Effect of Listeria monocytogenes on intestinal stem cells in the co-culture model of small intestinal organoids

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2021-04, Vol.153, p.104776-104776, Article 104776
• Main Authors: Huang, Jie, Zhou, Cong, Zhou, Guanghong, Li, Haokun, Ye, Keping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Host–bacterial interactions; Infection; Intestinal stem cells; Listeria monocytogenes; Organoid
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104776

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes systemic infections by crossing the intestinal barrier. However, in vitro analysis of the interaction of L. monocytogenes and small intestinal epithelium has yet to be fully elucidated. To study host responses from intestinal epithelium during L. monocytogenes infection, we used the co-culture model of small intestinal organoids and L. monocytogenes. Results showed that L. monocytogenes mediated damage to intestinal epithelium, especially intestinal stem cells. L. monocytogenes was found to reduce budding rate and increase mortality of organoids. Moreover, it affected the proliferation of epithelial cells and numbers of secretory cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that L. monocytogenes stimulated a reduction in the number of Lgr5+ stem cells. Furthermore, L. monocytogenes affected the expression of Hes1, Math1 and Sox9 to interfere with the differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Collectively, our findings reveal the effects of L. monocytogenes infection on intestinal stem cells and demonstrate that small intestinal organoid is a suitable experimental model for studying intestinal epithelium–pathogen interactions. •Listeria monocytogenes invades small intestinal organoids and causes significant damage.•L. monocytogenes stimulates the proliferation of small intestinal epithelium and the increase of Paneth cells.•L.monocytogenes reduces the number of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and affects the differentiation trend.