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TiO 2 Nanoparticles and Commensal Bacteria Alter Mucus Layer Thickness and Composition in a Gastrointestinal Tract Model
Author(s) -
Limage Rhodesherdeline,
Tako Elad,
Kolba Nikolai,
Guo Zhongyuan,
GarcíaRodríguez Alba,
Marques Cláudia N. H.,
Mahler Gretchen J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.202000601
Subject(s) - mucus , mucin , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , gastrointestinal tract , lactobacillus rhamnosus , chemistry , escherichia coli , biology , biophysics , biochemistry , lactobacillus , genetics , gene , ecology
Nanoparticles (NPs) are used in food packaging and processing and have become an integral part of many commonly ingested products. There are few studies that have focused on the interaction between ingested NPs, gut function, the mucus layer, and the gut microbiota. In this work, an in vitro model of gastrointestinal (GI) tract is used to determine whether, and how, the mucus layer is affected by the presence of Gram‐positive, commensal Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Gram‐negative, opportunistic Escherichia coli ; and/or exposure to physiologically relevant doses of pristine or digested TiO 2 NPs. Caco‐2/HT29‐MTX‐E12 cell monolayers are exposed to physiological concentrations of bacteria (expressing fluorescent proteins) and/or TiO 2 nanoparticles for a period of 4 h. To determine mucus thickness and composition, cell monolayers are stained with alcian blue, periodic acid schiff, or an Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate of wheat germ agglutinin. It is found that the presence of both bacteria and nanoparticles alter the thickness and composition of the mucus layer. Changes in the distribution or pattern of mucins can be indicative of pathological conditions, and this model provides a platform for understanding how bacteria and/or NPs may interact with and alter the mucus layer.