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Planta Med 2022; 88(03/04): 262-273
DOI: 10.1055/a-1510-5802
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers

Establishment of an In Vitro Co-Culture Model of the Piglet Gut to Study Inflammatory Response and Barrier Integrity

Theresa Schott
1   BIOMIN Research Center, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
,
Nicole Reisinger
1   BIOMIN Research Center, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
,
Klaus Teichmann
1   BIOMIN Research Center, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
,
Jürgen König
2   Department of Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Andrea Ladinig
3   Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Elisabeth Mayer
1   BIOMIN Research Center, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft 866384
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Abstract

In intensive farming, piglets are exposed to various challenges that activate intestinal inflammatory processes, negatively affecting animal health and leading to economic losses. To study the role of the inflammatory response on epithelial barrier integrity, co-culture systems that mimic in vivo complexity are more and more preferred over cell monocultures. In this study, an in vitro gut co-culture model consisting of intestinal porcine epithelial cells and porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells was established. The model provides an appropriate tool to study the role of the inflammatory response on epithelial barrier integrity and to screen for feed and food components, exerting beneficial effects on gut health. In the established model, inflammation-like reactions and damage of the epithelial barrier, indicated by a decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance, were elicited by activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells via one of 3 stimuli: lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, or concanavalin A. Two phytogenic substances that are commonly used as feed additives, licorice extract and oregano oil, have been shown to counteract the drop in transepithelial electrical resistance values in the gut co-culture model. The established co-culture model provides a powerful in vitro tool to study the role of intestinal inflammation on epithelial barrier integrity. As it consists of porcine epithelial and porcine blood cells it perfectly mimics in vivo conditions and imitates the inter-organ communication of the piglet gut. The developed model is useful to screen for nutritional components or drugs, having the potential to balance intestinal inflammation and strengthen the epithelial barrier integrity in piglets.

Key words

gut health - intestinal inflammation - intestinal porcine epithelial cells - porcine blood cells - oregano oil - licorice extract

Supporting Information

    This section consists of 4 figures and is available as Supporting Information. The effect of different cultivation media on PBMCs, the effect of LTA/LPS stimulation on cell viability of IPEC-J2 alone or in co-culture with PBMCs, and the cytokine analyses after stimulation of indirect co-cultures with ConA, LPS, or LTA measured by Luminex are included.

  • Supporting Information


Publication History

Received: 24 February 2021

Accepted after revision: 14 May 2021

Article published online:
18 June 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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