Project description:Although it is clear that probiotics improve intestinal barrier function, little is known about the effects of probiotics on the aging intestine. We investigated effects of 10-wk bacterial supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, Lactobacillus casei BL23, or Bifidobacterium breve DSM20213 on gut barrier and immunity in 16-week-old accelerated aging Ercc1-/Δ7 mice, which have a median lifespan of ~20wk, and their wild-type littermates. The colonic barrier in Ercc1-/Δ7 mice was characterized by a thin (<10µm) mucus layer. L. plantarum prevented this decline in mucus integrity in Ercc1-/Δ7 mice, whereas B. breve exacerbated it. Bacterial supplementations affected the expression of immune-related genes, including Toll-like receptor 4. Regulatory T cell frequencies were increased in the mesenteric lymph nodes of L. plantarum- and L. casei-treated Ercc1-/Δ7 mice. L. plantarum- and L. casei-treated Ercc1-/Δ7 mice showed increased specific antibody production in a T cell-dependent immune response in vivo. By contrast, the effects of bacterial supplementation on wild-type control mice were negligible. Thus, supplementation with L. plantarum – but not with L. casei and B. breve – prevented the decline in the mucus barrier in Ercc1-/Δ7 mice. Our data indicate that age is an important factor influencing beneficial or detrimental effects of candidate probiotics. These findings also highlight the need for caution in translating beneficial effects of probiotics observed in young animals or humans to the elderly.
Project description:The use of Akkermansia muciniphila as potential therapeutic intervention is receiving increasing attention. Health benefits attributed to this bacterium include an improvement of metabolic disorders and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. The abundance of A. muciniphila is associated with a healthy gut in early mid- and later life. However, the effects of A. muciniphila on a decline in intestinal health during the aging process are not investigated yet. We supplemented accelerated aging Ercc1-/Δ7 mice with A. muciniphila for 10 weeks and investigated histological, transcriptional and immunological aspects of intestinal health. The thickness of the colonic mucus layer increased about 3-fold after long-term A. muciniphila supplementation and was even significantly thicker compared to mice supplemented with Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1. Colonic gene expression profiles pointed towards a decreased expression of genes and pathways related to inflammation and immune function, and suggested a decreased presence of B cells in colon. Total B cell frequencies in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were not altered after A. muciniphila supplementation. Mature and immature B cell frequencies in bone marrow were increased, whereas B cell precursors were unaffected. These findings implicate that B cell migration rather than production was affected by A. muciniphila supplementation. Gene expression profiles in ileum pointed toward a decrease in metabolic- and immune-related processes and antimicrobial peptide production after A. muciniphila supplementation. Besides, A. muciniphila decreased the frequency of activated CD80+CD273- B cells in Peyer’s patches. Additionally, the increased numbers of peritoneal resident macrophages and a decrease in Ly6Cint monocyte frequencies in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes add evidence for the potentially anti-inflammatory properties of A. muciniphila. Altogether, we show that supplementation with A. muciniphila prevented the age-related decline in thickness of the colonic mucus layer and attenuated inflammation and immune-related processes at old age. This study implies that A. muciniphila supplementation can contribute to a promotion of healthy aging.
Project description:Epithelial cells of the mammalian intestine are covered with a mucus layer that prevents direct contact with intestinal microbes but also constitutes a substrate for mucus-degrading bacteria. To study the effect of mucus degradation on the host response, germ-free mice were colonized with Akkermansia muciniphila. This anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Verrucomicrobia is specialized in the degradation of mucin, the glycoprotein present in mucus, and found in high numbers in the intestinal tract of human and other mammalian species. Efficient colonization of A. muciniphila was observed with highest numbers in the cecum, where most mucin is produced. In contrast, following colonization by Lactobacillus plantarum, a facultative anaerobe belonging to the Firmicutes that ferments carbohydrates, similar cell-numbers were found at all intestinal sites. Whereas A. muciniphila was located closely associated with the intestinal cells, L. plantarum was exclusively found in the lumen. The global transcriptional host response was determined in intestinal biopsies and revealed a consistent, site-specific, and unique modulation of about 750 genes in mice colonized by A. muciniphila and over 1500 genes after colonization by L. plantarum. Pathway reconstructions showed that colonization by A. muciniphila altered mucosal gene expression profiles toward increased expression of genes involved in immune responses and cell fate determination, while colonization by L. plantarum led to up-regulation of lipid metabolism. These indicate that the colonizers induce host responses that are specific per intestinal location. In conclusion, we propose that A. muciniphila modulates pathways involved in establishing homeostasis for basal metabolism and immune tolerance toward commensal microbiota. Keywords: Analysis of target gene regulation by using microarrays Adult germ-free female NMRI-KI mice (45 – 65 days) were used for bacterial mono-association. Two bacterial strains were used in this study, A. muciniphila MucT (ATTC BAA-835) and L. plantarum WCFS1 (NCIMB 8826). A. muciniphila was grown anaerobically in a basal mucin based medium and L. plantarum was grown anaerobically at 37°C in Man-Rogosa-Sharpe broth (MRS; Le Pont de Claix, France). After 7 days of colonization, mice were killed by cervical dislocation and terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon specimens were sampled.
Project description:Akkermansia muciniphila ameliorates the age-related decline in colonic mucus thickness and attenuates immune activation in accelerated aging Ercc1-/Δ7 mice
Project description:Akkermansia muciniphila ameliorates the age-related decline in colonic mucus thickness and attenuates immune activation in accelerated aging Ercc1-/Δ7 mice
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three Lactobacillus plantarum strains on in-vivo small intestinal barrier function and gene transcription in human subjects. The strains were selected for their differential effects on TLR signalling and tight junction protein rearrangement, which may lead to beneficial effects in a stressed human gut mucosa. Ten healthy volunteers participated in four different intervention periods: 7-day oral intake of either L. plantarum WCFS1, CIP48 (CIP104448), TIFN101 (CIP104450) or placebo, proceeded by a 4 weeks wash-out period. Lactulose-rhamnose ratio (an indicator of small intestinal permeability) increased after intake of indomethacin, which was given as an artificial stressor of the gut mucosal barrier (mean ratio 0.06±0.04 to 0.10±0.06, p=0.001), but was not significantly affected by the bacterial interventions. However, gene transcription pathway analysis in small intestinal biopsies, obtained by gastroduodenoscopy, demonstrated that particularly L. plantarum TIFN101 modulated cell-cell adhesion with high turnover of genes involved in tight- and adhesion junction protein synthesis and degradation (e.g. actinin alpha-4, metalloproteinase-2). These effects were less pronounced for L. plantarum WCFS1 and CIP104448. In conclusion, L. plantarum TIFN101 induced the most pronounced probiotic properties with specific effects on repair processes in the compromised intestine of healthy subjects.
Project description:In order to understand LBG derived galacto-manno-oligosaccharides utilization by a probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1, we have grown Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 (in duplicates) till mid log phase (OD600nm ~0.5, 10 h) in carbon free MRS (de Man, Rogosa Sharpe ) media containing either galacto-manno-oligosaccharides, mannose, glucose or galactose (1% w/v) as the sole carbon source.
Project description:Whole genome transcriptional profiling was used to characterize the response of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 human isolate during challenge with oleuropein. Twelve independent experiments were performed and mixed at random in groups of four for total of three RNA samples. The transcriptional profile shows that Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 adapts its metabolic capacity to acquire certain carbohydrates and repress the expression of genes involved in fatty acid biosyntheis. The transcriptomic datasets also revealed the downregulation of genes related to the biosynthesis of capsular polysaccharides and genes coding for ABC-type transporters. In addition, induction of oligopeptide permeases is also part of the response of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 to oleuropein.
Project description:Validation of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 transcriptome profile using RNA sequencing (direct cDNA sequencing and 3'-UTR sequencing) in comparison with DNA microarray as a reference platform. Transcriptome analysis was performed on total RNA and enriched mRNA of L. plantarum WCFS1 grown in CDM or MRS media. Samples were hybridized in a loop design, hybridizing each sample twice, once for each dye This Series represents the DNA microarray experiments only.
Project description:The effects of a 2-week suppletion period with L. plantarum WCFS1 on duodenal gene expression profiles was investigated in healthy subjects in a placebo-controlled doouble-blind study. Each subject ingested a supplement containing L. Plantarum WCFS1 once a day. After that period, tissue samples from the horizontal part of the duodenum were obtained by standard flexible gastroduodenoscopy, and Affymetrix microarrays were used to determine genome-wide gene expression profiles.