Open AccessThe effects of T4 and A5/80 phages on the expression of immunologically important genes in differentiated Caco-2 cells*
Author(s) -
Jan Borysowski,
Ryszard Międzybrodzki,
Maciej Przybylski,
Barbara Owczarek,
Beata WeberDąbrowska,
Andrzej Górski
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
postępy higieny i medycyny doświadczalnej
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1732-2693
pISSN - 0032-5449
DOI - 10.5604/01.3001.0014.3919
Subject(s) - immune system , biology , gene , gene expression , interleukin 8 , intestinal mucosa , caco 2 , microbiology and biotechnology , regulation of gene expression , cell culture , immunology , inflammation , genetics , medicine
Bacteriophages are an abundant component of the mucosal microbiota in humans and someanimal species. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are the key element responsible for the inductionand regulation of immune responses in the gut mucosa. The objective of this study wasto evaluate the effects of T4 and A5/80 bacteriophages on the expression of immunologicallyimportant genes in Caco-2, a model cell line for IECs.Materials & Method: Bacteriophages were added to cultures of differentiated Caco-2 cells for 12 hours, whilecontrol cultures were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Expression of genes inCaco-2 cells was determined using custom-made RT2 Profiler PCR Arrays, which allow forthe evaluation of gene expression with the sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR. Weevaluated the expression of 21 genes which are important for the immune functions of IECs,including IL1B, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL15, IL18, IL25, IL33, TGFB1, TNF, CXCL8, CCL2, TSLP, FCER2, PIGR, DEFB4A,CAMP, REG3G, TNFSF13, TNFSF13B, and MUC2.Results: Both examined phages significantly influenced the expression of a number of genes comparedwith control cultures. In particular, T4 significantly increased the expression of the CCL2 andDEFB4A genes, while A5/80 induced the expression of the PIGR gene.Discussion: Together with the findings from previous studies, our results suggest that by modulating theexpression of some genes, bacteriophages may affect immune responses in the gut mucosa.