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Weis JA, Rauh JL, Ellison MA, Cruz-Diaz N, Yamaleyeva LM, Welch CD, Zeller KA, Weis VG. Photoacoustic imaging for non-invasive assessment of biomarkers of intestinal injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03358-2. [PMID: 38914761 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03358-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an often-lethal disease of the premature infant intestinal tract, exacerbated by significant diagnostic difficulties. In NEC, the intestine exhibits hypoperfusion and dysmotility, contributing to disease pathogenesis. However, these features cannot be accurately and quantitively assessed with current imaging modalities. We have previously demonstrated the ability of photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to non-invasively assess intestinal tissue oxygenation and motility in a healthy neonatal rat model. METHODS In this first-in-disease application, we evaluated NEC using PAI to assess intestinal health biomarkers in an experimental model of NEC. NEC was induced in neonatal rats from birth to 4-days. Healthy breastfed (BF) and NEC rat pups were imaged at 2- and 4-days. RESULTS Intestinal tissue oxygen saturation was measured with PAI, and NEC pups showed significant decreases at 2- and 4-days. Ultrasound and PAI cine recordings were used to capture intestinal peristalsis and contrast agent transit within the intestine. Intestinal motility, assessed using computational intestinal deformation analysis, demonstrated significant reductions in both early and established NEC. NEC damage was confirmed with histology and dysmotility was confirmed by small intestinal transit assay. CONCLUSION This preclinical study presents PAI as an emerging diagnostic imaging modality for intestinal disease assessment in premature infants. IMPACT Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease affecting premature infants with significant mortality. NEC presents significant clinical diagnostic difficulties, with limited diagnostic confidence complicating timely and effective interventional efforts. This study is an important foundational first-in-disease preclinical study that establishes the utility for PAI to detect changes in intestinal tissue oxygenation and intestinal motility with NEC disease induction and progression. This study demonstrates the feasibility and exceptional promise for the use of PAI to non-invasively assess oxygenation and motility in the healthy and diseased infant intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A Weis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Jessica L Rauh
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Maryssa A Ellison
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Nildris Cruz-Diaz
- Department of Surgery/Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Cardiovascular Sciences Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Liliya M Yamaleyeva
- Department of Surgery/Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Cardiovascular Sciences Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Cherrie D Welch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kristen A Zeller
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Victoria G Weis
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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2
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O’Connell AE. Applying the bronchopulmonary dysplasia framework to necrotizing enterocolitis. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1388392. [PMID: 38813544 PMCID: PMC11135171 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1388392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of the neonatal intestine, causing widespread intestinal necrosis as well systemic illness that frequently results in death. Because the clinical onset of NEC is sudden and difficult to predict, NEC is considered an acute event. However, NEC does not occur in utero, meaning that postnatal exposures are required, and it does not typically occur right after birth, suggesting that longitudinal changes may be occurring before NEC can develop. In this perspective, the author considers whether NEC should be re-considered as a problem of disordered intestinal epithelial development, with required maladaptation over time prior to the onset of the necrotic event. This framework is similar to how bronchopulmonary dysplasia is currently conceptualized. They also advocate that NEC researchers incorporate this possibility into future studies on NEC susceptibility and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E. O’Connell
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Bautista GM, Cera AJ, Schoenauer RJ, Persiani M, Lakshminrusimha S, Chandrasekharan P, Gugino SF, Underwood MA, McElroy SJ. Paneth cell ontogeny in term and preterm ovine models. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1275293. [PMID: 38318150 PMCID: PMC10839032 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1275293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Paneth cells are critically important to intestinal health, including protecting intestinal stem cells, shaping the intestinal microbiome, and regulating host immunity. Understanding Paneth cell biology in the immature intestine is often modeled in rodents with little information in larger mammals such as sheep. Previous studies have only established the distribution pattern of Paneth cells in healthy adult sheep. Our study aimed to examine the ontogeny, quantification, and localization of Paneth cells in fetal and newborn lambs at different gestational ages and with perinatal transient asphyxia. We hypothesized that ovine Paneth cell distribution at birth resembles the pattern seen in humans (highest concentrations in the ileum) and that ovine Paneth cell density is gestation-dependent. Methods Intestinal samples were obtained from 126-127 (preterm, with and without perinatal transient asphyxia) and 140-141 (term) days gestation sheep. Samples were quantified per crypt in at least 100 crypts per animal and confirmed as Paneth cells through in immunohistochemistry. Results Paneth cells had significantly higher density in the ileum compared to the jejunum and were absent in the colon. Discussion Exposure to perinatal transient asphyxia acutely decreased Paneth cell numbers. These novel data support the possibility of utilizing ovine models for understanding Paneth cell biology in the fetus and neonate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoanna M. Bautista
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Anjali J. Cera
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca J. Schoenauer
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Michele Persiani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Satyan Lakshminrusimha
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | | | - Sylvia F Gugino
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Mark A. Underwood
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Steven J. McElroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Duci M, De Cesare L, Hochuli AHD, Muraca M, Cananzi M, Gamba P, Fascetti-Leon F, Pozzobon M. Research Models to Mimic Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Focus on Extracellular Vesicles Action. Stem Cells 2023; 41:1091-1100. [PMID: 37688386 PMCID: PMC10723814 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the crucial role of the intestinal epithelium in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and its significance in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). NEC is a devastating neonatal disease, while IBD represents a global healthcare problem with increasing incidence. The breakdown of the intestinal barrier in neonates is considered pivotal in the development and progression of both disorders. This review provides an overview of the current state of in vitro, ex vivo, and animal models to study epithelial injury in NEC and IBD, addressing pertinent questions that engage clinicians and researchers alike. Despite significant advancements in early recognition and aggressive treatment, no single therapy has been conclusively proven effective in reducing the severity of these disorders. Although early interventions have improved clinical outcomes, NEC and IBD continue to impose substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burdens on affected individuals and society. Consequently, exploring alternative therapeutic options capable of preventing and treating the sequelae of NEC and IBD has become a pressing necessity. In recent decades, extracellular vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a potential solution to modulate the pathogenic mechanism in these multifactorial and complex disorders. Despite the diverse array of proposed models, a comprehensive model to investigate and decelerate the progression of NEC and IBD remains to be established. To bridge the translational gap between preclinical studies and clinical applications, enhancements in the technical development of gut-on-a-chip models and EVs hold considerable promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Duci
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Ludovica De Cesare
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Agner Henrique Dorigo Hochuli
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Maurizio Muraca
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Mara Cananzi
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Digestive Endoscopy, Hepatology and Care of the Child with Liver Transplantation, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio Gamba
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Francesco Fascetti-Leon
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Pediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
| | - Michela Pozzobon
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Foundation Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza, Padova (PD) - Veneto, Italy
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Weis JA, Rauh JL, Ellison MA, Cruz-Diaz N, Yamaleyeva LM, Welch CD, Zeller KA, Weis VG. Photoacoustic Imaging for Non-Invasive Assessment of Physiological Biomarkers of Intestinal Injury in Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563296. [PMID: 37961632 PMCID: PMC10634697 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an often-lethal disease of the premature infants' intestinal tract that is exacerbated by significant difficulties in early and accurate diagnosis. In NEC disease, the intestine often exhibits hypoperfusion and dysmotility, which contributes to advanced disease pathogenesis. However, these physiological features cannot be accurately and quantitively assessed within the current constraints of imaging modalities frequently used in the clinic (plain film X-ray and ultrasound). We have previously demonstrated the ability of photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to non-invasively and quantitively assess intestinal tissue oxygenation and motility in a healthy neonatal rat model. As a first-in-disease application, we evaluated NEC pathogenesis using PAI to assess intestinal health biomarkers in a preclinical neonatal rat experimental model of NEC. Methods NEC was induced in neonatal rat pups from birth to 4 days old via hypertonic formula feeding, full-body hypoxic stress, and lipopolysaccharide administration to mimic bacterial colonization. Healthy breastfed (BF) controls and NEC rat pups were imaged at 2- and 4-days old. Intestinal tissue oxygen saturation was measured with PAI imaging for oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin levels. To measure intestinal motility, ultrasound and co-registered PAI cine recordings were used to capture intestinal peristalsis motion and contrast agent (indocyanine green) transit within the intestinal lumen. Additionally, both midplane two-dimensional and volumetric three-dimensional imaging acquisitions were assessed for oxygenation and motility. Results NEC pups showed a significant decrease of intestinal tissue oxygenation as compared to healthy BF controls at both ages (2-days old: 55.90% +/- 3.77% vs 44.12% +/- 7.18%; 4-days old: 56.13% +/- 3.52% vs 38.86% +/- 8.33%). Intestinal motility, assessed using a computational intestinal deformation analysis, demonstrated a significant reduction in the intestinal motility index in both early (2-day) and established (4-day) NEC. Extensive NEC damage was confirmed with histology and dysmotility was confirmed by small intestinal transit assay. Conclusions This study presents PAI as a successful emerging diagnostic imaging modality for both intestinal tissue oxygenation and intestinal motility disease hallmarks in a rat NEC model. PAI presents enormous significance and potential for fundamentally changing current clinical paradigms for detecting and monitoring intestinal pathologies in the premature infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A. Weis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Jessica L. Rauh
- Department of General Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston Salem, North Carolina
| | - Maryssa A. Ellison
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Nildris Cruz-Diaz
- Department of Surgery/Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Cardiovascular Sciences Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Liliya M. Yamaleyeva
- Department of Surgery/Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Cardiovascular Sciences Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Cherrie D. Welch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Kristen A. Zeller
- Department of General Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston Salem, North Carolina
| | - Victoria G. Weis
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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Frazer LC, Yamaguchi Y, Jania CM, Lanik WE, Gong Q, Singh DK, Mackay S, Akopyants NS, Good M. Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/65605. [PMID: 37590536 PMCID: PMC11003451 DOI: 10.3791/65605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe and potentially fatal intestinal disease that has been difficult to study due to its complex pathogenesis, which remains incompletely understood. The pathophysiology of NEC includes disruption of intestinal tight junctions, increased gut barrier permeability, epithelial cell death, microbial dysbiosis, and dysregulated inflammation. Traditional tools to study NEC include animal models, cell lines, and human or mouse intestinal organoids. While studies using those model systems have improved the field's understanding of disease pathophysiology, their ability to recapitulate the complexity of human NEC is limited. An improved in vitro model of NEC using microfluidic technology, named NEC-on-a-chip, has now been developed. The NEC-on-a-chip model consists of a microfluidic device seeded with intestinal enteroids derived from a preterm neonate, co-cultured with human endothelial cells and the microbiome from an infant with severe NEC. This model is a valuable tool for mechanistic studies into the pathophysiology of NEC and a new resource for drug discovery testing for neonatal intestinal diseases. In this manuscript, a detailed description of the NEC-on-a-chip model will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C Frazer
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Yukihiro Yamaguchi
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Corey M Jania
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Qingqing Gong
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Dhirendra K Singh
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Stephen Mackay
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Natalia S Akopyants
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Misty Good
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
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Mesfin FM, Manohar K, Shelley WC, Brokaw JP, Liu J, Ma M, Markel TA. Stem cells as a therapeutic avenue for active and long-term complications of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151311. [PMID: 37276782 PMCID: PMC10330659 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating neonatal intestinal disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although decades of research have been dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis of NEC and developing therapies, it remains the leading cause of death among neonatal gastrointestinal diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant interest recently as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of NEC. They have been shown to rescue intestinal injury and reduce the incidence and severity of NEC in various preclinical animal studies. MSCs and MSC-derived organoids and tissue engineered small intestine (TESI) have shown potential for the treatment of long-term sequela of NEC such as short bowel syndrome, neurodevelopmental delay, and chronic lung disease. Although the advances made in the use of MSCs are promising, further research is needed prior to the widespread use of these cells for the treatment of NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fikir M Mesfin
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Krishna Manohar
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - W Christopher Shelley
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - John P Brokaw
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jianyun Liu
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Minglin Ma
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Troy A Markel
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Won MM, Mladenov GD, Raymond SL, Khan FA, Radulescu A. What animal model should I use to study necrotizing enterocolitis? Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151313. [PMID: 37276781 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the statement: "Necrotizing enterocolitis remains the leading cause of gastrointestinal surgical emergency in preterm neonates". It's been five decades since the first animal models of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were described. There remains much investigative work to be done on identifying various aspects of NEC, ranging from the underlying mechanisms to treatment modalities. Experimental NEC is mainly focused on a rat, mouse, and piglet models. Our aim is to not only highlight the pros and cons of these three main models, but to also present some of the less-used animal models that have contributed to the body of knowledge about NEC. Choosing an appropriate model is essential to conducting effective research and answering the questions asked. As such, this paper reviews some of the variations that come with each model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell M Won
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Georgi D Mladenov
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Steven L Raymond
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Faraz A Khan
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Andrei Radulescu
- School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
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Bautista GM, Cera AJ, Chaaban H, McElroy SJ. State-of-the-art review and update of in vivo models of necrotizing enterocolitis. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1161342. [PMID: 37082706 PMCID: PMC10112335 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1161342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
NEC remains one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Animal models of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) have been crucial in improving our understanding of this devastating disease and identifying biochemical pathways with therapeutic potential. The pathogenesis of NEC remains incompletely understood, with no specific entity that unifies all infants that develop NEC. Therefore, investigators rely on animal models to manipulate variables and provide a means to test interventions, making them valuable tools to enhance our understanding and prevent and treat NEC. The advancements in molecular analytic tools, genetic manipulation, and imaging modalities and the emergence of scientific collaborations have given rise to unique perspectives and disease correlates, creating novel pathways of investigation. A critical review and understanding of the current phenotypic considerations of the highly relevant animal models of NEC are crucial to developing novel therapeutic and preventative strategies for NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoanna M. Bautista
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Anjali J. Cera
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Hala Chaaban
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK, United States
| | - Steven J. McElroy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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Mesfin FM, Manohar K, Hunter CE, Shelley WC, Brokaw JP, Liu J, Ma M, Markel TA. Stem cell derived therapies to preserve and repair the developing intestine. Semin Perinatol 2023; 47:151727. [PMID: 36964032 PMCID: PMC10133028 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell research and the use of stem cells in therapy have seen tremendous growth in the last two decades. Neonatal intestinal disorders such as necrotizing enterocolitis, Hirschsprung disease, and gastroschisis have high morbidity and mortality and limited treatment options with varying success rates. Stem cells have been used in several pre-clinical studies to address various neonatal disorders with promising results. Stem cell and patient population selection, timing of therapy, as well as safety and quality control are some of the challenges that must be addressed prior to the widespread clinical application of stem cells. Further research and technological advances such as the use of cell delivery technology can address these challenges and allow for continued progress towards clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fikir M Mesfin
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Krishna Manohar
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Chelsea E Hunter
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - W Christopher Shelley
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - John P Brokaw
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jianyun Liu
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Minglin Ma
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Troy A Markel
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN.
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Provitera L, Tomaselli A, Raffaeli G, Crippa S, Arribas C, Amodeo I, Gulden S, Amelio GS, Cortesi V, Manzoni F, Cervellini G, Cerasani J, Menis C, Pesenti N, Tripodi M, Santi L, Maggioni M, Lonati C, Oldoni S, Algieri F, Garrido F, Bernardo ME, Mosca F, Cavallaro G. Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Reduce the Severity of Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis in a Concentration-Dependent Manner. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050760. [PMID: 36899900 PMCID: PMC10000931 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gut disease in preterm neonates. In NEC animal models, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) administration has reduced the incidence and severity of NEC. We developed and characterized a novel mouse model of NEC to evaluate the effect of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) in tissue regeneration and epithelial gut repair. NEC was induced in C57BL/6 mouse pups at postnatal days (PND) 3-6 by (A) gavage feeding term infant formula, (B) hypoxia/hypothermia, and (C) lipopolysaccharide. Intraperitoneal injections of PBS or two hBM-MSCs doses (0.5 × 106 or 1 × 106) were given on PND2. At PND 6, we harvested intestine samples from all groups. The NEC group showed an incidence of NEC of 50% compared with controls (p < 0.001). Severity of bowel damage was reduced by hBM-MSCs compared to the PBS-treated NEC group in a concentration-dependent manner, with hBM-MSCs (1 × 106) inducing a NEC incidence reduction of up to 0% (p < 0.001). We showed that hBM-MSCs enhanced intestinal cell survival, preserving intestinal barrier integrity and decreasing mucosal inflammation and apoptosis. In conclusion, we established a novel NEC animal model and demonstrated that hBM-MSCs administration reduced the NEC incidence and severity in a concentration-dependent manner, enhancing intestinal barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Provitera
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Tomaselli
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Genny Raffaeli
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (G.C.); Tel.: +39-(02)-55032234 (G.C.); Fax: +39-(02)-55032217 (G.R. & G.C.)
| | - Stefania Crippa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Arribas
- Department of Pediatrics, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 28027 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ilaria Amodeo
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gulden
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sant’Anna Hospital, 22042 Como, Italy
| | - Giacomo Simeone Amelio
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Cortesi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Manzoni
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Gaia Cervellini
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Cerasani
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Menis
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pesenti
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Division of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Revelo Datalabs S.R.L., 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Tripodi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ludovica Santi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Maggioni
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Lonati
- Center for Preclinical Investigation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Samanta Oldoni
- Center for Preclinical Investigation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Algieri
- Research and Development Unit, Postbiotica S.R.L., 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Felipe Garrido
- Department of Pediatrics, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 28027 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ester Bernardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Pediatric Immunohematology Unit, BMT Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Maternal and Child Department, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cavallaro
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (G.C.); Tel.: +39-(02)-55032234 (G.C.); Fax: +39-(02)-55032217 (G.R. & G.C.)
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12
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Chapman JA, Stewart CJ. Methodological challenges in neonatal microbiome research. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2183687. [PMID: 36843005 PMCID: PMC9980642 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2183687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Following microbial colonization at birth, the gut microbiome plays a vital role in the healthy development of human neonates and impacts both health and disease in later life. Understanding the development of the neonatal gut microbiome and how it interacts with the neonatal host are therefore important areas of study. However, research within this field must address a range of specific challenges that impact the design and implementation of research methods. If not considered ahead of time, these challenges have the potential to introduce biases into studies, negatively affecting the relevance, reproducibility, and impact of any findings. This review outlines the nature of these challenges and points to current and future solutions, as outlined in the literature, to assist researchers in the early stages of study design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Chapman
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christopher J Stewart
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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13
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Ferraris L, Balvay A, Bellet D, Delannoy J, Maudet C, Larcher T, Rozé JC, Philippe C, Meylheuc T, Butel MJ, Rabot S, Aires J. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium neonatale fermentation metabolism and enteropathogenicity. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2172666. [PMID: 36801067 PMCID: PMC9980464 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2172666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial colonization in the gut plays a pivotal role in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) development, but the relationship between bacteria and NEC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether bacterial butyrate end-fermentation metabolites participate in the development of NEC lesions and confirm the enteropathogenicity of Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium neonatale in NEC. First, we produced C.butyricum and C.neonatale strains impaired in butyrate production by genetically inactivating the hbd gene encoding β-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase that produces end-fermentation metabolites. Second, we evaluated the enteropathogenicty of the hbd-knockout strains in a gnotobiotic quail model of NEC. The analyses showed that animals harboring these strains had significantly fewer and less intense intestinal lesions than those harboring the respective wild-type strains. In the absence of specific biological markers of NEC, the data provide original and new mechanistic insights into the disease pathophysiology, a necessary step for developing potential novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Ferraris
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, Paris, France,FHU PREMA « Fighting prematurity, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Balvay
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Deborah Bellet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johanne Delannoy
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, Paris, France,FHU PREMA « Fighting prematurity, Paris, France
| | - Claire Maudet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Rozé
- INRAE, UMR 1280, Physiologie des Adaptations Nutritionnelles (PhAN), Université hospitalière de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Catherine Philippe
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Thierry Meylheuc
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Marie-José Butel
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, Paris, France,FHU PREMA « Fighting prematurity, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Rabot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Julio Aires
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, Paris, France,FHU PREMA « Fighting prematurity, Paris, France,CONTACT Julio Aires Université Paris Cité, INSERM, UMR-S 1139, 3PHM, F-75006Paris, France
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14
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Manohar K, Mesfin FM, Liu J, Shelley WC, Brokaw JP, Markel TA. Gut-Brain cross talk: The pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental impairment in necrotizing enterocolitis. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1104682. [PMID: 36873645 PMCID: PMC9975605 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1104682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating condition of multi-factorial origin that affects the intestine of premature infants and results in high morbidity and mortality. Infants that survive contend with several long-term sequelae including neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)-which encompasses cognitive and psychosocial deficits as well as motor, vision, and hearing impairment. Alterations in the gut-brain axis (GBA) homeostasis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NEC and the development of NDI. The crosstalk along the GBA suggests that microbial dysbiosis and subsequent bowel injury can initiate systemic inflammation which is followed by pathogenic signaling cascades with multiple pathways that ultimately lead to the brain. These signals reach the brain and activate an inflammatory cascade in the brain resulting in white matter injury, impaired myelination, delayed head growth, and eventual downstream NDI. The purpose of this review is to summarize the NDI seen in NEC, discuss what is known about the GBA, explore the relationship between the GBA and perinatal brain injury in the setting of NEC, and finally, highlight the existing research into possible therapies to help prevent these deleterious outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Manohar
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Fikir M Mesfin
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Jianyun Liu
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - W Christopher Shelley
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - John P Brokaw
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Troy A Markel
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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15
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Matara DI, Sokou R, Xanthos T, Pouliakis A, Sarantaki A, Boutsikou T, Iliodromiti Z, Salakos C, Gazouli M, Iacovidou N. Asphyxia-Induced Bacterial Translocation in an Animal Experimental Model in Neonatal Piglets. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12123103. [PMID: 36553109 PMCID: PMC9776828 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12123103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The term "bacterial translocation" (BT) refers to the migration of bacteria or their products from the gastrointestinal tract to tissues located outside it, and may occur after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. The term "endotoxin" is synonymous, and is used interchangeably with the term lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS, a component of Gram-negative gut bacteria, is a potent microbial virulence factor, that can trigger production of pro-inflammatory mediators, causing localized and systemic inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate if neonatal asphyxia provokes BT and an increased concentration of LPS in an animal model of asphyxia in piglets. METHODS Twenty-one (21) newborn male Landrace/Large White piglets, 1-4 days old, were randomly allocated into three groups, Control (A), Asphyxia (B) and Asphyxia-Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (C). All animals were instrumented, anesthetized and underwent hemodynamic monitoring. In Group A, the animals were euthanized. In Group B, the endotracheal tube was occluded to cause asphyxia leading to cardiopulmonary arrest. In Group C, the animals were resuscitated after asphyxia and further monitored for 30'. Bacterial translocation was assessed by the measurement of endotoxin in blood from the portal vein and the aorta, and also by the measurement of endotoxin in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) at euthanasia. The results are given as median (IQR) with LPS concentration in EU/mL. RESULTS BT was observed in all groups with minimum LPS concentration in the MLN and maximum concentration in the portal vein. LPS levels in the MLNs were higher in the Group B: 6.38 EU/mL (2.69-9.34) compared to the other groups (Group A: 2.1 EU/mL (1.08-2.52), Group C: 1.66 EU/mL (1.51-2.48), p = 0.012). The aorta to MLNs LPS difference (%) was lower in Group B: 0.13% (0.04-1.17), compared to Group A: 5.08% (2.2-10.7), and Group C: 3.42% (1.5-5.1)) (p = 0.042). The same was detected for portal to MLNs LPS difference (%) which was lower in Group B: 0.94% (0.5-3) compared to Group A: 4.9% (4-15), and Group C: 3.85% (1.5-5.1)) (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal asphyxia can provoke ΒΤ and increased LPS concentration in blood and tissue located outside the gastrointestinal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra-Ifigeneia Matara
- Neonatal Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
- 1st Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-6980037484
| | - Rozeta Sokou
- Neonatal Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Xanthos
- Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Abraham Pouliakis
- 2nd Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Antigoni Sarantaki
- Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Boutsikou
- Neonatal Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Zoi Iliodromiti
- Neonatal Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Salakos
- Pediatric Surgical Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Attikon” University Hospital, Medical School, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Gazouli
- School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nicoletta Iacovidou
- Neonatal Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece
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16
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Kolba N, Cheng J, Jackson CD, Tako E. Intra-Amniotic Administration-An Emerging Method to Investigate Necrotizing Enterocolitis, In Vivo ( Gallus gallus). Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224795. [PMID: 36432481 PMCID: PMC9696943 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease in premature infants and a leading cause of death in neonates (1-7% in the US). NEC is caused by opportunistic bacteria, which cause gut dysbiosis and inflammation and ultimately result in intestinal necrosis. Previous studies have utilized the rodent and pig models to mimic NEC, whereas the current study uses the in vivo (Gallus gallus) intra-amniotic administration approach to investigate NEC. On incubation day 17, broiler chicken (Gallus gallus) viable embryos were injected intra-amniotically with 1 mL dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in H2O. Four treatment groups (0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% DSS) and two controls (H2O/non-injected controls) were administered. We observed a significant increase in intestinal permeability and negative intestinal morphological changes, specifically, decreased villus surface area and goblet cell diameter in the 0.50% and 0.75% DSS groups. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in pathogenic bacterial (E. coli spp. and Klebsiella spp.) abundances in the 0.75% DSS group compared to the control groups, demonstrating cecal microbiota dysbiosis. These results demonstrate significant physiopathology of NEC and negative bacterial-host interactions within a premature gastrointestinal system. Our present study demonstrates a novel model of NEC through intra-amniotic administration to study the effects of NEC on intestinal functionality, morphology, and gut microbiota in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elad Tako
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-607-255-0884
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17
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A new method using quail (Coturnix coturnix) as a suitable host for laboratory rearing of Dermanyssus gallinae. Exp Parasitol 2022; 243:108422. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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18
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Hosfield BD, Hunter CE, Li H, Drucker NA, Pecoraro AR, Manohar K, Shelley WC, Markel TA. A hydrogen-sulfide derivative of mesalamine reduces the severity of intestinal and lung injury in necrotizing enterocolitis through endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2022; 323:R422-R431. [PMID: 35912999 PMCID: PMC9512109 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00229.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a devastating disease that affects preterm infants. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors have been shown to reduce the severity of NEC, but the optimal compound has yet to be identified. We hypothesized that oral H2S-Mesalamine (ATB-429) would improve outcomes in experimental NEC, and its benefits would be dependent on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathways. NEC was induced in 5-day-old wild-type (WT) and eNOS knockout (eNOSKO) pups by formula feeding and stress. Four groups were studied in both WT and eNOSKO mice: 1) breastfed controls, 2) NEC, 3) NEC + 50 mg/kg mesalamine, and 4) NEC + 130 mg/kg ATB-429. Mesalamine and ATB-429 doses were equimolar. Pups were monitored for sickness scores and perfusion to the gut was measured by Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI). After euthanasia of the pups, intestine and lung were hematoxylin and eosin-stained and scored for injury in a blind fashion. TLR4 expression was quantified by Western blot and IL-6 expression by ELISA. P < 0.05 was significant. Both WT and eNOSKO breastfed controls underwent normal development and demonstrated milder intestinal and pulmonary injury compared with NEC groups. For the WT groups, ATB-429 significantly improved weight gain, reduced clinical sickness score, and improved perfusion compared with the NEC group. In addition, WT ATB-429 pups had a significantly milder intestinal and pulmonary histologic injury when compared with NEC. ATB-429 attenuated the increase in TLR4 and IL-6 expression in the intestine. When the experiment was repeated in eNOSKO pups, ATB-429 offered no benefit in weight gain, sickness scores, perfusion, intestinal injury, pulmonary injury, or decreasing intestinal inflammatory markers. An H2S derivative of mesalamine improves outcomes in experimental NEC. Protective effects appear to be mediated through eNOS. Further research is warranted to explore whether ATB-429 may be an effective oral therapy to combat NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hosfield
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Chelsea E Hunter
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Hongge Li
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Natalie A Drucker
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Anthony R Pecoraro
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Krishna Manohar
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | | | - Troy A Markel
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
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19
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Zeng S, Ying J, Li S, Qu Y, Mu D, Wang S. First 1000 Days and Beyond After Birth: Gut Microbiota and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:905380. [PMID: 35801107 PMCID: PMC9253634 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.905380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth remains a major maternal and infant health issue worldwide particularly with an increase in the global preterm birth rate, which requires more interventions to manage the consequences of preterm birth. In addition to traditional complications, recent studies have shown that the succession of gut microbiota of preterm infants is disordered due to the systemic physiological immaturity, which confers negative influences on the growth, development, and health of infants. In the present study, we briefly discussed the prevalence of preterm birth worldwide and then highlighted the signatures of gut microbiota in preterm infants within the first 1000 days of life after the birth categorized into birth, infancy, and childhood. Afterward, we focused on the potential association of clinical phenotypes typically associated with preterm birth (i.e., necrotizing enterocolitis) with gut microbiota, and the potential directions for future studies in this field are finally discussed.
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20
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Cai X, Golubkova A, Hunter CJ. Advances in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:225. [PMID: 35468817 PMCID: PMC9036771 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03277-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a multifactorial and complex disease. Our knowledge of the cellular and genetic basis of NEC have expanded considerably as new molecular mechanisms have been identified. This article will focus on the current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of NEC with a focus on the inflammatory, immune, infectious, and genetic mechanisms that drive disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Cai
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Alena Golubkova
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
| | - Catherine J Hunter
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
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21
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Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is considered to be one of the most devastating intestinal diseases seen in neonatal intensive care. Measures to treat NEC are often too late, and we need effective preventative measures to alleviate the burden of this disease. The purpose of this review is to summarize currently used measures, and those showing future promise for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Neu
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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22
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Microbial Translocation and Perinatal Asphyxia/Hypoxia: A Systematic Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12010214. [PMID: 35054381 PMCID: PMC8775023 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12010214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiome is vital for the proper function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the maintenance of overall wellbeing. Gut ischemia may lead to disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier, resulting in bacterial translocation. In this systematic review, according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, we constructed a search query using the PICOT (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) framework. Eligible studies reported in PubMed, up to April 2021 were selected, from which, 57 publications’ data were included. According to these, escape of intraluminal potentially harmful factors into the systemic circulation and their transmission to distant organs and tissues, in utero, at birth, or immediately after, can be caused by reduced blood oxygenation. Various factors are involved in this situation. The GIT is a target organ, with high sensitivity to ischemia–hypoxia, and even short periods of ischemia may cause significant local tissue damage. Fetal hypoxia and perinatal asphyxia reduce bowel motility, especially in preterm neonates. Despite the fact that microbiome arouse the interest of scientists in recent decades, the pathophysiologic patterns which mediate in perinatal hypoxia/asphyxia conditions and gut function have not yet been well understood.
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23
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Singh DK, Miller CM, Orgel KA, Dave M, Mackay S, Good M. Necrotizing enterocolitis: Bench to bedside approaches and advancing our understanding of disease pathogenesis. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:1107404. [PMID: 36714655 PMCID: PMC9874231 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.1107404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating, multifactorial disease mainly affecting the intestine of premature infants. Recent discoveries have significantly enhanced our understanding of risk factors, as well as, cellular and genetic mechanisms of this complex disease. Despite these advancements, no essential, single risk factor, nor the mechanism by which each risk factor affects NEC has been elucidated. Nonetheless, recent research indicates that maternal factors, antibiotic exposure, feeding, hypoxia, and altered gut microbiota pose a threat to the underdeveloped immunity of preterm infants. Here we review predisposing factors, status of unwarranted immune responses, and microbial pathogenesis in NEC based on currently available scientific evidence. We additionally discuss novel techniques and models used to study NEC and how this research translates from the bench to the bedside into potential treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhirendra K Singh
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Claire M Miller
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kelly A Orgel
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Mili Dave
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Stephen Mackay
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Misty Good
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Buonpane C, Ares G, Yuan C, Schlegel C, Liebe H, Hunter C. Experimental Modeling of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Human Infant Intestinal Enteroids. J INVEST SURG 2022; 35:111-118. [PMID: 33100066 PMCID: PMC8840553 DOI: 10.1080/08941939.2020.1829755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
METHODS There are several limitations when using a single cell culture to recapitulate the findings in a complex organism and results often vary between species, when proxy animal models are studied. RESULTS Human enteroids have allowed for study of human disease in complex multicellular culture systems. Here we present the novel use of human infant enteroids generated from premature infant intestine to study necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is a devastating intestinal disorder that affects our most vulnerable pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that NEC can be induced in premature human enteroids as supported by corresponding alterations in inflammation, apoptosis, tight junction expression, and permeability by treatment with lipopolysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie Buonpane
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Division of Pediatric Surgery. 211 E Chicago Avenue, Box 63, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Guillermo Ares
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Division of Pediatric Surgery. 211 E Chicago Avenue, Box 63, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Carrie Yuan
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Division of Pediatric Surgery. 211 E Chicago Avenue, Box 63, Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Camille Schlegel
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, OK 73104 USA
| | - Heather Liebe
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, OK 73104 USA
| | - Catherine Hunter
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, OK 73104 USA
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A Pilot Study To Establish an In Vitro Model To Study Premature Intestinal Epithelium and Gut Microbiota Interactions. mSphere 2021; 6:e0080621. [PMID: 34643422 PMCID: PMC8513685 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00806-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota has emerged as an important player in the health and disease of preterm infants. The interactions between intestinal flora and epithelium can lead to local injury and systemic diseases. A suitable in vitro cell model is needed to enhance our understanding of these interactions. In this study, we exposed fetal epithelial cell cultures (FHs-74 int cells, human, ATCC CCL 241) to sterile fecal filtrates derived from stool collected from preterm infants at <2 and at 3 to 4 weeks of age. We measured the cytokine levels from the culture media after 4, 24, and 48 h of exposure to the fecal filtrates. We analyzed the 16S rRNA V4 gene data of the fecal samples and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) data from the fetal epithelial cells after 48 h of exposure to the same fecal filtrates. The results showed correlations between inflammatory responses (both cytokine levels and gene expression) and the Proteobacteria-to-Firmicutes ratio and between fecal bacterial genera and epithelial apoptosis-related genes. Our in vitro cell model can be further developed and applied to study how the epithelium responds to different microbial flora from preterm infants. Combining immature epithelial cells and preterm infant stool samples into one model allows us to investigate disease processes in preterm infants in a way that had not been previously reported. IMPORTANCE The gut bacterial flora influences the development of the immune system and long-term health outcomes in preterm infants. Studies of the mechanistic interactions between the gut bacteria and mucosal barrier are limited to clinical observations, animal models, and in vitro cell culture models for this vulnerable population. Most in vitro cell culture models of microbe-host interactions use single organisms or adult origin cell lines. Our study is innovative and significant in that we expose immature epithelial cells derived from fetal tissues to fecal filtrates from eight stool samples from four preterm infants to study the role of intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, we analyzed epithelial gene expression to examine multiple cellular processes simultaneously. This model can be developed into patient-derived two- or three-dimensional cell cultures exposed to their own fecal material to allow better prediction of patient physiological responses to support the growing field of precision medicine.
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26
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de Jong JCW, Ijssennagger N, van Mil SWC. Breast milk nutrients driving intestinal epithelial layer maturation via Wnt and Notch signaling: Implications for necrotizing enterocolitis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166229. [PMID: 34329708 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an often lethal, inflammatory disease of the preterm intestine. The underdeveloped immune system plays an important role; however, the initial trigger for NEC development is likely a damaged intestinal epithelial layer. We hypothesize that due to incomplete maturation of different epithelial cell lineages, nutrients and bacteria are able to damage the epithelial cells and cause the (immature) inflammatory response, food intolerance and malabsorption seen in NEC. Intestinal organoid research has shown that maturation of intestinal epithelial cell lineages is orchestrated by two key signaling pathways: Wnt and Notch. In NEC, these pathways are dysregulated by hyperactivation of Toll-like-receptor-4. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of developing NEC compared to formula milk. Here, we review the intricate link between breast milk components, Wnt and Notch signaling and intestinal epithelial maturation. We argue that (nutritional) interventions regulating these pathways may decrease the risk of NEC development in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith C W de Jong
- Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht, 3508 AB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Saskia W C van Mil
- Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht, 3508 AB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Exploring Clinically-Relevant Experimental Models of Neonatal Shock and Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Shock 2021; 53:596-604. [PMID: 31977960 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal shock and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. NEC is a life-threatening gastrointestinal illness, the precise etiology of which is not well understood, but is characterized by an immaturity of the intestinal barrier, altered function of the adaptive immune system, and intestinal dysbiosis. The complexities of NEC and shock in the neonatal population necessitate relevant clinical modeling using newborn animals that mimic the disease in human neonates to better elucidate the pathogenesis and provide an opportunity for the discovery of potential therapeutics. A wide variety of animal species-including rats, mice, piglets, and primates-have been used in developing experimental models of neonatal diseases such as NEC and shock. This review aims to highlight the immunologic differences in neonates compared with adults and provide an assessment of the advantages and drawbacks of established animal models of both NEC and shock using enteral or intraperitoneal induction of bacterial pathogens. The selection of a model has benefits unique to each type of animal species and provides individual opportunities for the development of targeted therapies. This review discusses the clinical and physiologic relevance of animal models and the insight they contribute to the complexities of the specific neonatal diseases: NEC and shock.
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28
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Mihi B, Gong Q, Nolan LS, Gale SE, Goree M, Hu E, Lanik WE, Rimer JM, Liu V, Parks OB, Lewis AN, Agrawal P, Laury ML, Kumar P, Huang E, Bidani SS, Luke CJ, Kolls JK, Good M. Interleukin-22 signaling attenuates necrotizing enterocolitis by promoting epithelial cell regeneration. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100320. [PMID: 34195684 PMCID: PMC8233697 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly intestinal inflammatory disorder that primarily affects premature infants and lacks adequate therapeutics. Interleukin (IL)-22 plays a critical role in gut barrier maintenance, promoting epithelial regeneration, and controlling intestinal inflammation in adult animal models. However, the importance of IL-22 signaling in neonates during NEC remains unknown. We investigated the role of IL-22 in the neonatal intestine under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions by using a mouse model of NEC. Our data reveal that Il22 expression in neonatal murine intestine is negligible until weaning, and both human and murine neonates lack IL-22 production during NEC. Mice deficient in IL-22 or lacking the IL-22 receptor in the intestine display a similar susceptibility to NEC, consistent with the lack of endogenous IL-22 during development. Strikingly, treatment with recombinant IL-22 during NEC substantially reduces inflammation and enhances epithelial regeneration. These findings may provide a new therapeutic strategy to attenuate NEC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Chemokine CXCL1/genetics
- Chemokine CXCL1/immunology
- Chemokine CXCL2/genetics
- Chemokine CXCL2/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/drug therapy
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/immunology
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/microbiology
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/pathology
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Humans
- Infant, Newborn
- Infant, Newborn, Diseases/immunology
- Infant, Newborn, Diseases/microbiology
- Infant, Newborn, Diseases/pathology
- Infant, Premature
- Interleukin-1beta/genetics
- Interleukin-1beta/immunology
- Interleukins/genetics
- Interleukins/immunology
- Intestinal Mucosa/immunology
- Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
- Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- Protein Isoforms/immunology
- Receptors, Interleukin/genetics
- Receptors, Interleukin/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
- Regeneration/genetics
- Regeneration/immunology
- Signal Transduction
- Weaning
- Interleukin-22
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Affiliation(s)
- Belgacem Mihi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Qingqing Gong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lila S. Nolan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sarah E. Gale
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Martin Goree
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Elise Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wyatt E. Lanik
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jamie M. Rimer
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Victoria Liu
- Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Olivia B. Parks
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Angela N. Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pranjal Agrawal
- Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Marie L. Laury
- Genome Technology Access Center, McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pawan Kumar
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shay S. Bidani
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cliff J. Luke
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jay K. Kolls
- Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Misty Good
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Melnik BC, Stremmel W, Weiskirchen R, John SM, Schmitz G. Exosome-Derived MicroRNAs of Human Milk and Their Effects on Infant Health and Development. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11060851. [PMID: 34200323 PMCID: PMC8228670 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple biologically active components of human milk support infant growth, health and development. Milk provides a wide spectrum of mammary epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MEVs) for the infant. Although the whole spectrum of MEVs appears to be of functional importance for the growing infant, the majority of recent studies report on the MEV subfraction of milk exosomes (MEX) and their miRNA cargo, which are in the focus of this review. MEX and the dominant miRNA-148a play a key role in intestinal maturation, barrier function and suppression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and may thus be helpful for the prevention and treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis. MEX and their miRNAs reach the systemic circulation and may impact epigenetic programming of various organs including the liver, thymus, brain, pancreatic islets, beige, brown and white adipose tissue as well as bones. Translational evidence indicates that MEX and their miRNAs control the expression of global cellular regulators such as DNA methyltransferase 1-which is important for the up-regulation of developmental genes including insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, α-synuclein and forkhead box P3-and receptor-interacting protein 140, which is important for the regulation of multiple nuclear receptors. MEX-derived miRNA-148a and miRNA-30b may stimulate the expression of uncoupling protein 1, the key inducer of thermogenesis converting white into beige/brown adipose tissue. MEX have to be considered as signalosomes derived from the maternal lactation genome emitted to promote growth, maturation, immunological and metabolic programming of the offspring. Deeper insights into milk's molecular biology allow the conclusion that infants are both "breast-fed" and "breast-programmed". In this regard, MEX miRNA-deficient artificial formula is not an adequate substitute for breastfeeding, the birthright of all mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo C. Melnik
- Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-5241-988060
| | - Wolfgang Stremmel
- Private Praxis for Internal Medicine, Beethovenstraße 2, D-76530 Baden-Baden, Germany;
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Swen Malte John
- Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany;
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Dermatological Prevention and Rehabilitation (iDerm), University of Osnabrück, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Gerd Schmitz
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany;
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30
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Hosfield B, Drucker N, Pecoraro A, Shelley W, Li H, Baxter N, Hawkins T, Markel TA. The assessment of microbiome changes and fecal volatile organic compounds during experimental necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:1220-1225. [PMID: 33745738 PMCID: PMC8463953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a devastating disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract of the preterm infant. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have emerged as a non-invasive biomarker in many diseases. We hypothesized that fecal VOC profiles would be significantly different between control and NEC pups in a NEC mouse model. METHODS Experimental NEC was induced in five-day-old mice. Breastfed and formula-fed control groups were also studied. After four days, pups were euthanized and intestines were H&E stained and blindly scored. Stool microbiome analysis was performed via 16S rRNA sequencing. VOC analysis was assessed by the CyranoseⓇ 320 eNose device and p<0.05 was significant. RESULTS NEC pups had severe intestinal injury when compared to controls. Microbiome analysis showed that both control groups had significantly higher microbial diversity and relative abundance of Lactobacillus than NEC, and lower relative abundance of Escherichia. Fecal VOC profile for NEC pups was significantly different from controls. CONCLUSIONS Experimental NEC was associated with intestinal dysbiosis. Fecal VOC analysis by the CyranoseⓇ 320 eNose device can discriminate NEC pups from both breastfed and formula-fed controls. Further research is warranted to establish whether fecal VOCs can be used as a biomarker or predictive algorithm to diagnose NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Hosfield
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Natalie Drucker
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anthony Pecoraro
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - William Shelley
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Hongge Li
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Troy A. Markel
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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31
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Villamor-Martinez E, Hundscheid T, Kramer BW, Hooijmans CR, Villamor E. Stem Cells as Therapy for Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:578984. [PMID: 33363060 PMCID: PMC7755993 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.578984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common life-threatening gastrointestinal condition among very and extremely preterm infants. Stem cell therapy has shown some promising protective effects in animal models of intestinal injury, including NEC, but no systematic review has yet evaluated the preclinical evidence of stem cell therapy for NEC prevention or treatment. Methods: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies using an animal model of NEC with stem cells or their products. The SYRCLE tool was used for the assessment of risk of bias. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: We screened 953 studies, of which nine (eight rat and one mouse models) met the inclusion criteria. All animal models induced NEC by a combination of hypothermia, hypoxia, and formula feeding. Risk of bias was evaluated as unclear on most items for all studies included. Meta-analysis found that both mesenchymal and neural stem cells and stem cell-derived exosomes reduced the incidence of all NEC (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.16-0.32, k = 16), grade 2 NEC (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24-0.70, k = 16), and grade 3-4 NEC (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.19-0.42, k = 16). k represents the number of independent effect sizes included in each meta-analysis. The effect of the exosomes was similar to that of the stem cells. Stem cells and exosomes also improved 4-day survival (OR 2.89 95% CI 2.07-4.04, k = 9) and 7-day survival (OR 3.96 95% CI 2.39-6.55, k = 5) after experimental NEC. Meta-analysis also found that stem cells reduced other indicators of intestinal injury. Conclusion: The data from this meta-analysis suggest that both stem cells and stem cell-derived exosomes prevented NEC in rodent experimental models. However, unclear risk of bias and incomplete reporting underline that poor reporting standards are common and hamper the reliable interpretation of preclinical evidence for stem cell therapy for NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Villamor-Martinez
- Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Tamara Hundscheid
- Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Boris W. Kramer
- Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Carlijn R Hooijmans
- Department for Health Evidence Unit SYRCLE, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Villamor
- Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, Netherlands
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32
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Shelby RD, Raab R, Besner GE, McElroy SJ. Hope on the horizon: promising novel therapies for necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatr Res 2020; 88:30-34. [PMID: 32855510 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-1077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains among the most common and devastating diseases in neonates. Despite advances in neonatal clinical care, specific treatment strategies and diagnostic modalities remain lacking. As a result, morbidity and mortality remain high. Improved understanding of the pathogenesis of NEC has the potential for improved therapeutics. Some of the areas of research leading to promising discoveries include inhibition of Toll-like receptor signaling, modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor signal pathways, defining metabolomic alterations in NEC to discover potential biomarkers, probing for genetic predispositions to NEC susceptibility, determining mechanistic relations between anemia and NEC, and microflora modulation through the use of probiotics. All of these areas may represent novel promising approaches to the prevention and treatment of NEC. This review will focus on these current and possible therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita D Shelby
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Gail E Besner
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steven J McElroy
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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A direct comparison of mouse and human intestinal development using epithelial gene expression patterns. Pediatr Res 2020; 88:66-76. [PMID: 31242501 PMCID: PMC6930976 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm infants are susceptible to unique pathology due to their immaturity. Mouse models are commonly used to study immature intestinal disease, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Current NEC models are performed at a variety of ages, but data directly comparing intestinal developmental stage equivalency between mice and humans are lacking. METHODS Small intestines were harvested from C57BL/6 mice at 3-4 days intervals from birth to P28 (n = 8 at each age). Preterm human small intestine samples representing 17-23 weeks of completed gestation were obtained from the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Tissue Bank, and at term gestation during reanastamoses after resection for NEC (n = 4-7 at each age). Quantification of intestinal epithelial cell types and messenger RNA for marker genes were evaluated on both species. RESULTS Overall, murine and human developmental trends over time are markedly similar. Murine intestine prior to P10 is most similar to human fetal intestine prior to viability. Murine intestine at P14 is most similar to human intestine at 22-23 weeks completed gestation, and P28 murine intestine is most similar to human term intestine. CONCLUSION Use of C57BL/6J mice to model the human immature intestine is reasonable, but the age of mouse chosen is a critical factor in model development.
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Kovler ML, Sodhi CP, Hackam DJ. Precision-based modeling approaches for necrotizing enterocolitis. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:13/6/dmm044388. [PMID: 32764156 PMCID: PMC7328169 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.044388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death from gastrointestinal disease in premature infants and remains stubbornly difficult to treat in many cases. Much of our understanding of NEC pathogenesis has been gained through the study of highly translational animal models. However, most models of NEC are limited by their overall complexity and by the fact that they do not incorporate human tissue. To address these limitations, investigators have recently developed precision-based ex vivo models of NEC, also termed ‘NEC-in-a-dish’ models, which provide the opportunity to increase our understanding of this disease and for drug discovery. These approaches involve exposing intestinal cells from either humans or animals with or without NEC to a combination of environmental and microbial factors associated with NEC pathogenesis. This Review highlights the current progress in the field of NEC model development, introduces NEC-in-a-dish models as a means to understand NEC pathogenesis and examines the fundamental questions that remain unanswered in NEC research. By answering these questions, and through a renewed focus on precision model development, the research community may finally achieve enduring success in improving the outcome of patients with this devastating disease. Summary: Much of our understanding of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) pathogenesis has been achieved through animal models. Here, we discuss the development of advanced precision-based models to improve outcomes for patients with NEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Kovler
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Chhinder P Sodhi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - David J Hackam
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA .,McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Knoop KA, Coughlin PE, Floyd AN, Ndao IM, Hall-Moore C, Shaikh N, Gasparrini AJ, Rusconi B, Escobedo M, Good M, Warner BB, Tarr PI, Newberry RD. Maternal activation of the EGFR prevents translocation of gut-residing pathogenic Escherichia coli in a model of late-onset neonatal sepsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:7941-7949. [PMID: 32179676 PMCID: PMC7148560 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1912022117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a highly consequential complication of preterm birth and is defined by a positive blood culture obtained after 72 h of age. The causative bacteria can be found in patients' intestinal tracts days before dissemination, and cohort studies suggest reduced LOS risk in breastfed preterm infants through unknown mechanisms. Reduced concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) of maternal origin within the intestinal tract of mice correlated to the translocation of a gut-resident human pathogen Escherichia coli, which spreads systemically and caused a rapid, fatal disease in pups. Translocation of Escherichia coli was associated with the formation of colonic goblet cell-associated antigen passages (GAPs), which translocate enteric bacteria across the intestinal epithelium. Thus, maternally derived EGF, and potentially other EGFR ligands, prevents dissemination of a gut-resident pathogen by inhibiting goblet cell-mediated bacterial translocation. Through manipulation of maternally derived EGF and alteration of the earliest gut defenses, we have developed an animal model of pathogen dissemination which recapitulates gut-origin neonatal LOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Knoop
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905;
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Paige E Coughlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Alexandria N Floyd
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - I Malick Ndao
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Carla Hall-Moore
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Nurmohammad Shaikh
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Andrew J Gasparrini
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Brigida Rusconi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Marilyn Escobedo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK 73019
| | - Misty Good
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Barbara B Warner
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Phillip I Tarr
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Rodney D Newberry
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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Lueschow SR, McElroy SJ. The Paneth Cell: The Curator and Defender of the Immature Small Intestine. Front Immunol 2020; 11:587. [PMID: 32308658 PMCID: PMC7145889 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Paneth cells were first described in the late 19th century by Gustav Schwalbe and Josef Paneth as columnar epithelial cells possessing prominent eosinophilic granules in their cytoplasm. Decades later there is continued interest in Paneth cells as they play an integral role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and modulating the physiology of the small intestine and its associated microbial flora. Paneth cells are highly specialized secretory epithelial cells located in the small intestinal crypts of Lieberkühn. The dense granules produced by Paneth cells contain an abundance of antimicrobial peptides and immunomodulating proteins that function to regulate the composition of the intestinal flora. This in turn plays a significant role in secondary regulation of the host microvasculature, the normal injury and repair mechanisms of the intestinal epithelial layer, and the levels of intestinal inflammation. These critical functions may have even more importance in the immature intestine of premature infants. While Paneth cells begin to develop in the middle of human gestation, they do not become immune competent or reach their adult density until closer to term gestation. This leaves preterm infants deficient in normal Paneth cell biology during the greatest window of susceptibility to develop intestinal pathology such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). As 10% of infants worldwide are currently born prematurely, there is a significant population of infants contending with an inadequate cohort of Paneth cells. Infants who have developed NEC have decreased Paneth cell numbers compared to age-matched controls, and ablation of murine Paneth cells results in a NEC-like phenotype suggesting again that Paneth cell function is critical to homeostasis to the immature intestine. This review will provide an up to date and comprehensive look at Paneth cell ontogeny, the impact Paneth cells have on the host-microbial axis in the immature intestine, and the repercussions of Paneth cell dysfunction or loss on injury and repair mechanisms in the immature gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiloh R Lueschow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Steven J McElroy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.,Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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Mendez YS, Khan FA, Perrier GV, Radulescu A. Animal models of necrotizing enterocolitis. WORLD JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY 2020; 3:e000109. [DOI: 10.1136/wjps-2020-000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNecrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the leading causes of death in premature infants. To determine the factors present in the disease that lead to increased morbidity and mortality, manipulation of variables that are shown to have a positive response has been tested using various animal models. Testing and manipulation of these variables are unwarranted in humans due to regulatory health standards.MethodsThe purpose of this review is to provide an update to previous summaries that determine the significance of animal models in studying the mechanisms of NEC. A large variety of animal models including rats, mice, rabbits, piglets, nonhuman primates, and quails have been described in literature. We reviewed the reported animal models of NEC and examined the pros and cons of the various models as well as the scientific question addressed.ResultsThe animals used in these experiments were subject to gavage feeding, hypoxia, hypothermia, oxygen perfusion, and other methods to induce the disease state. Each of these models has been utilized to show the effects of NEC on the premature, undeveloped gut in animals to find a correlation to the disease state present in humans. We found specific advantages and disadvantages for each model.ConclusionsRecent advances in our understanding of NEC and the ongoing therapeutic strategy developments underscore the importance of animal models for this disease.
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Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a poorly defined disease that primarily affects preterm infants. There has not been much progress in the prevention or treatment of NEC since it became recognized as a common problem in preterm infants. Reasons for this lack of progress include the likelihood that different diseases are being put under the same moniker of "NEC," similar to using "diabetes" for the different diseases it represents. In order to make progress, better delineation of the phenotypes that present as NEC will be necessary to clearly establish their pathophysiology, find specific and sensitive biomarkers, and establish preventative regimens. In this review, we summarize some of the entities that are being called NEC, discuss the pathophysiology of the most classic form of NEC, and provide an overview of how we might proceed in the future to make progress in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Neu
- University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
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Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin reduces the severity and incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in a newborn rat model. Surg Today 2019; 49:971-976. [PMID: 31190184 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-019-01832-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains the leading cause of death in preterm infants. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTM) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects as well as antithrombogenic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rTM in a rat NEC model. METHODS NEC was induced by enteral feeding with hyperosmolar formula, gavage administration of lipopolysaccharide and asphyxia stress. Controls were fed by their mother ad libitum. In the treatment group, rTM was administered subcutaneously twice (once each on the first and second day). All animals surviving beyond 96 h or that developed signs of distress were euthanized. The ileum was harvested for a histological evaluation and the measurement of the mRNA and protein expression. RESULTS The rate of NEC-like intestinal injury in the treatment group (9/25, 36%) was significantly lower than in the NEC group (25/34, 73.5%). Tissue levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1 were significantly elevated in the NEC group, whereas those in the treatment group were decreased to similar values as in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental study showed that rTM is able to reduce the severity and incidence of NEC. It may be an alternative option for the treatment of NEC.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Probiotic administration to premature infants for the purpose of prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis is common in many parts of the world but uncommon in the United States. The present review will emphasize recent findings in support of routine administration of probiotics to this highly vulnerable population. RECENT FINDINGS Additional evidence from animal models describing mechanisms of protection of probiotics in the immature gut and updated meta-analyses of randomized placebo-controlled trials and observational cohorts are presented (now including more than 40 000 premature infants from countries across the globe). SUMMARY The preponderance of evidence suggests that probiotic administration to premature infants is well tolerated and decreases the risk of death, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis. Further comparisons of probiotic administration to placebo are not likely to alter these conclusions. Rather, future work should focus on assurance of high-quality products with demonstrated purity and viability of probiotic microbes, and future clinical trials should focus on comparisons between high-quality products and doses.
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Ares G, Buonpane C, Sincavage J, Yuan C, Wood DR, Hunter CJ. Caveolin 1 is Associated with Upregulated Claudin 2 in Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4982. [PMID: 30899070 PMCID: PMC6428816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41442-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal emergency of neonates. Epithelial tight junction (TJ) proteins, such as claudins, are essential for regulation and function of the intestinal barrier. Rho kinase (ROCK) affects cellular permeability and TJ regulation. We hypothesized that TJ protein changes would correlate with increased permeability in experimental NEC, and ROCK inhibitors would be protective against NEC by regulation of key claudin proteins. We tested this hypothesis using an in vivo rat pup model, an in vitro model of experimental NEC, and human intestinal samples from patients with and without NEC. Experimental NEC was induced in rats via hypoxia and bacteria-containing formula, and in Caco-2 cells by media inoculated with LPS. The expression of claudins was measured by gene and protein analysis. Experimental NEC in rat pups and Caco-2 cells had increased permeability compared to controls. Gene and protein expression of claudin 2 was increased in experimental NEC. Sub-cellular fractionation localized increased claudin 2 protein to the cytoskeleton. ROCK inhibition was associated with normalization of these alterations and decreased severity of experimental NEC. Co-immunoprecipitation of caveolin-1 with claudin 2 suggests that caveolin-1 may act as a shuttle for the internalization of claudin 2 seen in experimental NEC. In conclusion, NEC is associated with intestinal permeability and increased expression of claudin 2, increased binding of caveolin-1 and claudin 2, and increased trafficking of claudin 2 to the cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Ares
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Surgery, 840S Wood Street, Suite 376-CSN, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.,Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Christie Buonpane
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, Box 63, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - John Sincavage
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Carrie Yuan
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Douglas R Wood
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Catherine J Hunter
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Department of Pediatrics, 310 East Superior - Morton 4-685, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. .,Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, Box 63, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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Wu YZ, Chan KYY, Leung KT, Lam HS, Tam YH, Lee KH, Li K, Ng PC. Dysregulation of miR-431 and target gene FOXA1 in intestinal tissues of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis. FASEB J 2019; 33:5143-5152. [PMID: 30624964 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801470r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The level of microRNA (miR)-431 was found to be markedly up-regulated in intestinal tissue of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The objective of this study was to identify the target gene of miR-431 and to investigate the role of the miR-431-FOXA1 axis in the pathophysiology of NEC. The target gene of miR-431 was identified by in silico target prediction bioinformatics, luciferase assay, and Western blotting. Effects of miR-431 on downstream expression signals, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were investigated by overexpression in Caco-2 cells upon stimulation by LPS or lipoteichoic acid (LTA). FOXA1 was identified as the target gene of miR-431. Overexpression of miR-431 in Caco-2 cells significantly inhibited FOXA1, ESRRG, and HNF4A and activated IL-6, LGR5, NFKB2, PLA2G2A, PRKCZ, and TNF. IL-8 and - 10 were enhanced when costimulated with LPS or LTA. These potential downstream genes were also significantly dysregulated in primary NEC tissues compared with surgical-control tissues. Overexpression of miR-431 significantly decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of Caco-2 cells. A proposed network of miR-431-FOXA1 interaction with LPS and LTA receptors demonstrates dysregulation of transcription factors, inflammatory mediators, epithelium tight junction regulators, and cell proliferation and apoptosis signals. The miR-431-FOXA1 axis could in part be responsible for the intensification of the inflammatory response in NEC tissues and contribute to the proinflammatory pathophysiology.-Wu, Y. Z., Chan, K. Y. Y., Leung, K. T., Lam, H. S., Tam, Y. H., Lee, K. H., Li, K., Ng, P. C. Dysregulation of miR-431 and target gene FOXA1 in intestinal tissues of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng Wu
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
| | - Kathy Yuen Yee Chan
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
| | - Kam Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
| | - Hugh Simon Lam
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
| | - Yuk Him Tam
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Kim Hung Lee
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Karen Li
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
| | - Pak Cheung Ng
- Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; and
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Zhang D, Wen J, Zhou J, Cai W, Qian L. Milk Fat Globule Membrane Ameliorates Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonatal Rats and Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in IEC-6 Enterocytes. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2019; 43:863-873. [PMID: 30613991 DOI: 10.1002/jpen.1496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence has provided support for the beneficial effects of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) on inflammation in the intestinal tract. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of MFGM on a rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its potential mechanism of action. METHODS Sixty-two newborn Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: Breast-fed normal, formula fed (FF), FF + 6 g/L MFGM, and FF + 12 g/L MFGM. The FF rats and the FF rats supplemented with MFGM were exposed to asphyxia/cold stress to induce NEC. Body weight, histological score, survival time, oxidative stress injury, enterocyte proliferation/apoptosis, and inflammatory response were assessed. Meanwhile, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IEC-6 enterocytes were used as a model to test the anti-inflammatory effects of MFGM. RESULTS Supplementation with 12 g/L MFGM alleviated body weight loss, reduced the incidence of NEC, increased the survival rate, and attenuated the severity of bowel damage in the NEC rat model. Furthermore, 12 g/L MFGM administration inhibited the protein expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the animal model. In IEC-6 enterocytes, the upregulation of TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 induced by LPS was partially inhibited by MFGM pretreatment. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that MFGM has beneficial effects on neonatal rats with NEC by suppressing inflammation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhang
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Wen
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiefei Zhou
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linxi Qian
- Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Hackam DJ, Sodhi CP. Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Intestinal Inflammatory Imbalance in the Pathogenesis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 6:229-238.e1. [PMID: 30105286 PMCID: PMC6085538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains the leading cause of death from gastrointestinal disease in premature infants and attacks the most fragile patients at a time when they appear to be the most stable. Despite significant advances in our overall care of the premature infant, NEC mortality remains stubbornly high. There is no specific treatment for NEC beyond broad-spectrum antibiotics and intestinal resection, and current efforts have focused on preventive strategies. Over the past decade, we have proposed a unifying hypothesis to explain the pathogenesis of NEC in premature infants that suggests that NEC develops in response to an imbalance between exaggerated proinflammatory signaling in the mucosa of the premature gut leading to mucosal injury, which is not countered effectively by endogenous repair processes, and in the setting of impaired mesenteric perfusion leads to intestinal ischemia and disease development. One of the most important pathways that mediates the balance between injury and repair in the premature intestine, and that plays a key role in NEC pathogenesis, is Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which recognizes lipopolysaccharide on gram-negative bacteria. This review focuses on the role that the TLR4-mediated imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory signaling in the premature intestinal epithelium leads to the development of NEC, and will explore how an understanding of the role of TLR4 in NEC pathogenesis has led to the identification of novel preventive or treatment approaches for this devastating disease.
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MESH Headings
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/metabolism
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/microbiology
- Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/pathology
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Infant, Premature
- Infant, Premature, Diseases/metabolism
- Infant, Premature, Diseases/microbiology
- Infant, Premature, Diseases/pathology
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Inflammation/microbiology
- Inflammation/pathology
- Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
- Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology
- Intestinal Mucosa/pathology
- Milk, Human/metabolism
- Mortality, Premature
- Risk Factors
- Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Hackam
- Division of General Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Chhinder P. Sodhi
- Division of General Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
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