Reversal of Pathogen-Induced Barrier Defects in Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Contra-pathogenicity Agents

Background Environmental enteropathy (EE) is associated with stunting, impairment of responses to oral vaccines, and other adverse health consequences in young children throughout the developing world. EE is characterized by chronic low-grade intestinal inflammation and disrupted epithelial barrier integrity, partly resulting from dysregulation of tight junction proteins, observed in other enteropathies such as celiac disease. During EE, this dysregulation of tight junction expression amplifies translocation of pathogenic bacteria across the intestinal mucosa. Aims The aim was to determine whether enteropathogen-mediated epithelial barrier failure can be ameliorated using contra-pathogenicity therapies. Methods Intestinal epithelial barrier damage was assessed in Caco-2 cells incubated with three important enteropathogens identified in EE patients: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Citrobacter rodentium ( C. rodentium ), and Cryptosporidium parvum ( C. parvum ). Potential therapeutic molecules were tested to detect effects on transepithelial resistance (TER), bacterial translocation (BT), claudin-4 expression, and regulation of the inflammatory cytokine response. Results All three enteropathogens compared to uninfected cells, reduced TER (EPEC; p < 0.0001, C. rodentium ; p < 0.0001, C. parvum ; p < 0.0007), reduced claudin-4 expression, and permitted BT (EPEC; p < 0.0001, C. rodentium ; p < 0.0001, C. parvum ; p < 0.0003) through the monolayer. Zinc, colostrum, epidermal growth factor, trefoil factor 3, resistin-like molecule-β, hydrocortisone, and the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor ML7 (Hexahydro-1-[(5-iodo-1-naphthalenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride); ML7) improved TER (up to 70%) and decreased BT (as much as 96%). Only zinc demonstrated modest antimicrobial activity. Conclusion The enteropathogens impaired intestinal–epithelial barrier integrity with dysregulation of claudin-4 and increased bacterial translocation. Enteropathogen-mediated damage was reduced using contra-pathogenicity agents which mitigated the effects of pathogens without direct antimicrobial activity.