The role of innate immune recognition by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in vivo is ill-defined. Here, we used highly enriched primary IECs to analyze Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and mechanisms that prevent inappropriate stimulation by the colonizing microflora. Although the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor complex TLR4/MD-2 was present in fetal, neonatal, and adult IECs, LPS-induced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation and chemokine (macrophage inflammatory protein 2 [MIP-2]) secretion was only detected in fetal IECs. Fetal intestinal macrophages, in contrast, were constitutively nonresponsive to LPS. Acquisition of LPS resistance was paralleled by a spontaneous activation of IECs shortly after birth as illustrated by phosphorylation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in situ as well as transcriptional activation of MIP-2. Importantly, the spontaneous IEC activation occurred in vaginally born mice but not in neonates delivered by Caesarean section or in TLR4-deficient mice, which together with local endotoxin measurements identified LPS as stimulatory agent. The postnatal loss of LPS responsiveness of IECs was associated with a posttranscriptional down-regulation of the interleukin 1 receptor–associated kinase 1, which was essential for epithelial TLR4 signaling in vitro. Thus, unlike intestinal macrophages, IECs acquire TLR tolerance immediately after birth by exposure to exogenous endotoxin to facilitate microbial colonization and the development of a stable intestinal host–microbe homeostasis.

Background: Probiotic bacteria have a beneficial effect on intestinal inflammation. In this study, we have examined the effect of lactic acid and commensal Gram positive (+) bacteria conditioned media (CM) on tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) release and the mechanisms involved. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced TNF-α secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells or the THP-1 cell line was monitored in the presence or absence of bacteria CM obtained from two probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium breve ( Bb ) and Streptococcus thermophilus ( St ), and three commensal bacterial strains ( Bifidobacterium bifidum , Ruminococcus gnavus , and unidentified Streptococcus ). Bb and St bacteria CM were allowed to cross filter grown intestinal epithelial cell monolayers (HT29-19A) to assess intestinal transport of active bacterial products. These products were characterised and their effect on LPS binding to THP-1 cells and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation assessed. Results: Dose dependent inhibition of LPS induced TNF-α secretion was noted for both probiotic bacteria CM (64% and 71% inhibition for Bb and St , respectively) and to a lesser extent commensal bacteria CM (21–32% inhibition). Active products from Bb and St were resistant to digestive enzymes and had a molecular mass <3000 Da. Their inhibitory effect was preserved after transepithelial transport across intestinal cell monolayers, mainly in inflammatory conditions. LPS-FITC binding to THP-1 cells and NFκB activation were significantly inhibited by Bb and St CM. Conclusion: B breve and S thermophilus release metabolites exerting an anti-TNF-α effect capable of crossing the intestinal barrier. Commensal bacteria also display a TNF-α inhibitory capacity but to a lesser extent. These results underline the beneficial effect of commensal bacteria in intestinal homeostasis and may explain the role of some probiotic bacteria in alleviating digestive inflammation.

Celiac disease (CD) is an enteropathy resulting from an abnormal immune response to gluten-derived peptides in genetically susceptible individuals. This immune response is initiated by intestinal transport of intact peptide 31-49 (p31-49) and 33-mer gliadin peptides through an unknown mechanism. We show that the transferrin receptor CD71 is responsible for apical to basal retrotranscytosis of gliadin peptides, a process during which p31-49 and 33-mer peptides are protected from degradation. In patients with active CD, CD71 is overexpressed in the intestinal epithelium and colocalizes with immunoglobulin (Ig) A. Intestinal transport of intact p31-49 and 33-mer peptides was blocked by polymeric and secretory IgA (SIgA) and by soluble CD71 receptors, pointing to a role of SIgA–gliadin complexes in this abnormal intestinal transport. This retrotranscytosis of SIgA–gliadin complexes may promote the entry of harmful gliadin peptides into the intestinal mucosa, thereby triggering an immune response and perpetuating intestinal inflammation. Our findings strongly implicate CD71 in the pathogenesis of CD.

Paneth cell–derived enteric antimicrobial peptides provide protection from intestinal infection and maintenance of enteric homeostasis. Paneth cells, however, evolve only after the neonatal period, and the antimicrobial mechanisms that protect the newborn intestine are ill defined. Using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, immunohistology, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry, we analyzed the antimicrobial repertoire in intestinal epithelial cells during postnatal development. Surprisingly, constitutive expression of the cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) was observed, and the processed, antimicrobially active form was identified in neonatal epithelium. Peptide synthesis was limited to the first two weeks after birth and gradually disappeared with the onset of increased stem cell proliferation and epithelial cell migration along the crypt–villus axis. CRAMP conferred significant protection from intestinal bacterial growth of the newborn enteric pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Thus, we describe the first example of a complete developmental switch in innate immune effector expression and anatomical distribution. Epithelial CRAMP expression might contribute to bacterial colonization and the establishment of gut homeostasis, and provide protection from enteric infection during the postnatal period.

The capacity of non-pathogenic enteric bacteria to induce a pro-inflammatory response is under debate in terms of its effect on the symbiosis between the mammalian host and its commensal gut microflora. Activation of NF-kappaB and induction of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and CCL-20 by the commensal Escherichia coli strain MG1655 were first studied in vitro in the human intestinal epithelial cell (IECs) lines HT29-19A and Caco-2, transfected or not with plasmids encoding dominant negative Toll-like receptor (TLR) 5 and myeloid differentiation factor-88 (MyD88) adaptor protein. The response of enterocytes in situ was then assessed using murine ileal biopsies mounted in Ussing chambers. Commensal E. coli induced NF-kappaB DNA binding, NF-kappaB transcriptional activity, CCL-20 expression, and IL-8 secretion in the human IEC lines. E. coli MG1655 flagellin was necessary and sufficient to trigger this pro-inflammatory pathway via its interaction with TLR5 and the subsequent recruitment of the adaptor protein MyD88. Following epithelial cell polarization, signaling could be induced by live E. coli and flagellin on the apical side of HT29-19A. The in vivo relevance of our findings was confirmed, because immunohistochemical staining of murine ileum demonstrated expression of TLR5 in the apical part of enterocytes in situ. Furthermore, flagellin added on the mucosal side of murine ileal biopsies mounted in Ussing chambers induced a basolateral production of KC, a functional murine homolog of human IL-8. These findings provide strong evidence that flagellin released by flagellated commensal bacteria in the intestinal lumen can induce a pro-inflammatory response in enterocytes in vivo.