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1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits Na(+)-H+ exchange by stimulating membrane phosphoinositide turnover and increasing cytosolic calcium in CaCo-2 cells.

We have examined the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] on the phosphoinositol signal transduction pathway in the human colon cancer-derived cell line CaCo-2 and have studied the regulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and pH (pHi) by this secosteroid. CaCo-2 cells were prelabeled with [3H]myoinositol and treated with 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 or vehicle for 90 sec. 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused a decrease in labeled phosphatidylinositol-4-5-bis-phosphate and an increase in labeled inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Treatment with 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 for 90 sec also raised the cellular content of diacylglycerol. In a dose-dependent manner, 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused the translocation of protein kinase-C activity from the cytosolic to the membrane fraction, which occurred after as little as 15 sec of exposure to the secosteroid, peaked at about 1-5 min, and then returned toward baseline values. In these CaCo-2 cells, baseline [Ca2+]i was 258 +/- 2 nM (mean +/- SE), as assessed using the fluorescent dye fura-2. After exposure to 10(-8) M 1,25-(OH)2D3, [Ca2+]i rapidly increased to 392 +/- 14 nM after 100 sec, fell, and then subsequently rose to a plateau of 350 +/- 3 nM after 400 sec. In Ca(2+)-free buffer, 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused only a transient rise in [Ca2+]i, indicating that 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulated both the release of intracellular calcium stores and calcium influx. 1,25-(OH)2D3 caused a dose-dependent decrease in pHi in CaCo-2 cells, as assessed by the fluorescent dye BCECF, which was not observed in cells suspended in Na(+)-free buffer or pretreated with amiloride, indicating that the secosteroid inhibited Na(+)-H+ exchange. No effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on pHi was observed in cells in a Ca(2+)-free buffer or pretreated with the phospholipase-C inhibitor U-73,122, which also blocked the rise in [Ca2+]i, or in cells pretreated with the Ca2+/calmodulin inhibitor calmidazolium. Taken together, these studies indicate that 1,25-(OH)2D3 rapidly stimulates membrane phosphoinositide breakdown in CaCo-2 cells, generating the second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, causing translocation of protein kinase-C to the membrane, and increasing [Ca2+]i by both releasing calcium stores and promoting calcium influx. Secondary to the rise in [Ca2+]i, Na(+)-H+ exchange is inhibited by a calcium/calmodulin-dependent pathway.

Amiloride

Metabolism of oxygenated derivatives of arachidonic acid by Caco-2 cells.

Monolayers of Caco-2 cells, a human enterocyte cell line, were incubated separately with 3H8-labeled preparations of three different lipid mediators of inflammation: 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and leukotriene B4. Both [3H8]5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and [3H8]12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids were taken up and metabolized by Caco-2 cells, but [3H]leukotriene B4 remained unmetabolized in the incubation medium. [3H]5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was esterified into cellular phospholipids (15%) and triglycerides (4%) but did not undergo beta-oxidation. When [3H]12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was incubated with Caco-2 cells, 14% underwent two cycles of beta-oxidation to form [3H]8-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid, and 3% underwent three cycles of beta-oxidation to form [3H]6-hydroxytetradecadienoic acid, both of which were released into the media. [3H]12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid was also esterified into cellular phospholipids (13%), but none was esterified into cellular triglycerides.

Adenocarcinoma

The cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor is not involved in the polarized secretion of lysosomal alpha-glucosidase from Caco-2 cells.

In the human adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 a substantial amount of a precursor form of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-glucosidase is not segregated into lysosomes, but instead secreted from the apical membrane. In this study we addressed the question whether this process is mediated by mannose 6-phosphate receptors. The subcellular distribution of the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor was studied by means of electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. The bulk of label was found in the perinuclear region in electron-lucent and dense vesicles, some of the latter bearing a coat. Receptor-containing dense vesicles were also found throughout the cytoplasm. In the apical part of the cells, label for the receptor was present over the surrounding membrane and the interior vesicles of multivesicular bodies, but not over lysosomes. Label on the plasma membrane was mainly restricted to the apical domain. In contrast to alpha-glucosidase, the secreted forms of the lysosomal enzymes cathepsin D, beta-hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase are mainly found in the basolateral medium. Enzyme activity measurements and immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cells showed that incubation with NH4Cl leads to an enhanced secretion of these enzymes into the basolateral medium, but has no effect on the basolateral secretion of alpha-glucosidase. In addition, NH4Cl caused a minor decrease in the secretion of these enzymes from the apical side and had little or no effect on the secretion of alpha-glucosidase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ammonium Chloride

The post-synthetic sorting of endogenous membrane proteins examined by the simultaneous purification of apical and basolateral plasma membrane fractions from Caco-2 cells.

A subcellular fractionation method to isolate simultaneously apical and basolateral plasma membrane fractions from the human adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2, grown on filter supports, is described. The method employs sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and differential precipitation. The apical membrane fraction was enriched 14-fold in sucrase-isomaltase and 21-fold in 5'-nucleotidase compared with the homogenate. The basolateral membrane fraction was enriched 20-fold relative to the homogenate in K(+)-stimulated p-nitrophenylphosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase was enriched 15-fold in the apical membrane fraction and 3-fold in the basolateral membrane fraction. Analytical density-gradient centrifugation showed that this enzyme was a true constituent of both fractions, and experiments measuring alkaline phosphatase release following treatment with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C showed that in both membrane fractions the enzyme was glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked. There was very little contamination of either membrane fraction by marker enzymes of the Golgi complex, mitochondria or lysosomes. Both membrane fractions were greater than 10-fold purified with respect to the endoplasmic reticulum marker enzyme alpha-glucosidase. Protein composition analysis of purified plasma membrane fractions together with domain-specific cell surface biotinylation experiments revealed the presence of both common and unique integral membrane proteins in each plasma membrane domain. The post-synthetic transport of endogenous integral plasma membrane proteins was examined using the devised subcellular fractionation procedure in conjunction with pulse-chase labelling experiments and immunoprecipitation. Five common integral membrane proteins immunoprecipitated by an antiserum raised against a detergent extract of the apical plasma membrane fraction were delivered with the same time course to each cell-surface domain.

Adenocarcinoma

Functional characterization of DPP4 and FcRn as receptor and coreceptor for classical human astroviruses in Caco-2 cells.

Classical human astroviruses (HAstV) are a global cause of viral gastroenteritis, particularly in children and immunocompromised individuals. Despite their clinical significance, the biology of HAstV remains poorly understood. In particular, the identification of cellular receptors and coreceptors has been elusive. Recent studies have identified the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) as a functional receptor and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) as an entry factor for HAstV. However, the precise roles of FcRn and DPP4 during HAstV infection are unknown. To learn about their function, we used FcRn-knockout (KO), DPP4-KO, and FcRn/DPP4 double-KO Caco-2 cells generated via CRISPR/Cas9. Our results showed that DPP4 serves as the receptor for classical HAstV. In contrast, infectious virus assays and confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed that FcRn acts as a coreceptor, facilitating viral internalization and the release of the RNA genome. The half-time for HAstV-1 genome uncoating was delayed threefold in FcRn-KO Caco-2 cells compared to WT cells. Additionally, the characterization of HAstV-8 variants with reduced FcRn binding capacity allowed the identification of two amino acids in the viral capsid spike protein, D471 and N512, critical for the spike-FcRn interaction. These amino acid residues are part of the epitope footprint of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (Nt-MAbs) to HAstV previously mapped by X-ray crystallography. Further experiments using virus infectivity and attachment assays, along with Nt-MAbs targeting HAstV-1, suggest that the binding sites for FcRn and DPP4 are spatially proximal on the viral spike, defining a functional domain for cell infection. Notably, the infectivity of the divergent HAstV-VA1 was independent of these two proteins, highlighting the receptor variability across HAstV clades. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of HAstV infection, offering relevant implications for the development of antiviral therapies and vaccines targeting this significant human pathogen.

Humans

Modulation of cellular phospholipid fatty acids and leukotriene B4 synthesis in the human intestinal cell (CaCo-2).

The ability of a human colonocyte epithelial cell line (CaCo-2) to synthesise leukotriene B4 was examined. In addition, the effects of stimulation with calcium ionophore, inhibition by a drug which specifically prevents activation of 5-lipoxygenase, and modification of the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids on leukotriene B4 synthesis were assessed. Incubation with calcium ionophore (A23187) resulted in a dose and time dependent increase in leukotriene B4 synthesis. After cell phospholipids had been enriched with oleic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid, leukotriene B4 synthesis was found to be increased 3.2-fold, 5.5-fold, and 6.1-fold above control. Treatment with MK-886 inhibited leukotriene B4 synthesis by 79% to 94% in the various groups. Variations in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of intestinal epithelial cells could be important in the modulation of cellular responses. We have shown for the first time in this human intestinal epithelial cell its ability to synthesise leukotriene B4. In addition, leukotriene B4 synthesis can be modulated by the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids, which can be altered by dietary fatty acids. The synthesis of chemotatic factors, such as leukotriene B4, by the mucosal epithelium may contribute to the recruitment of granulocytes into the colonic mucosa and across the epithelium, giving rise to the crypt abscesses which characterise ulcerative colitis.

Calcimycin

Serum regulates Na+/H+ exchange in Caco-2 cells by a mechanism which is dependent on F-actin.

Regulation of Na+/H+ exchange by fetal bovine serum was studied in Caco-2 cells, an established cell line derived from a human colon carcinoma. Cells were grown as polarized monolayers on collagen-coated filters and intracellular pH measured fluorometrically with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxymethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein. Na+/H+ exchange was reduced 64% when cells were deprived of serum for 4 h. In contrast to other cell types, readdition of serum for 10 min did not activate Na+/H+ exchange; however, readdition of serum for 4 h restored Na+/H+ exchange to control values. This long-term effect of serum on Na+/H+ exchange activity could not be explained by changes in intracellular buffering capacity or intracellular [Na+]. 4-h serum deprivation reduced the K(t) of the exchanger for external Na+ from 21 to 6 mM, and reduced the V(max) by 57%, but did not alter the IC50 for amiloride in the presence of 140 mM Na+. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (5 microM) did not alter the effect of serum removal or readdition on Na+/H+ exchange. Low temperature (13 degrees C) completely prevented the inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange caused by the removal of serum. In addition, once Na+/H+ exchange was inhibited by serum removal at 37 degrees C, maintaining cells at 13 degrees C also blocked the recovery of Na+/H+ exchange caused by serum readdition. Conversely, cytochalasin D (0.1-20 microM) blocked the reduction of Na+/H+ exchange which occurred due to 4-h serum deprivation, but did not block the restoration of Na+/H+ exchange when the cells were re-exposed to serum for a further 4 h. Colchicine (20 microM) did not alter the effect of serum removal or readdition. These data suggest that serum regulates Na+/H+ exchange activity by a posttranslational mechanism which is dependent on F-actin.

Actins

A survey of membrane peptidases in two human colonic cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29.

The expression of cell-surface peptidases was examined in two human colon carcinoma cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29. Enzymic assays revealed the presence of eight cell-surface peptidases on a Caco-2 cell line (passage number 82-88), namely aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, peptidyl dipeptidase A (angiotension-converting enzyme), aminopeptidase P, aminopeptidase W, endopeptidase-24.11, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and membrane dipeptidase. The presence of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and endopeptidase-24.11 was also confirmed immunochemically. After 15 days culture, the activities of aminopeptidase P, peptidyl dipeptidase A and alkaline phosphatase activities on Caco-2 cells reached a plateau, and that of membrane dipeptidase began to decline. In contrast, aminopeptidase N, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and endopeptidase-24.11 activities were still rising after 26 days in culture. Caco-2 cells of passage number 181-183 were found to lack endopeptidase-24.11, but maintained dipeptidyl peptidase IV expression. Two populations of HT-29 cells were surveyed. Both the standard, undifferentiated population and a differentiated population expressed only three peptidases: dipeptidyl peptidase IV, aminopeptidase W and carboxypeptidase M. In the differentiated HT-29 cells the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV after 14-21 days was beginning to plateau whereas aminopeptidase W activity was still rising and that of carboxypeptidase M had begun to decline. These differences in activity profiles observed among this group of cell-surface peptidases indicate that these cell lines, especially Caco-2, are useful models to study the regulation of their expression.

Aminopeptidases

Differential expression and regulation of ADAD1, DMRTC2, PRSS54, SYCE1, SYCP1, TEX101, TEX48, and TMPRSS12 gene profiles in colon cancer tissues and their in vitro response to epigenetic drugs.

Colon cancer (CC) is a significant cause of death worldwide, particularly in Saudi Arabia. To increase the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment, it is important to discover new specific biomarkers for CC. The main objectives of this research are to identify potential specific biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CC by analyzing the expressions of eight cancer testis (CT) genes, as well as to analyze how epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of these genes in CC cell lines. Tissue samples were collected from 15 male patients with CC tissues and matched NC tissues for gene expression analysis. The expression levels of specific CT genes, including ADAD1, DMRTC2, PRSS54, SYCE1, SYCP1, TEX101, TEX48, and TMPRSS12, were assessed using quantitative techniques. To validate the gene expression patterns, we used publicly available CC statistics. To investigate the effect of inhibition of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation on CT gene expression, in vitro experiments were performed using HCT116 and Caco-2 cell lines. There was no detected expression of the genes neither in the patient samples nor in NC tissues, except for TEX48, which exhibited upregulation in CC samples compared to NC tissues in online datasets. Notably, CT genes showed expression in testis samples. In vitro, experiments demonstrated significant enhancement in mRNA expression levels of ADAD1, DMRTC2, PRSS54, SYCE1, SYCP1, TEX101, TEX48, and TMPRSS12 following treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A in HCT116 and Caco-2 cell lines. Epigenetic treatments modify the expression of CT genes, indicating that these genes can potentially be used as biomarkers for CC. The importance of conducting further research to understand and target epigenetic mechanisms to improve CC treatment cannot be overemphasized.

Humans

Screening, isolation, and identification of Latilactobacillus sakei strains from kimchi with potential probiotic properties.

UNLABELLED: The study aimed to screen 40 lactic acid bacterial isolates from kimchi types to isolate Latilactobacillus (L.) sakei strains for their probiotic potential. Based on random amplified polymorphic DNA-based initial screening, 16 S rRNA-based phylogeny, and species-specific PCR, three sakei strains (RKA, RKC, and TAB) were selected for evaluating their probiotic and functional attributes. The selected strains demonstrated probiotic characteristics, including acid tolerance (33-85%), bile salt tolerance (49-68%), cell surface hydrophobicity with ethyl acetate (11.5-25.6%) and hexane (21.0-47.4%), and auto-aggregation (12.6-44.0%). The safety of strains was assessed by γ-hemolytic activity and susceptibility to most tested antibiotics, including carbenicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline, with resistance to cefoxitin and metronidazole. Both crude and cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of selected strains were tested for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, as well as for cytotoxic effects against human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells. CFSs displayed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 34.1-37.9% and 41.6-43.1%, whereas the crude ranged from 3.9 to 8.7% and 11.0-17.3%, respectively, supported by the presence of the sod and katA genes. All strains showed good resistance to hydrogen peroxide at various concentrations. Notably, RKC showed superior antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, compared to RKA and TAB. No significant cytotoxicity was observed in Caco-2 cells. In summary, these findings indicate the probiotic potential of L. sakei isolates and the preliminary functional properties of their CFSs; further genome-based characterization of selected strains is warranted. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-026-04978-7.

Antimicrobial

Common xenobiotics modulate gut microbial responses to low‑calorie sweeteners in vitro.

The gut microbiota is implicated in adverse effects associated with low-calorie sweeteners. Yet, the direct impact of sweeteners on gut bacteria remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we report interactions between 25 phylogenetically diverse gut bacterial strains and 39 commercially used sweeteners. We tested these sweeteners individually and in combination with four commonly co-consumed compounds, viz., advantame, caffeine, vanillin, and duloxetine. Three-quarters of the tested sweeteners individually impacted the growth of at least one tested bacterial strain. Further, over 100 interactions were found between sweeteners and the four co-consumed compounds. Isosteviol, a commonly used sweetener-component, and duloxetine, an antidepressant, synergistically inhibited Roseburia intestinalis, a bacterium previously linked to glucose homeostasis, and Parabacteroides merdae, a prevalent commensal linked to healthy microbiota. Proteomic, metabolomic, and genetic analyses indicate altered small molecule transport underpinning this sweetener-drug synergy. The isosteviol-duloxetine combination also modulated metabolism of a synthetic gut bacterial community, leading to increased toxicity to HeLa cells and altered secretion of inflammation-modulatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 by Caco-2 cells. Our data warrant further studies on interactions between low-calorie sweeteners and common xenobiotics.

Humans

Olive leaf protein hydrolysates yield gastro-resistant peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential: peptidomics, in vitro validation and molecular docking analyses.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves are an abundant olive-oil by-product and a promising feedstock for sustainable valorisation. An olive leaf protein isolate (OLPI) from olive-leaf powder (OLP) was enzymatically hydrolysed to yield seven hydrolysates (OLPHs). All showed notable antioxidant activity as whole hydrolysate matrices (EC₅₀ = 0.11-0.28 mg mL-1); likely reflecting the combined contribution of released peptides and co-extracted phenolic compounds; the 15-min Alcalase product (OLPH15A) showed high activity with the shortest processing time. Its INFOGEST digest (dOLPH15A) attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in Caco-2 cells, down-regulating pro-inflammatory and up-regulating anti-inflammatory genes. Peptidomics identified 7037 peptides in OLPH15A and 534 in dOLPH15A, from which twenty gastro-resistant sequences were prioritised for in silico analysis. Multi-tool prediction and docking highlighted four peptides, GAAGGIGQPL, QSAYPGTGPL, GGGAGGGDGGIL and LDAQFPGVN, with favourable predicted affinity for the TLR4/MD2 complex, suggesting that they may contribute to the observed immunomodulatory response. These findings position olive leaves as a viable source of protein hydrolysate-based ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, advancing the valorisation of olive-oil by-products.

Olea

Comprehensive In Vitro, Genomic, Microbiota, and Subacute Toxicological Safety Characterization of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATA-LPC98052.

BACKGROUND: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a widely studied probiotic species; however, probiotic characteristics and safety profiles are strain-specific, requiring independent evaluation. This study characterized Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATA-LPC98052 as a candidate probiotic raw material. METHODS: ATA-LPC98052 was evaluated for hemolysis, acid/bile tolerance, Caco-2 adhesion, cytotoxicity, and storage stability. Subacute oral safety was assessed in Wistar rats by gavage for 28 days at 1.2 × 1011 CFU/kg/day; the study design incorporated selected principles of OECD Test Guideline 407. Clinical, hematological, biochemical, organ-weight, and macroscopic endpoints were evaluated. Fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing; WGS was used for taxonomic confirmation and genomic safety screening. RESULTS: ATA-LPC98052 was γ-hemolytic and maintained 60% viability at pH 1.5 and 96% at pH 5.0, while viability ranged from 74% to 82% across 0.1-0.5% bile salt concentrations. Caco-2 cell viability was 99%, adhesion exceeded 90%, and the lyophilized preparation remained stable for 15 months, maintaining 9.6 log10 CFU/g. Repeated oral administration caused no mortality or consistent treatment-related toxicological pattern. Longitudinal microbiota analysis showed no significant treatment × time effects on alpha diversity or Bray-Curtis community structure, and no genus-level MaAsLin2 association was FDR-significant. WGS confirmed L. plantarum identity and no contamination; ResFinder detected no acquired antimicrobial resistance determinants meeting specified thresholds, whereas CARD/RGI identified low-identity qacJ and vanY homologs requiring cautious interpretation. CONCLUSION: ATA-LPC98052 demonstrated favorable in vitro probiotic characteristics, technological stability, gut microbiota-modulating potential, and a favorable subacute safety profile under the tested conditions; however, microbiota findings were exploratory, and phenotypic MIC testing remains warranted.

Animals

Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. induces intestinal toxicity through the histamine-MLCK-tight junction axis: Integrated evidence from proteomics, metabolomics, intestinal organoids and epithelial barrier validation.

Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. (PR) is a saponin-rich medicinal plant associated with gastrointestinal toxicity, but the mechanisms underlying PR-induced intestinal barrier injury remain unclear. In this study, raw PR extract was analytically characterized by UPLC-ZenoTOF-MS/MS, confirming triterpenoid saponins as the predominant constituents. C57BL/6 J mice were orally exposed to characterized PR extract (1.20 or 12.0 g/kg for 5 h), and Caco-2 cells and mouse intestinal organoids were used to assess epithelial toxicity and barrier disruption. Histopathology, ELISA, FITC-dextran permeability assays, immunofluorescence, CCK-8, LDH release, western blotting, DIA-based proteomics and untargeted metabolomics were integrated to define toxicological mechanisms. PR induced dose-dependent intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction, with the ileum as the most sensitive target. PR increased serum DAO and D-lactate and intestinal TNF-α and IL-1β, disrupted organoid morphology, enhanced epithelial permeability, and reduced ZO-1 expression. Proteomics revealed changes in inflammatory, lipid-metabolic, cytoskeletal and tight-junction pathways, including upregulation of MLCK3 and phospholipase-related proteins and downregulation of ZO-1 and ZO-2. Metabolomics identified histidine metabolism disturbance and histamine accumulation. Integrated multi-omics and pharmacological validation indicated that histamine activated the PLC/IP₃/Ca²⁺/CaM/MLCK cascade, promoting MLC phosphorylation, tight-junction disassembly and epithelial leakiness. MLCK inhibition partially restored ZO-1/ZO-2 expression and attenuated PR-induced epithelial injury. These findings identify the histamine-MLCK-tight junction axis as a key mechanism of PR-induced intestinal toxicity and support hazard identification of saponin-rich PR exposure.

Animals

Expression of receptors for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli during enterocytic differentiation of human polarized intestinal epithelial cells in culture.

To study the expression of human intestinal receptors for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), the human polarized intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 in culture and several subpopulations of HT-29 cells in culture--parental (mainly undifferentiated) HT-29 cells (HT-29 Std), an enterocytelike subpopulation obtained by selection through glucose deprivation (HT-29 Glc-), and an enterocytelike subpopulation obtained by selection through glucose deprivation which maintains its differentiation characteristics when switched back to standard glucose-containing medium (HT-29 Glc-/+)--were used. Since Caco-2 spontaneously differentiated in culture under standard culture conditions (in the presence of glucose) and HT-29 cells were undifferentiated when cultured under standard conditions (HT-29 Std) and differentiated when grown in a glucose-free medium (HT-29 Glc-), we studied the expression of the receptors for colonization factor antigens (CFA) I, II, and III and the 2230 antigen of ETEC in relation to enterocytic differentiation. We provide evidence that expression of ETEC CFA receptors develops in parallel with other differentiation functions of the cultured cells. The expression of ETEC-specific brush border receptors was studied by indirect immunofluorescence using antibodies raised against purified ETEC CFA. No ETEC receptors were detected in HT-29 Std or short-term-cultured Caco-2 cells. However, among the population of HT-29 Std cells, 2 to 4% of the cells were found to bind ETEC, and these cells expressed positive carcinoembryonic antigen immunoreactivity. This indicated that among the population of undifferentiated HT-29 cells, clusters of differentiated cells were present. ETEC CFA receptors were expressed in the apical and basolateral domains of differentiated HT-29 cells, whereas in differentiated Caco-2 cells only apical expression was observed. Both in HT-29 cells (HT-29 Glc-/+) and in Caco-2 cells cultured under standard conditions, ETEC CFA receptors develop as a function of day in culture. This indicated that the expression of the ETEC CFA receptors was a growth-related event. Indeed, ETEC CFA receptors developed in step with the apical expression of differentiation-associated proteins.

Antigens, Bacterial

Novel environmental contaminant 6PPD-quinone promotes malignant phenotypes in colorectal cancer cells and identifies candidate response-associated genes.

6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), an oxidative transformation product of the widely used tire antioxidant 6PPD, is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with bioaccumulation potential and widespread human exposure. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates a positive association between urinary 6PPDQ levels and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk; however, its biological effects on CRC-related phenotypes and associated molecular responses remain unclear. We integrated bioinformatics analysis, prognostic modeling, molecular docking and dynamics simulations, and in vitro experiments to investigate cellular and molecular responses to 6PPDQ in CRC models. Predicted 6PPDQ targets were intersected with CRC prognosis-related genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas, followed by functional enrichment and LASSO regression to construct a prognostic risk model, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year AUC values of 0.727, 0.754, and 0.778, respectively. Molecular docking and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations suggested interactions between 6PPDQ and candidate proteins, including CPT2, SHC2, SRMS, and STK35. Functional assays showed that 6PPDQ exposure altered proliferation, wound-closure capacity, and invasion in Caco-2 and HCT116 cells across the nanomolar concentration range, with non-monotonic and cell-line-dependent responses. In contrast, NCM460 cells showed no increase in EdU incorporation at 10 or 100 nM, whereas reduced proliferation at higher concentrations was accompanied by increased LDH release. 6PPDQ also altered the expression of several prognosis-associated candidate genes. These findings identify cellular phenotypes and candidate molecular responses associated with 6PPDQ exposure under the tested in vitro conditions, but do not establish their causal roles or in vivo relevance. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are required.

Humans

Atriopeptins and Escherichia coli enterotoxin STa have different sites of action in mammalian intestine.

Studies with Escherichia coli-induced heat-stable enterotoxin (STa), an activator of intestinal particulate guanylate cyclase, have established an independent role for cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) as an intracellular mediator of intestinal salt and water secretion. The present study addressed whether atriopeptins (APs), known activators of particulate guanylate cyclase in other tissues, function as physiological agonists for cGMP-linked Cl- secretion in intestine. APs, in contrast to STa, caused no or only minor changes in cGMP levels in freshly isolated rat intestinal villus and crypt cells and in cultured human colon carcinoma cell lines (HT29glc-, CaCo-2, and T84). Conversely, APs, but not STa, induced a large increase in intracellular cGMP levels in the undifferentiated small intestinal cell lines IEC-6, IEC-18, and INT407. Addition of AP II (atrial natriuretic peptide fragment 5-27) to stripped mucosa of rat proximal colon in Ussing chambers caused a transient increase in the transepithelial potential difference (PD), which most likely represents an increase in Cl- secretion. In contrast, a sustained increase in PD was observed in response to STa or 8Br-cGMP. The AP II-provoked increase in PD was blocked by the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin. Immunohistochemical detection of cGMP in this tissue provided evidence for a different localization pattern of cells responding with an increase in cGMP levels to STa (colonocytes and goblet cells) or AP (specific cells in the submucosa) in rat proximal colon. This indicates that APs, unlike STa, do not directly stimulate the colonic epithelial cells but possibly provoke Cl- secretion by release of a neurotransmitter in the submucosa.

Animals

Presence and cell growth-related variations of glycogen in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines in culture.

The presence and kinetics of intracellular glycogen levels were studied, in relationship to cell growth, in asynchronous and in synchronized cultures of four human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (HT-29, HRT-18, SW-480, and Caco-2). The results show that a specific pattern of glycogen accumulation occurs during the process of cell growth of the studied cell lines. The kinetics of glycogen accumulation in asynchronous cultures were similar from one cell line to another and were characterized by a low amount in the exponential phase of growth, followed by a 3- to 4-fold increase in the stationary phase. The quantities found in either phase were specific for each cell line. The maximum values found in Caco-2, HRT-18, HT-29, and SW-480 cells were, respectively, 258.5 +/- 6.9 (S.D.), 88.9 +/- 2.6, 87.5 +/- 3, and 17.5 +/- 1.8 microgram of glycogen per mg of proteins. The kinetics of glycogen accumulation during the cell cycle was also studied in synchronized cultures of HT-29 and HRT-18 cell lines. Both cell lines exhibited a common pattern of low glycogen quantities during S, G2, and M followed by an increase beginning with G1 and peaking (2.5 to 3 times the initial values) in the middle of this phase. This was followed by a symmetrical decrease in the second half of G1.

Adenocarcinoma