Characterization of increased mucus production of HT29-MTX-E12 cells grown under Semi-Wet interface with Mechanical Stimulation

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 20;16(12):e0261191. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261191. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The intestinal mucus layer plays a crucial role in human health. To study intestinal mucus function and structure in vitro, the mucus-producing intestinal cell line HT29-MTX-E12 has been commonly used. However, this cell line produces only low amounts of the intestine-specific MUC2. It has been shown previously that HT29-MTX-E12 cells cultured under Semi-Wet interface with Mechanical Stimulation (SWMS) produced higher amounts of MUC2, concomitant with a thicker mucus layer, compared to cells cultured conventionally. However, it remains unknown which underlying pathways are involved. Therefore, we aimed to further explore the cellular processes underlying the increased MUC2 production by HT29-MTX-E12 cells grown under SWMS conditions. Cells grown on Transwell membranes for 14 days under static and SWMS conditions (after cell seeding and attachment) were subjected to transcriptome analysis to investigate underlying molecular pathways at gene expression level. Caco-2 and LS174T cell lines were included as references. We characterized how SWMS conditions affected HT29-MTX-E12 cells in terms of epithelial barrier integrity, by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance, and cell metabolism, by monitoring pH and lactate production per molecule glucose of the conditioned medium. We confirmed higher MUC2 production under SWMS conditions at gene and protein level and demonstrated that this culturing method primarily stimulated cell growth. In addition, we also found evidence for a more aerobic cell metabolism under SWMS, as shown previously for similar models. In summary, we suggest different mechanisms by which MUC2 production is enhanced under SWMS and propose potential applications of this model in future studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Culture Media
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mucus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Culture Media

Grants and funding

JE has been funded by a Building Blocks of Life grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), grant no. 737.016.003. BvdL has been funded by the Nutricia Research Foundation, grant no. 2018-25 and the NWO Graduate Programme on Food Structure, Digestion and Health, grant no. 022.006.009. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.