Abstract
Background
The intestinal mucus layer serves as a critical interface between the environment and the host. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly ulcerative colitis, exhibit reduced synthesis and secretion of the mucus protein MUC2 and decreased mucus thickness. This in turn promotes immune activation and inflammation. The clinical relevance of the mucus layer emphasizes the need to address strategies to modulate this barrier. Although bifidobacteria represent only 3–6% of the healthy adult fecal microbiota, their presence has been associated with numerous health benefits, including bolstering mucus production. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these positive effects appear to be strain-specific and are not well defined. We hypothesized that the human-derived Bifidobacterium dentium would increase intestinal mucus synthesis and expulsion via specific metabolites. We also speculated that modulation of goblet cells would be beneficial during colitis.
Methods & Results
In silico genome analysis revealed that B. dentium lacked the enzymatic repertoire required for degradation of mucin glycans. Consistent with these findings, we found that B. dentium could not use mucin glycans as a primary carbon source in vitro. To examine mucus modulation in vivo, germ-free mice were mono-associated with live or heat-killed B. dentium. Live B. dentium mono-associated mice exhibited increased colonic expression of goblet cell markers Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (Klf4), Relmβ, trefoil factor 3 (Tff3), Muc2, and several mucin glycosyltransferases compared to both heat-killed B. dentium and germ-free counterparts. Likewise, live B. dentium mono-associated colon had increased acidic mucin-filled goblet cells as denoted by MUC2 and PAS-AB staining. In vitro, B. dentium secreted products, including acetate, were able to increase MUC2 levels in T84 cells, mouse colonoids and human colonoids. We also identified that B. dentium secreted products, such as GABA, stimulated autophagy-mediated calcium signaling and MUC2 release. To identify whether B. dentium could enhance MUC2 production in mice harboring a complete microbiota, specific pathogen free mice were treated with live B. dentium by oral gavage. Administration of B. dentium increased the inner mucus layer compared to controls. Moreover, in a TNBS model of colitis, B. dentium treated mice had increased goblet cell numbers and MUC2 mRNA. Mirroring these findings, B. dentium treated mice lost less weight, had improved histology and had decreased levels of TNF, KC (IL-8), and IL-6.
Conclusions
This work illustrates that B. dentium enhances the intestinal mucus layer and goblet cell function via upregulation of gene expression and autophagy signaling pathways with a net increase in mucin production. Ultimately, these pathways may be targeted for the development of novel therapeutics.
Microbial modulation of innate defense: goblet cells and the intestinal mucus layer
