Vitamin d reverses disruption of gut epithelial barrier function caused by campylobacter jejuni

Lobo de Sá FD, Backert S, Nattramilarasu PK, Mousavi S, Sandle GI, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM, Schulzke JD, Bücker R (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

International Journal of Molecular Sciences MDPI

Book Volume: 22

Article Number: 8872

Journal Issue: 16

DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168872

Abstract

Infections by the zoonotic foodborne bacterium Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) are among the most frequent causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between epithelial barrier disruption, mucosal immune activation, and vitamin D (VD) treatment during C. jejuni infection, using intestinal epithelial cells and mouse models focused on the interaction of C. jejuni with the VD signaling pathway and VD treatment to improve C. jejuni-induced barrier dysfunction. Our RNA-Seq data from campylobacteriosis patients demonstrate inhibition of VD receptor (VDR) downstream targets, consistent with suppression of immune function. Barrierpreserving effects of VD addition were identified in C. jejuni-infected epithelial cells and IL-10−/− mice. Furthermore, interference of C. jejuni with the VDR pathway was shown via VDR/retinoid X receptor (RXR) interaction. Paracellular leakiness of infected epithelia correlated with tight junction (TJ) protein redistribution off the TJ domain and apoptosis induction. Supplementation with VD reversed barrier impairment and prevented inhibition of the VDR pathway, as shown by restoration of transepithelial electrical resistance and fluorescein (332 Da) permeability. We conclude that VD treatment restores gut epithelial barrier functionality and decreases bacterial transmigration and might, therefore, be a promising compound for C. jejuni treatment in humans and animals.

Authors with CRIS profile

Steffen Backert Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie

Involved external institutions

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin DE Germany (DE) St James's University Hospital GB United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Lobo de Sá, F.D., Backert, S., Nattramilarasu, P.K., Mousavi, S., Sandle, G.I., Bereswill, S.,... Bücker, R. (2021). Vitamin d reverses disruption of gut epithelial barrier function caused by campylobacter jejuni. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(16). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168872

MLA:

Lobo de Sá, Fábia D., et al. "Vitamin d reverses disruption of gut epithelial barrier function caused by campylobacter jejuni." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22.16 (2021).

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