Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 2142 and sodium n-butyrate in lipopolysaccharide-triggered inflammation: Comparison of a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line and primary hepatocyte monocultures with a porcine enterohepatic co-culture system1,2

This study was based on our previously developed double-layered enterohepatic co-culture system, composed of nontumorigenic porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) and primary culture of porcine hepatocytes. The anti-inflammatory effect of spent culture supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum 2142 (Lp2142; 13.3%) and sodium n-butyrate (2 mM) was tested on IPEC-J2 and hepatocyte monocultures as well as on the gut–liver co-culture. To mimic inflammation, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 and 10 μg/mL) was applied. Production of IL-8 and IL-6 was measured as a marker of inflammatory responses. The paracellular permeability of the intestinal epithelium was also monitored by fluoresceinisothiocyanate-labeled dextran 4 assay. Significant increase of IL-8 concentration was observed in the IPEC-J2 monoculture (P < 0.01) while the level of IL-6 was not changed following LPS treatment. Concentration of IL-8 and IL-6 was grown significantly in hepatocyte monocultures (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001) as well as in the co-culture after 10 μg/mL LPS treatment (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). One microgram per milliliter LPS caused elevated IL-8 level in the co-culture (P < 0.001) and in the hepatocyte monoculture (P < 0.01), while it caused increased IL-6 level only in the hepatocytes (P < 0.001). Production of IL-8 was significantly decreased by butyrate in case of 1 μg/mL as well as 10 μg/mL LPS exposure in the co-culture (P < 0.001). Application of butyrate also reduced IL-6 level in the co-culture after 10 μg/ mL LPS treatment (P < 0.01). Lactobacillus plantarum 2142 decreased IL-8 level after incubation with 1 μg/ mL LPS (P < 0.001), while in case of 10 μg/mL LPS treatment only a marginal lowering in IL-8 (P = 0.064) release was measured. The IL-6 concentration was significantly reduced (P < 0.01 in case of 1 μg/mL LPS treatment) by Lp2142 in the co-culture. Contrarily, the elevated IL-8 and IL-6 level of hepatocytes has not been reduced in case of either butyrate or Lp2142 addition. The enterohepatic co-culture model offers a possibility for fast and reliable screening of new candidates against enteric inflammation, which are of special interest in porcine medicine and health management. According to our results, Lp2142 and butyrate both seem to be effective as anti-inflammatory agents in LPS-triggered inflammatory response, tested in the gut–liver co-culture model.