Campylobacter jejuni impairs sodium transport and epithelial barrier function via cytokine release in human colon

Mucosal Immunol. 2018 Mar;11(2):474-485. doi: 10.1038/mi.2017.66. Epub 2017 Aug 2.

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is the most prevalent cause of foodborne bacterial enteritis worldwide. Patients present with diarrhea and immune responses lead to complications like arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome. Although studies exist in animal and cell models, we aimed at a functional and structural characterization of intestinal dysfunction and the involved regulatory mechanisms in human colon. First, in patients' colonic biopsies, sodium malabsorption was identified as an important diarrheal mechanism resulting from hampered epithelial ion transport via impaired epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) β- and γ-subunit. In addition, barrier dysfunction from disrupted epithelial tight junction proteins (claudin-1, -3, -4, -5, and -8), epithelial apoptosis, and appearance of lesions was detected, which cause leak-flux diarrhea and can perpetuate immune responses. Importantly, these effects in human biopsies either represent direct action of Campylobacter jejuni (ENaC impairment) or are caused by proinflammatory signaling (barrier dysfunction). This was revealed by regulator analysis from RNA-sequencing (cytometric bead array-checked) and confirmed in cell models, which identified interferon-γ, TNFα, IL-13, and IL-1β. Finally, bioinformatics' predictions yielded additional information on protective influences like vitamin D, which was confirmed in cell models. Thus, these are candidates for intervention strategies against C. jejuni infection and post-infectious sequelae, which result from the permissive barrier defect along the leaky gut.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apoptosis
  • Campylobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colon / immunology*
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Computational Biology
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Enteritis / immunology*
  • Enteritis / microbiology
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Ion Transport
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / immunology*
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sodium / metabolism*
  • Tight Junction Proteins / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Tight Junction Proteins
  • Vitamin D
  • Sodium