P010 Adherent-Invasive Escherichia Coli strain O83:H1 induces inflammatory response in Crohn's disease

Iaquinto, G.C.(1);Mazzarella, G.(2);Rotondi Aufiero, V.(3);

(1)Clinica S. Rita, Gastroenterology, Atripalda, Italy;(2)Institute of Food Sciences- ISA- CNR, DiSBA, Avellino, Italy;(3)Institute of Food Sciences- ISA-CNR, DiSBA, Avellino, Italy;

Background

Several studies suggest that Adherent-Invasive Escherichia Coli (AIEC) colonize the ileal mucosa of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) . This strain is able to adhere to  and invade intestinal epithelial cells, and survive within macrophages, prompting an inflammatory response.
The aim of this study was to investigate, by using an organ culture model, the ability of AIEC strain O83:H1 to colonize intestinal epithelial cells of CD patients,  inducing chronic inflammation.

Methods

An organ culture model conducted with colonic biopsies derived from CD patients was set up to evaluate the ability of AIEC strain 083:H1, compared to a non-pathogenic (NP) E. Coli  strain, to upregulate  CEACAM 6 (CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen-related Cellular Adhesion Molecule 6), LAMP-1 (Lysosome Associated Membrane Protein 1),   ICAM-1 (Intracellular Adhesion Molecule) and HLA-DR antigen expression , by immunohistochemistry, and to induce IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-8 production, by RT-qPCR.
The staining of epithelial cells that expressed CEACAM6 and LAMP1 as well as the expression of ICAM1 on blood vessels was evaluated in terms of staining intensity. The number of LAMP1 and HLA-DR lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMNC) was evaluated within a total area of 1 mm2 of lamina propria.

Results

Expression of CEACAM6 on intestinal epithelial cells, and the expression of  LAMP-1 either on epithelium as well as in the LPMNCs,  were significantly increased (P<0,05) in the biopsies cultured with the AIEC strain O83:H1 compared to the biopsies cultured with NP strain. ICAM-1 and HLA-DR were significantly increased (P<0,05) on blood vessels and on LPMNCs, respectively, in presence of AIEC strain O83:H1 as compared with NP strain.
Moreover we observed a higher level of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-8 mRNA trascripts in biopsies cultured with AIEC strain 083:H1 than in biopsies cultured with NP strain.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that AIEC strain O83:H1 in CD is able to adhere to and invade the intestinal epithelial cells, and to play an important role in activating chronic inflammatory responses observed  in CD patients.