ePoster

Investigating gut-microbe interactions and epithelial α-synuclein through human enteroid monolayers and imaging flow cytometry of enteroendocrine cells in vitro

Anastazja Gorecki, Chidozie Anyaegbu, Varsha Singh, Kathryn Fuller, Subhash Kulkarni, Ryan Anderton
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Anastazja Gorecki, Chidozie Anyaegbu, Varsha Singh, Kathryn Fuller, Subhash Kulkarni, Ryan Anderton

Abstract

Pro-inflammatory environmental factors and disruptions to the gut microbiome are recognised contributors to Parkinson’s disease, and exogenous α-synuclein fibrils spread from the gut to brain via the vagus nerve in animal models. However, the natural cause of enteric α-synuclein pathology is unknown, but emerging research implicates enteroendocrine cells in the gut epithelium. We investigated epithelial α-synuclein through confocal microscopy and western blotting of human intestinal epithelial monolayers (Aim 1), and imaging flow cytometry of murine enteroendocrine STC-1 cells (Aim 2). Aim 1 demonstrated α-synuclein staining in enteroendocrine cells and goblet cells, the latter being a novel result. Consequently, stimulation of the apical monolayer with faecal proteins revealed a non-significant trend for increased insoluble α-synuclein, suggesting modulation by gut luminal contents. To investigate the targeted effect of a microbial metabolite, STC-1 cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (8 and 32 ug/ml for 24 hours), with α-synuclein localisation and phosphorylation assessed through imaging flow cytometry. This enabled robust quantification of morphological and fluorescent data from large populations of cells, using objective data-processing algorithms to analyse protein expression and localisation at the single-cell level. Interestingly, 8 ug/ml LPS significantly decreased levels and altered intracellular distribution of α-synuclein in a TLR4-dependent manner, and did not cause α-synuclein aggregation or increase phosphorylated α-synuclein, such as that seen in PD. Overall, these findings demonstrate the complex interplay between gut metabolites and α-synuclein in the gut epithelium, providing insights into potential mechanisms contributing to PD.

Unique ID: fens-24/investigating-gut-microbe-interactions-367c0c67