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Effects of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii on serotonin transporter expression in intestinal epithelial cells

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Abstract

Purpose

The highest level of peripheral serotonin in the body can be found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as its reservoir. There is complete interaction between human gastrointestinal microbiota and serotonin system. Serotonin in the GI is transferred by serotonin transporters (SERTs), which play a crucial role in the bioavailability of serotonin in the GI. SERT impairment is associated with the pathology of GI disorders. It is known that intestinal microbiota can regulate the SERT function. Therefore, it may be useful to regulate of SERT expression by modulation of microbiota and improvement of intestinal motility and GI sensation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of two next-generation probiotics, including Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and their supernatants on SERT gene expression in human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2).

Methods

The Caco-2 cells were treated with multiplicity of infection (MOI) ratio of 100 of A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii, as well as their supernatants. After 24 h, SERT gene expression was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay.

Results

A. muciniphila up-regulated the SERT mRNA level by 3.01 folds, compared to the control group. F. prausnitzii, similar to A. muciniphila, increased the expression of SERT gene in Caco-2 cells by 3.43 folds (P < 0.001). Moreover, the supernatants of A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii significantly up-regulated the expression of SERT gene in the cell line by 2.4 and 5.7 folds, respectively, compared to the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The present results showed that A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii, as well as their supernatants, increased the expression of SERT gene in Caco-2 cells. Therefore, they might be helpful in the microbiota-modulating treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the laboratory staff of Microbiology Research Center (MRC) and Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research of Pasteur Institute of Iran.

Funding

This study was funded by Pasteur Institute of Iran (Grant No.: B-9325).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mycobacteriology and Pulmonary Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    Rezvan Yaghoubfar, Ava Behrouzi, Abolfazl Fateh, Seyed Ali Nojoumi, Farzam Vaziri & Seyed Davar Siadat

  2. Microbiology Research Center (MRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    Rezvan Yaghoubfar, Ava Behrouzi, Abolfazl Fateh, Seyed Ali Nojoumi, Farzam Vaziri & Seyed Davar Siadat

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    Shohreh Khatami

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  1. Rezvan Yaghoubfar
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Correspondence to Shohreh Khatami.

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Yaghoubfar, R., Behrouzi, A., Fateh, A. et al. Effects of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii on serotonin transporter expression in intestinal epithelial cells. J Diabetes Metab Disord 20, 1–5 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00539-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00539-8

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