Mucus blocks probiotics but increases penetration of motile pathogens and induces TNF-α and IL-8 secretion.

ABSTRACT: The mucosal barrier in combination with innate immune system are the first line of defense against luminal bacteria at the intestinal mucosa. Dysfunction of the mucus layer and bacterial infiltration are linked to tissue inflammation and disease. To study host-bacterial interactions at the mucosal interface, we created an experimental model that contains luminal space, a mucus layer, an epithelial layer, and suspended immune cells. Reconstituted porcine small intestinal mucus formed an 880 ± 230 µm thick gel layer and had a porous structure. In the presence of mucus, sevenfold less probiotic and nonmotile VSL#3 bacteria transmigrated across the epithelial barrier compared to no mucus. The higher bacterial transmigration caused immune cell differentiation and increased the concentration of

SUBMITTER: Sharma A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7806204 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature