A matter of differentiation: equine enteroids as a model for the in vivo intestinal epithelium.
Abstract: Epithelial damage due to gastrointestinal disorders frequently causes severe disease in horses. To study the underlying pathophysiological processes, we aimed to establish equine jejunum and colon enteroids (eqJE, eqCE) mimicking the in vivo epithelium. Therefore, enteroids were cultivated in four different media for differentiation and subsequently characterized histomorphologically, on mRNA and on protein level in comparison to the native epithelium of the same donor horses to identify ideal culture conditions for an in vitro model system. With increasing enterocyte differentiation, the enteroids showed a reduced growth rate as well as a predominantly spherical morphology and less budding compared to enteroids in proliferation medium. Combined or individual withdrawal of stem cell niche pathway components resulted in lower mRNA expression levels of stem cell markers and concomitant differentiation of enterocytes, goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells. For eqCE, withdrawal of Wnt alone was sufficient for the generation of differentiated enterocytes with a close resemblance to the in vivo epithelium. Combined removal of Wnt, R-spondin and Noggin and the addition of DAPT stimulated differentiation of eqJE at a similar level as the in vivo epithelium, particularly with regard to enterocytes. In summary, we successfully defined a medium composition that promotes the formation of eqJE and eqCE consisting of multiple cell types and resembling the in vivo epithelium. Our findings emphasize the importance of adapting culture conditions to the respective species and the intestinal segment. This in vitro model will be used to investigate the pathological mechanisms underlying equine gastrointestinal disorders in future studies.
© 2024. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2024-03-16 PubMed ID: 38493107PubMed Central: 4777998DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01283-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers successfully developed a lab-grown model of horse intestine tissue, known as enteroids, to study how gastrointestinal diseases affect horses. They also highlighted the need for species- and region-specific culture conditions when constructing these models.
Objective of the Study
- The researchers aimed to create a model of horse intestinal tissue (specifically jejunum and colon sections, labeled eqJE and eqCE respectively) in a lab setting, to understand how gastrointestinal disorders damage horse tissues.
Methodology
- Enteroids were cultivated in four different types of media to ensure differentiation (the process by which cells become more specialized).
- These lab-grown tissues were then compared to actual tissue samples from the same horses, to check how closely the former emulated the latter. This comparison was done on a histomorphological level (study of the form and structure of the tissues), mRNA level (gene expression), and protein level.
Key Findings
- As the enteroids matured and further specialized (captured by increasing enterocyte differentiation), the tissues slowed their growth and formed mostly round shapes with fewer outgrowths than those in proliferation medium (conditions that promote growth).
- When stem cell niche pathway components were reduced or removed individually or collectively, the enteroids displayed lowered expression levels of stem cell markers. These removals also induced further differentiation in the enterocytes, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells.
- The removal of the Wnt protein alone resulted in eqCE generating differentiated enterocytes similar to the natural tissues. Meanwhile, removing Wnt, R-spondin, and Noggin, and adding DAPT resulted in eqJE differentiating at similar levels.
Implications
- The researchers successfully created a culture medium that encouraged the differentiation of eqJE and eqCE into multiple cell types. These tissues closely resembled their in vivo counterpart.
- The study underlined the importance of tailoring culture conditions to the specific species and intestinal segment being grown.
- This newly-developed in vitro model will now be used to delve deeper into the pathological mechanisms at play in equine gastrointestinal disorders.
Cite This Article
APA
Windhaber C, Heckl A, Csukovich G, Pratscher B, Burgener IA, Biermann N, Dengler F.
(2024).
A matter of differentiation: equine enteroids as a model for the in vivo intestinal epithelium.
Vet Res, 55(1), 30.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-024-01283-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Division of Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Clinical Unit of Equine Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. franziska.dengler@vetmeduni.ac.at.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Intestinal Mucosa
- Intestines
- Cell Differentiation
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- RNA, Messenger
- Horse Diseases
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