A new primary culture system representative of the human gastric epithelium

A simple and cost-efficient adherent culture platform for human gastric primary cells, as an in vitro model for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Most two- dimensional in vitro models for studying host- H. pylori interactions rely on tumor-derived cell lines, which harbor malignant alterations. The recent development of human gastric organoids has overcome this limitation and provides a highly sophisticated, yet costly, short-term model for H. pylori infection, with restricted use in low-budget centers.

METHOD

Tissue specimens from upper, middle, and lower stomachs of H. pylori-negative volunteers were collectively dispersed and cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) or collagen-coated plates. Gastric primary cells (GPCs) were evaluated by light microscopy, immunostaining, qRT-PCR and ELISA analysis of cellular secretions, before and after H. pylori infection.

RESULTS

The formation and long-term (up to 1 year) maintenance of GPCs was highly dependent on adherent inactivated MEF cells, cultured in enriched media. These cells were multipassageable and able to undergo stable freezer storage and subsequent revival. The cellular composition of GPCs included the combination of cytokeratin 18 (CK18) and E-cadherin (E-cad)-positive epithelial cells, MUC5AC-positive gastric cells, and leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)-positive progenitor cells. These cells produced significant amounts of gastric pepsinogens I and II. GPCs also allowed for extended (up to 96 hours) H. pylori infection, during which they underwent morphological alterations (cellular vacuolation and elongation) and hyperproduction of gastric pepsinogens and inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-α).

CONCLUSION

We, hereby, present a simple, consistent, and cost-efficient gastric cell culture system, which provides a suitable model for extended in vitro infection of H. pylori. This platform can be employed for a variety of gastric-related research.

Chemokines and antimicrobial peptides have a cag-dependent early response to Helicobacter pylori infection in primary human gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori infection systematically causes chronic gastric inflammation that can persist asymptomatically or evolve toward more severe gastroduodenal pathologies, such as ulcer, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, and gastric cancer. The cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) of H. pylori allows translocation of the virulence protein CagA and fragments of peptidoglycan into host cells, thereby inducing production of chemokines, cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides. In order to characterize the inflammatory response to H. pylori, a new experimental protocol for isolating and culturing primary human gastric epithelial cells was established using pieces of stomach from patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy. Isolated cells expressed markers indicating that they were mucin-secreting epithelial cells. Challenge of primary epithelial cells with H. pylori B128 underscored early dose-dependent induction of expression of mRNAs of the inflammatory mediators CXCL1 to -3, CXCL5, CXCL8, CCL20, BD2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In AGS cells, significant expression of only CXCL5 and CXCL8 was observed following infection, suggesting that these cells were less reactive than primary epithelial cells. Infection of both cellular models with H. pylori B128ΔcagM, a cag PAI mutant, resulted in weak inflammatory-mediator mRNA induction. At 24 h after infection of primary epithelial cells with H. pylori, inflammatory-mediator production was largely due to cag PAI substrate-independent virulence factors. Thus, H. pylori cag PAI substrate appears to be involved in eliciting an epithelial response during the early phases of infection. Afterwards, other virulence factors of the bacterium take over in development of the inflammatory response. Using a relevant cellular model, this study provides new information on the modulation of inflammation during H. pylori infection.

Isolation and functional studies of human fetal gastric epithelium in primary culture

Our understanding of gastric epithelial physiology in man is limited by the absence of normal or appropriate cancer cell lines that could serve as an in vitro model. Research mostly relied on primary culture of gastric epithelial cells of animal species, enriched with surface mucous cells, and devoid of glandular zymogenic chief cells. We successfully applied a new nonenzymatic procedure using Matrisperse Cell Recovery Solution to dissociate the entire epithelium from human fetal stomach. Cultures were generated by seeding multicellular aggregates prepared by mechanical fragmentation. We further demonstrate that this simple and convenient technique allows for the maintenance of heterogenous gastric epithelial primary cultures on plastic without a biological matrix as well as the persistence of viable chief cells able to synthesize and secrete gastric digestive enzymes, i.e., pepsinogen and gastric lipase. In wounding experiments, epithelial restitution occurred in serum-reduced conditions and was modulated by exogenous agents. This culture system is thus representative of the foveolus-gland axis and offers new perspectives to establish the influence of individual growth factors and extracellular matrix components as well as their combinatory effects on gastric epithelium homeostasis.

Recent advances in the molecular and functional characterization of acid/base and electrolyte transporters in the basolateral membranes of gastric and duodenal epithelial cells

All segments of the gastrointestinal tract are comprised of an elaborately folded epithelium that expresses a variety of cell types and performs multiple secretory and absorptive functions. While the apical membrane expresses the electrolyte transporters that secrete or absorb electrolytes and water, basolateral transporters regulate the secretory or absorptive rates. During gastric acid formation, Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ and Na(+) /H(+) exchange and other transporters secure Cl⁻ re-supply as well as pH and volume regulation. Gastric surface cells utilize ion transporters to secrete HCO₃⁻, maintain pH(i) during a luminal acid load and repair damaged surface areas during the process of epithelial restitution. Na(+)/H(+) exchange and Na(+)/HCO₃⁻ cotransport serve basolateral acid/base import for gastroduodenal HCO₃⁻ secretion. The gastric and duodenal epithelium also absorbs salt and water. Recent molecular information on novel ion transporters expressed in the gastric and duodenal epithelium has exploded; however, a function has not been found yet for all transporters. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge on the molecular identity and cellular function of basolateral ion transporters in the gastric and duodenal epithelium.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent PI3K-activation promotes restitution of wounded human gastric epithelial monolayers

Restitution is a crucial event during the healing of superficial injury of the gastric mucosa involving epithelial cell sheet movement into the damaged area. We demonstrated that growth factors promote the restitution of human gastric epithelial cells. However, the intracellular signaling pathways that transmit extracellular cues as well as regulate basal and growth factor-stimulated gastric epithelial cell migration are still unclear. Herein, confluent human gastric epithelial cell monolayers (HGE-17) or primary cultures of gastric epithelial cells were wounded with a razor blade and the migration response was analyzed in presence or absence of TGFalpha or of pharmacological inhibitors of signaling proteins. Kinase activation profile analysis and phase-contrast microscopy were also performed in parallel. We report that ERK1/2 and Akt activities are rapidly stimulated following wounding of HGE-17 cells. Treatment of confluent HGE-17 cells or primary cultures of gastric epithelial cells with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, but not the MEK1 inhibitor, PD98059, significantly inhibits basal and TGFalpha-induced migration following wounding. Conversely, treatment of wounded HGE-17 cells with phosphatidylinositol(3,4,5)-triphosphate is sufficient to stimulate basal cell migration by 235%. In addition, pp60c-src kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are also rapidly enhanced after wounding and pharmacological inhibition of both these activities strongly attenuates basal and TGFalpha-induced migration as well as Akt phosphorylation levels. In conclusion, the present results indicate that EGFR-dependent PI3K activation promotes restitution of wounded human gastric epithelial monolayers.

Intestinal epithelial stem cells and progenitors

The adult intestinal epithelium contains a relatively simple, highly organized, and readily accessible stem cell system. Excellent methods exist for the isolation of intestinal epithelium from adults, and as a result collecting large quantities of intestinal stem and progenitor cells for study or culture and subsequent clinical applications should be routine. It is not, however, for two reasons: (1) adult intestinal epithelial cells rapidly initiate apoptosis on detachment from the basement membrane, and (2) in vitro conditions necessary for survival, proliferation, and differentiation are poorly understood. Thus to date the study of intestinal stem and progenitor cells has been largely dependent on in vivo approaches. We discuss existing in vivo assays for stem and progenitor cell behavior as well as current methods for isolating and culturing the intestinal epithelium.

Differential growth factor induction and modulation of human gastric epithelial regeneration

While several autocrine/paracrine growth factors (GFs) can all stimulate epithelial regeneration in experimentally wounded primary gastric cultures, clinical relevance for their non-redundant cooperative actions in human gastric ulcer healing is suggested by the sequential pattern of GF gene induction in vivo. Using new HGE cell lines able to form a coherent monolayer with tight junctions as well as using primary human gastric epithelial cultures, we show that EGF, TGFalpha, HGF and IGFs accelerate epithelial restitution upon wounding, independently of the TGFbeta pathway (as opposed to intestinal cells). However, they differently modulate cell behavior: TGFalpha exerts strong effects (even more than EGF) on cytoplasmic spreading and non-oriented protruding activity of bordering cells whereas HGF preferentially coordinates single lamella formation, cell elongation and migration into the wound. IGF-I and IGF-II rather induce the alignment of bordering cells and maintain a compact monolayer front. The number of mitotic cells maximally increases with EGF, followed by TGFalpha and IGF-I,-II. The current study demonstrates that GFs differentially regulate the regeneration of human gastric epithelial cells through specific modulation of cell shape adaptation, migration and proliferation, further stressing that a coordination of GF activities would be necessary for the normal progression of post-wounding epithelial repair.

Establishment of human gastric epithelial (HGE) cell lines exhibiting barrier function, progenitor, and prezymogenic characteristics

The unavailability of human cell lines representative of the gastric glandular epithelium while able to form a functional barrier restricts the application of a cell culture approach to the field of gastric epithelial physiology. In the current study, we have characterized new non-transfected clones isolated from gastric carcinoma cell lines known to express functional markers of the human gastric mucosa (J Cell Biochem 2001;81:241). Twenty-one clones exhibiting epithelial-type junctions (renamed HGE cell lines) were isolated from NCI-N87 (ATCC CRL 5822), whereas only squamous cell lines could be generated from other native strains. Of these 21 clones, HGE-17 and HGE-20 formed dense coherent monolayers and displayed true epithelial phenotype. E-cadherin and ZO-1 proteins were consistently localized at the periphery of all cells which also generated transepithelial electrical resistance. Moreover, growth factors known to be trophic for the gastric mucosa were able to stimulate mitogenesis at subconfluence. HGE-17 exhibited a poorly differentiated precursor-like status and responded strongly to EGF/TGFalpha treatment in restitution assays. HGE-20 cells, on the other hand, exhibited a higher degree of differentiation at the ultrastructural level as well as higher gastric lipase and pepsinogen levels. These latter zymogens were compartmentalized into granules which also contained mucin-6 (MUC6, prezymogenic-like status). Exogenous hormones, i.e., 1 mug/ml hydrocortisone and 5 microM retinoic acid, significantly increased enzyme levels in HGE-20. In conclusion, HGE-17 and HGE-20 represent the first human gastric cell lines with true epithelial characteristics, opening a venue to important applications for the study of re-epithelization, permeability, and regulation of digestive functions in the context of gastric physiology and pathology.

Laminins and TGF-beta maintain cell polarity and functionality of human gastric glandular epithelium

The human gastric glandular epithelium produces a gastric lipase enzyme (HGL) that plays an important role in digestion of dietary triglycerides. To assess the involvement of extracellular matrix components and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the regulation of this enzymic function, normal gastric epithelial cells were cultured on collagen type I, Matrigel, and laminins (LN)-1 and -2 with or without TGF-beta1. Epithelial morphology and HGL expression were evaluated using microscopy techniques, enzymic assays, Western blot, Northern hybridization, and RT-PCR. A correlation was observed between the cell polarity status and the level of HGL expression. TGF-beta1 alone or individual matrix components stimulated cell spreading and caused a downfall of HGL activity and mRNA. By contrast, Matrigel preserved the morphological features of differentiated epithelial cells and maintained HGL expression. The combination of LNs with TGF-beta1 (two constituents of Matrigel) exerted similar beneficial effects on epithelial cell polarity and evoked a 10-fold increase of HGL levels that was blunted by a neutralizing antibody against the alpha(2)-integrin subunit and by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors PD-98059 (p42/p44) or SB-203580 (p38). This investigation demonstrates for the first time that a powerful synergism between a growth factor and basement membrane LNs positively influences cell polarity and functionality of the human gastric glandular epithelium through an activation of the alpha(2)beta(1)-integrin and effectors of two MAPK pathways.

Xenografted human whole embryonic and fetal entoblastic organs develop and become functional adult-like micro-organs

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of this study was to study the morphological and functional development in vivo of whole human embryonic and fetal stomachs, intestines, tracheas, and lungs, which would otherwise be ethically and technically impossible to perform in utero, by microsurgically grafting these organs into nude mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five hundred fifty-seven human organs obtained from legally aborted embryos and fetuses of 6-10 weeks were microsurgically grafted into nude mice for 1 to 273 days. Following different grafting times, biopsies were taken for optical and electron microscopy, in situ hybridization, and cellular kinetics studies. A catheter was introduced into the human organs in order to collect and analyze secretions.

RESULTS

All of the grafts took successfully. Macroscopic growth was fast during the first 6 to 10 weeks, following which organ size was stable. In situ hybridization studies detected only a minute level of mouse mesenchymal chimerism in the grafts. The different epithelial cells differentiated, became of adult type, and remained normal during the remainder of the grafting periods. The pH of gastric juice from stomachs grafted for 10 to over 90 days dropped from 8.0 +/- 0.1 to 1.58 +/- 0.29 over this time period (P < 0.001), intrinsic factor levels were stable, and pepsin ranged from 6.8 +/- 7.8 to 134 +/- 51 units (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that the development of entoblastic organs from human embryos and fetuses microsurgically grafted into nude mice is similar to that occurring in utero. As such, this method provides a model for the analysis of whole human organs in development and later normal adult-like micro-organs for physiological, therapeutic, and pathological studies.

Morphologic and functional development of whole human fetal stomachs grafted into nude mice

To study in vivo the cellular differentiation and secretion of human developing fetal stomach, ethically and technically impossible to perform in utero, 256 fetal stomachs were xenografted. Human stomachs from 6- to 10-week-old fetuses were grafted for 1-273 days into nude mice. Biopsies for immunohistochemistry, hybridization and electron microscopy were taken and a catheter introduced into the human stomach. Macroscopic growth was fast and cells in S phase were numerous during the first 9 weeks, then the stomach size was stable and the gastric mucosa, of adult type, remained normal. In situ hybridization detected only a minute mouse mesenchymal chimerism in the graft. Chromogranin A, intrinsic factor and H+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase were immunohistolocally detected in epithelial cells 20 days after grafting, gastrin was detected after 30 days and pepsinogen after 60 days. The pH in gastric juice, which was at 8.0 +/- 0.1 from days 10-25, dropped from 4.39 +/- 1.80 at 30 days to 1.58 +/- 0.29 at 90 days. Intrinsic factor was stable and pepsin ranged from 6.8 +/- 7.8 to 134 +/- 51 units at 90 days. The differentiation of the epithelial cells in xenografts was very accelerated in comparison to that in utero.