activity. These differences are not induced by differences in cell cycle activity but relate to DNA damage‐dependent activation of Wnt signaling, which in turn amplifies DNA damage checkpoint activation. The study shows that instructed enhancement of Wnt signaling increases radio‐sensitivity of ISPCs, while inhibition of Wnt signaling decreases it. These results provide a proof of concept that cell intrinsic levels of Wnt signaling modulate the sensitivity of ISPCs to DNA damage and heterogeneity in Wnt activation in the stem cell niche contributes to the selection of ISPCs in the context of DNA damage.     

肠绒毛消化法所得仔猪小肠上皮细胞的培养与鉴定

小肠上皮细胞作为肠道的主要功能细胞,在多种肠道疾病和上皮间质转化的研究中发挥着重要的作用。采取组织块消化和肠绒毛消化两种方法对新生仔猪小肠上皮细胞进行分离培养,传代后通过细胞形态学及免疫荧光等方法对其进行鉴定,结果表明:肠绒毛消化法所获得的小肠上皮细胞要远好于组织块消化法所得细胞,细胞在24～48h贴壁,呈现出典型的三角形或多角形样,10～12d细胞汇合成片、单层生长、互不重叠;细胞角蛋白18(cytokeratin-18)和尾型同源盒基因2(Cdx2)阳性,碱性磷酸酶检测阴性,扫描电镜下可以清楚地看到均匀分布的肠绒毛。以上结果表明,该实验成功建立出可连续传代并符合小肠上皮细胞鉴定标准的仔猪小肠上皮细胞。