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Self-organized intestinal epithelial monolayers in crypt and villus-like domains show effective barrier function.

ABSTRACT: Intestinal organoids have emerged as a powerful in vitro tool for studying intestinal biology due to their resemblance to in vivo tissue at the structural and functional levels. However, their sphere-like geometry prevents access to the apical side of the epithelium, making them unsuitable for standard functional assays designed for flat cell monolayers. Here, we describe a simple method for the formation of epithelial monolayers that recapitulates the in vivo-like cell type composition and organization and that is suitable for functional tissue barrier assays. In our approach, epithelial monolayer spreading is driven by the substrate stiffness, while tissue barrier function is achieved by the basolateral delivery of medium enriched with stem cell niche and myofibroblast-derived factors. These monolayers contain major intestinal epithelial cell types organized into proliferating crypt-like domains and differentiated villus-like regions, closely resembling the in vivo cell distribution. As a unique characteristic, these epithelial monolayers form functional epithelial barriers with an accessible apical surface and physiologically relevant transepithelial electrical resistance values. Our technology offers an up-to-date and novel culture method for intestinal epithelium, providing an in vivo-like cell composition and distribution in a tissue culture format compatible with high-throughput drug absorption or microbe-epithelium interaction studies.

SUBMITTER: Altay G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625996 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundPatient-derived organoid (PDO) models offer potential to transform drug discovery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but are limited by inconsistencies with differentiation and functional characterization. We profiled molecular and cellular features across a range of intestinal organoid models and examined differentiation and establishment of a functional epithelial barrier.MethodsPatient-derived organoids or monolayers were generated from control or IBD patient-derived colon or ileum and were molecularly or functionally profiled. Biological or technical replicates were examined for transcriptional responses under conditions of expansion or differentiation. Cell-type composition was determined by deconvolution of cell-associated gene signatures and histological features. Differentiated control or IBD-derived monolayers were examined for establishment of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), loss of barrier integrity in response to a cocktail of interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and prevention of cytokine-induced barrier disruption by the JAK inhibitor, tofacitinib.ResultsIn response to differentiation media, intestinal organoids and monolayers displayed gene expression patterns consistent with maturation of epithelial cell types found in the human gut. Upon differentiation, both colon- and ileum-derived monolayers formed functional barriers, with sustained TEER. Barrier integrity was compromised by inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, and damage was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by tofacitinib.ConclusionsWe describe the generation and characterization of human colonic or ileal organoid models capable of functional differentiation to mature epithelial cell types. In monolayer culture, these cells formed a robust epithelial barrier with sustained TEER and responses to pharmacological modulation. Our findings demonstrate that control and IBD patient-derived organoids possess consistent transcriptional and functional profiles that can enable development of epithelial-targeted therapies.

Project description:At various postnatal stages, intestinal epithelial cells were isolated sequentially from villus tip to crypt base by successive EDTA treatments. According to the localization of marker enzymic activities, isolated cells were pooled into three cell compartments: villus (V), lower villus and upper crypt (VC) and crypt (C). Purified brush-border-membrane proteins were separated by 7.5%-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Enzymic activities could be assigned to some protein bands: maltase/glucoamylase (protein band 3), sucrase-isomaltase (protein bands 3 and 6), lactase (protein band 5) and alkaline phosphatase (region of protein bands 8 and 9). The findings suggest the following. (1) Sucrase-isomaltase activities appeared in compartment C at 17 days with a simultaneous increase of the pre-existing protein band 3 and appearance of a well-defined protein band in position 6; the enzymic complex remained still present in the crypt cells until adulthood. From the day 21 onwards, sucrase-isomaltase was detected in compartments VC and V. (2) Lactase was only present in the three cell compartments until day 21; at this developmental stage its activity completely disappeared from compartment C, in spite of the persistence of a weak protein band. (3) Alkaline phosphatase activity could be detected as a single peak corresponding to protein band 9 in all three cell compartments until day 21; thereafter it was replaced by two peaks of activity showing a less precise correlation with the well-defined protein bands 8 and 9. In the crypt cells of the adult rat, however, the preweaning situation, which was regularly observed, is an unexpected phenomenon. (4) Maltase and glucoamylase did not display any marked qualitative or quantitative modifications either along the villus-crypt axis or during the period of postnatal development studied. Evidence is given from the present data that each brush-border enzyme investigated has a specific developmental pattern.

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Self-organized intestinal epithelial monolayers in crypt and villus-like domains show effective barrier function.

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