Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Graduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Faculty Abstract Locator (2020)
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • App
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • Video Contest
    • Video Contest Winners
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us

Effects of Lactobacillus casei on Intestinal Inflammation: An in vitro Approach

Undergraduate #107
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology

Kathlyn Hornberger - Milwaukee School of Engineering
Co-Author(s): Vijesh Bhute, University of Wisconsin-Madison



Intestinal inflammation causes a variety of inflammatory bowel diseases. Human intestines are home to over 800 species of gut microbes that serve a variety of functions, including the regulation of intestinal inflammation. The human cancer carcinoma Caco-2 cell line differentiates in monolayers to resemble human intestinal epithelial cells and can be used as an in vitro model of human intestines. Lactobacillus casei is a common probiotic that plays a role in regulating intestinal inflammation. The effects of six different strains of Lactobacillus casei on Caco-2 cells were observed. L. casei or its supernatant was added to differentiated Caco-2 cells. Effects of inflammation was observed using two methods: measuring transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), a measure of the tightness of the Caco-2 barrier, and extracting RNA to analyze inflammatory gene expression. Caco-2 cells were seeded in Transwells and 12well plates. TEER was measured daily as cells differentiated and the experiment started when the TEER stabilized. To observe changes in the tightness of the Caco-2 barrier, L. casei or its supernatant was added and TEER was measured over time. The presence of L. casei increased the TEER in Caco-2 cells over time, while the supernatant alone had no effect. L. casei was added to 12-well plates of differentiated Caco-2 cells and RNA was extracted after two hours. Quantitative PCR was performed for five pro-inflammatory and one anti-inflammatory gene. The presence of L. casei reduced expression of the pro-inflammatory gene interleukin-1 alpha. Results varied for other genes. The increase in TEER and regulation of inflammatory cytokines show that L. casei plays a role in the inflammatory response of Caco-2 cells. This preliminary research shows the potential to utilize L. casei as a treatment for inflammation in vivo. Future research can focus on engineering these gut microbes to improve intestinal health.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI-REM); University of Wisconsin - Madison REU program

Faculty Advisor: Sean Palecek,

ERN Conference

The 2022 ERN Conference has been postponed.

Full Notice

What’s New

  • Congratulations to Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy on her 2021 AAAS Fellowship
  • Event Vaccination and Liability Policy
  • Webinars
  • Events|Opportunities
  • AAAS CEO Comments on Social Unrest, Racism, and Inequality
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Online Teaching During COVID-19
  • In the News
  • HBCU/CREST PI/PD Meeting

Conference Photos

ERN Conference Photo Galleries

Awards

ERN Conference Award Winners

Checking In

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

 

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law
© 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science