Cited by 118Probiotics and Fermented FoodsInflammatory Bowel DiseaseGastrointestinal motility and disorders

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 63 of the 63 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Probiotic Bacteria Regulate Intestinal Epithelial Permeability in Experimental Ileitis by a TNF-Dependent Mechanism

Open access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that the probiotic mixture, VSL#3, prevents the onset of ileitis in SAMP/YitFc (SAMP) mice, and this effect was associated with stimulation of epithelial-derived TNF. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism(s) of VSL#3-mediated protection on epithelial barrier function and to further investigate the "paradoxical" effects of TNF in preventing SAMP ileitis. METHODS: Permeability was evaluated in SAMP mice prior to the onset of inflammation and during established disease by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) on ex vivo-cultured ilea following exposure to VSL#3 conditioned media (CM), TNF or VSL#3-CM + anti-TNF. Tight junction (TJ) proteins were assessed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and confocal microscopy, and TNFRI/TNFRII expression measured in freshly isolated intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) from SAMP and control AKR mice. RESULTS: Culture with either VSL#3-CM or TNF resulted in decreased ileal paracellular permeability in pre-inflamed SAMP, but not SAMP with established disease, while addition of anti-TNF abrogated these effects. Modulation of the TJ proteins, claudin-2 and occludin, occurred with a significant decrease in claudin-2 and increase in occludin following stimulation with VSL#3-CM or TNF. TNF protein levels increased in supernatants of SAMP ilea incubated with VSL#3-CM compared to vehicle, while IEC-derived TNFR mRNA expression decreased in young, and was elevated in inflamed, SAMP versus AKR mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the previously established efficacy of VSL#3 in preventing SAMP ileitis is due to direct innate and homeostatic effects of TNF on the gut epithelium, modulation of the TJ proteins, claudin-2 and occludin, and overall improvement of intestinal permeability.

Overview

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0042067

Cites

63 of 63 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Figures

Figure 1 VSL#3 decreases epithelial paracellular permeability in a TNF-dependent manner on ilea from pre-inflamed SAMP mice. Epithelial paracellular permeability was assessed by measuring TEER on ex vivo cultured full-thickness ilea from (A), 3- to 4-wk old SAMP, prior to the onset of inflammation, (B), older (>20 wks) SAMP with established ileitis, and age-matched AKR controls at T0 and after 1 h (ΔTEER) exposure to VSL#3-CM or TNF (N = 6/exp grp). **p<0.01 vs. age- and treatment-matched AKR, *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. (C), Addition of a neutralizing antibody against TNF abrogated the positive effects of VSL#3 on ΔTEER in pre-inflamed ilea from young SAMP (N = 7 exp grp). *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. Results are combined from two independent experiments and expressed as mean ± SEM.
Figure 1 VSL#3 decreases epithelial paracellular permeability in a TNF-dependent manner on ilea from pre-inflamed SAMP mice. Epithelial paracellular permeability was assessed by measuring TEER on ex vivo cultured full-thickness ilea from (A), 3- to 4-wk old SAMP, prior to the onset of inflammation, (B), older (>20 wks) SAMP with established ileitis, and age-matched AKR controls at T0 and after 1 h (ΔTEER) exposure to VSL#3-CM or TNF (N = 6/exp grp). **p<0.01 vs. age- and treatment-matched AKR, *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. (C), Addition of a neutralizing antibody against TNF abrogated the positive effects of VSL#3 on ΔTEER in pre-inflamed ilea from young SAMP (N = 7 exp grp). *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. Results are combined from two independent experiments and expressed as mean ± SEM.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Increased ileal innate-type cytokine secretion following VSL3# treatment. Supernatants were collected from cultured ilea that were exposed apically to VSL#3-CM and cytokine protein levels measured as described in Methods and Materials. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 vs. vehicle control or age- and treatment-matched AKR. Results are representative of two independent experiments (N = 6/exp grp) and expressed as mean ± SEM.
Figure 2 Increased ileal innate-type cytokine secretion following VSL3# treatment. Supernatants were collected from cultured ilea that were exposed apically to VSL#3-CM and cytokine protein levels measured as described in Methods and Materials. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 vs. vehicle control or age- and treatment-matched AKR. Results are representative of two independent experiments (N = 6/exp grp) and expressed as mean ± SEM.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 VSL#3 and TNF modulate TJ protein expression in ilea from pre-inflamed SAMP mice. mRNA transcript levels of TJ proteins (claudins 1–4, ZO-1, and occludin) were measured by qRT-PCR and expressed relative to ß-actin in full-thickness ilea from experimental mice following ex vivo culture with either VSL#3-CM or TNF. The greatest differences in expression were seen in claudin-2 (decrease) and occludin (increase) after either VSL#3-CM or TNF stimulation, and in claudin-3 (decrease) after TNF stimulation only. No differences in expression were noted for claudins 1, 4, and ZO-1 following exposure to either VSL#3-CM or TNF. *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. Results are representative of two independent experiments (N = 6/exp group) and expressed as mean ± SEM.
Figure 3 VSL#3 and TNF modulate TJ protein expression in ilea from pre-inflamed SAMP mice. mRNA transcript levels of TJ proteins (claudins 1–4, ZO-1, and occludin) were measured by qRT-PCR and expressed relative to ß-actin in full-thickness ilea from experimental mice following ex vivo culture with either VSL#3-CM or TNF. The greatest differences in expression were seen in claudin-2 (decrease) and occludin (increase) after either VSL#3-CM or TNF stimulation, and in claudin-3 (decrease) after TNF stimulation only. No differences in expression were noted for claudins 1, 4, and ZO-1 following exposure to either VSL#3-CM or TNF. *p<0.05 vs. vehicle cont. Results are representative of two independent experiments (N = 6/exp group) and expressed as mean ± SEM.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Localization and protein expression of epithelial claudin-2 and occludin following in vivo treatment with VSL#3-CM and TNF. (A), Representative confocal images (40X magnification) of ileal loops from young SAMP exposed to either VSL#3-CM, TNF or vehicle control, and immunofluorescent staining performed to detect occludin (upper panels) claudin-2 (lower panels). Epithelial occludin expression potently increased also in the villous tips after either VSL#3-CM or TNF stimulation in SAMP ilea. Claudin-2 primarily localized to the villous tips of SAMP ilea and decreased following VSL#3-CM, and particularly TNF, treatment. Results are representative of two independent experiments. (B), Representative Western blot of unfractionated IEC extracts isolated from SAMP mice treated with high dose VSL#3 showing increased expression of occludin and decreased claudin-2 protein levels compared to control. Results are representative of three independent experiments. (C), Representative Western blots demonstrating increased protein levels of occludin in membrane vs. cytosolic fractions of IEC from SAMP ileal loops treated with either VSL#3 or TNF compared to control. Claudin-2 protein was predominantly expressed in cytosolic vs. membrane fractions, and decreased following treatment with both VSL#3-CM and TNF compared to control. Results are representative of two independent experiments, pooling IEC from N = 3 mice/exp grp.
Figure 4 Localization and protein expression of epithelial claudin-2 and occludin following in vivo treatment with VSL#3-CM and TNF. (A), Representative confocal images (40X magnification) of ileal loops from young SAMP exposed to either VSL#3-CM, TNF or vehicle control, and immunofluorescent staining performed to detect occludin (upper panels) claudin-2 (lower panels). Epithelial occludin expression potently increased also in the villous tips after either VSL#3-CM or TNF stimulation in SAMP ilea. Claudin-2 primarily localized to the villous tips of SAMP ilea and decreased following VSL#3-CM, and particularly TNF, treatment. Results are representative of two independent experiments. (B), Representative Western blot of unfractionated IEC extracts isolated from SAMP mice treated with high dose VSL#3 showing increased expression of occludin and decreased claudin-2 protein levels compared to control. Results are representative of three independent experiments. (C), Representative Western blots demonstrating increased protein levels of occludin in membrane vs. cytosolic fractions of IEC from SAMP ileal loops treated with either VSL#3 or TNF compared to control. Claudin-2 protein was predominantly expressed in cytosolic vs. membrane fractions, and decreased following treatment with both VSL#3-CM and TNF compared to control. Results are representative of two independent experiments, pooling IEC from N = 3 mice/exp grp.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 SAMP ilea differentially express TNFRs, which are essential to the effects of VSL#3-CM and TNF. (A), TNFRI and II mRNA expression measured by qRT-PCR was decreased in freshly isolated IEC from 4-wk-old SAMP prior to the onset of inflammation, but increased in >20-wk-old SAMP with established disease compared to age-matched AKR control mice (N = 6/exp grp). *p<0.05 and **p<0.01. (B), Epithelial paracellular permeability was assessed by measuring ΔTEER on ex vivo cultured full-thickness ilea from mice deficient in both TNFRI and TNFRII (TNFR KO) and WT controls after 1 h exposure to VSL#3-CM or TNF (N = 6/exp grp). *p<0.05 vs. WT vehicle cont.
Figure 5 SAMP ilea differentially express TNFRs, which are essential to the effects of VSL#3-CM and TNF. (A), TNFRI and II mRNA expression measured by qRT-PCR was decreased in freshly isolated IEC from 4-wk-old SAMP prior to the onset of inflammation, but increased in >20-wk-old SAMP with established disease compared to age-matched AKR control mice (N = 6/exp grp). *p<0.05 and **p<0.01. (B), Epithelial paracellular permeability was assessed by measuring ΔTEER on ex vivo cultured full-thickness ilea from mice deficient in both TNFRI and TNFRII (TNFR KO) and WT controls after 1 h exposure to VSL#3-CM or TNF (N = 6/exp grp). *p<0.05 vs. WT vehicle cont.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Citations

Cites

Show all 62 references

Cited by

Sorted by citations

See all 118

Metadata

Authors
Corridoni, D., Pastorelli, L., Mattioli, B., Locovei, S., Ishikawa, D., Arseneau, K. O., Chieppa, M., Cominelli, F., & Pizarro, T. T.
Affiliations
  • Case Western Reserve University (US)
  • Gastroenterology Hospital "Saverio de Bellis" (IT)
Corresponding author
Pizarro, Theresa T.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2012-07-25
Volume
7
Issue
7
Pages
e42067
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2035314723
Cited by
118
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 1
FWCI
15.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • AIRUS (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (MFAG 10684)
  • National Institutes of Health (DK091222,, DK042191, DK055812)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK 091222, DK 055812, P01DK091222, R01DK055812, R01DK056762, R56DK042191, DK042191, R37DK042191, R01DK042191, R56DK055812, DK-056762)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
probiotics, VSL#3, ileitis, intestinal permeability, epithelial barrier function, TNF-α, tight junction proteins, claudin-2, occludin, paracellular permeability, inflammatory bowel disease
MeSH terms
Animals, Bacteria, Gene Expression Regulation, Homeostasis, Ileitis, Intestinal Mucosa, Permeability, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Tight Junctions, Probiotics, Mice

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review