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Nutrition
* Soluble plantain fibre blocks epithelial adhesion and M-cell translocation of intestinal pathogens
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  1. C L Roberts *1,2,
  2. Å V Keita3,
  3. B N Parsons1,
  4. M Prorok-Hamon1,4,
  5. P Knight1,4,
  6. N O'Kennedy5,
  7. J D Söderholm3,
  8. J M Rhodes1,
  9. B J Campbell1
  1. 1Department of Gastroenterology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
  2. 2Provexis, c/o Merseybio Biosciences Incubator, Liverpool, UK
  3. 3Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
  4. 4NIHR Biomedical research Centre, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
  5. 5Provexis, c/o Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Aberdeen, UK

Abstract

Introduction Dietary fibres may have prebiotic effects mediated by promotion of probiotic bacteria. This study explores the possibility that they may also improve health by inhibiting epithelial adhesion and translocation by pathogenic bacteria. We have focussed on soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) from plantain bananas (Musa spp) since previous studies had shown that this is particularly effective at blocking Escherichia coli epithelial adherence.

Methods The ability of plantain NSP to inhibit epithelial cell adhesion and invasion of various bacterial pathogens, their translocation through microfold (M)-cell monolayers (generated by co-culture of Caco2-cl1 cells and Raji B cells) and human Peyer's patches mounted in Ussing chambers has been assessed.

Results Plantain NSP showed dose-related inhibition of epithelial adhesion and M-cell translocation by a range of gut pathogens. Plantain NSP at 5 mg/ml, a concentration readily achievable in the human gut lumen, inhibited adhesion to Caco2 cells of Clostridium difficile (67.6±12.3%, p<0.001 ANOVA), Salmonella typhimurium (85.0±8.2%, p<0.01), Shigella sonnei (46.6±29.3%, p<0.01) and ETEC (56.1±23.67%, p<0.05) but did not inhibit EPEC adhesion. Plantain NSP (5 mg/ml) also inhibited invasion of Caco2 cells by Salmonella (80.2±9.7%) and Shigella (46.7±13.4%; both p<0.01). Blockade of adherence and invasion to Caco2 cells by plantain NSP was also confirmed by Giemsa stain and light microscopy. Plantain NSP, at 5 mg/ml, also inhibited translocation of Salmonella and Shigella across M-cells by 46% and 73% respectively (both P<0.01). Similarly, blockade of Salmonella translocation across follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of human ileal Peyer's patches was observed with 5 mg/ml plantain NSP (p<0.01; N=3).

Conclusion Soluble plant fibre from plantain bananas inhibits invasion and adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to Caco2 cells, and their translocation across M-cells of the FAE. This represents a novel mechanism by which soluble dietary fibres could promote intestinal health and prevent infective diarrhoea.

  • clostridium difficile
  • dietary fibre
  • intestinal epithelium
  • m cell
  • Peyer's patches
  • salmonella
  • shigella

https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2011.239301.198

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests C. Roberts Grant / Research Support from: University of Liverpool and Provexis, Employee of: Provexis, Å. Keita: None Declared, B. Parsons: None Declared, M. Prorok-Hamon: None Declared, P. Knight: None Declared, N. O'Kennedy Employee of: Provexis, J. Söderholm: None Declared, J. Rhodes Consultant for: Procter & Gamble and Falk, Speaker bureau with: Abbott, Falk, Ferring, Procter & Gamble and Schering Plough, Conflict with: Holds patents for use of a soluble fibre preparation as maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea with the University of Liverpool and Provexis, B. Campbell Grant / Research Support from: Provexis.