Project description:Microarray analysis of mouse colon organoids after the removal of inflammatory reagents following long-term treatment with inflammatory reagents.
Project description:Human colon organoids were maintained in culture medium alone or exposed to lipopolysaccharide with a combination of three pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1b and interferon-g [LPS-cytokines]) to mimic the environment in the inflamed colon. Untreated organoids and those exposed to LPS-cytokines were concomitantly treated with a multi-mineral product that has previously been shown to improve barrier structure/function. The organoids were subjected to proteomic analysis to obtain a broad view of the protein changes induced by these interventions. In parallel, confocal fluorescence microscopy and trans-epithelial electrical resistance measurements were used to assess barrier structure/function. The LPS-cytokines altered expression of multiple proteins that influence innate immunity and promote inflammation. Most of these were unaffected by the multi-mineral intervention, though a subset of inflammation-related proteins including fibrinogen-b and -g chains, phospholipase A2 and SPARC was down-regulated in the presence of the multi-mineral intervention; another subset of proteins with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or anti-microbial activity was up-regulated by multi-mineral treatment. When used alone, the multi-mineral intervention strongly up-regulated proteins that contribute to barrier formation and tissue strength. Concomitant treatment with LPS-cytokines did not inhibit barrier formation in response to the multi-mineral intervention.
Project description:Introduction: Aquamin, a multi-mineral product derived from fossilized red marine algae, has been shown to improve colon barrier structure and function. Mesalamine is commonly used as maintenance therapy for patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) or those in remission. Our long-term aim is to evaluate if Aquamin can be part of a UC maintenance regimen, examining potential complementary efficacy or synergy with Mesalamine, as well as any possible drug interactions. Methods: Human colon organoids were maintained under controlled conditions or exposed to a pro-inflammatory stimulus to mimic the environment in mild-to-moderate UC. Organoids were treated with Aquamin alone, Mesalamine alone, or the two agents in combination for 14 days. At the end of the treatment period, proteomic analysis was conducted to evaluate protein changes induced by the two agents (individually and in combination). Results: Colon organoids treated with Aquamin or Mesalamine exhibited distinct protein expression profiles. Aquamin enhanced the expression of colon barrier proteins (e.g., cadherin-17 and desmoglein-2). Mesalamine by itself had minimal impact on these moieties; when present with Aquamin, it did not alter Aquamin’s response. By itself, treatment with Mesalamine alone resulted in up-regulation of basement membrane proteins; the combination of Aquamin and Mesalamine was more effective than either alone. In contrast to these results, Mesalamine up-regulated numerous proteins directly related to inflammation including members of the complement and clotting/fibrinolytic cascades. These were down-regulated with Aquamin. When the two agents were utilized in combination, changes in the expression of inflammation-related proteins resembled the profile seen with Mesalamine alone more than the profile obtained with Aquamin. Of interest, the presence of a pro-inflammatory stimulus further highlighted the unique responses to the two interventions, with Mesalamine aligning more closely with the pro-inflammatory stimulus in its effect on the expression of inflammation-associated proteins. Conclusion: The data presented here suggest that the induction of barrier proteins by Aquamin would not be counteracted by the concomitant presence of Mesalamine. The current studies also found no evidence to suggest that the presence of Aquamin would interfere with the capacity of Mesalamine to alter the expression of proteins that are part of the anti-inflammatory shield.
Project description:To profile transcriptomic alterations induced by catecholamine stimulation, we treated ApcΔ/Δ, KrasG12D/Δ, Trp53Δ/Δ mouse colon cancer organoids with norepinephrine or vehicle and then performed RNA sequencing.