Transcytosis of extracellular vesicles produced by the probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis 168 in human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer

MARTÍNEZ, JH; PÉREZ, OE; DOMÍNGUEZ RUBIO, AP; PIURI, M; PALAVECINO, M

Buenos Aires

Jornada; Shaping the Future of German-Argentinian Scientific Cooperation ? The Role of Curiosity-Driven Research; 2018

Alexander von Humboldt

Archaea, bacteria, and eukarya secrete Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) as a mechanism for intercellular communication. We report the isolation and characterization of EVs from the probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei BL23 (Domínguez Rubio et al., 2017). Similar to what has been described for other Gram-positive bacteria, EVs were on the nanometric size range (30?50 nm). EVs carried cytoplasmic components such as DNA, RNA and proteins. Using a proteomic approach, we identified proteins described as mediators of probiotic effects. The presence of these proteins suggests a role for the EVs in the bacteria-gastrointestinal cells interface. We hypothesize that transcytosis of EVs across intestinal epithelial cells is a crucial step in the host-probiotic communication. To test this, we are studding the ability of EVs produced by the probiotic strains to cross intestinal epithelial cell barrier was investigated in an in vitro model of human Caco-2 cells (Domínguez Rubio et al., 2018). The expression and further encapsulation of proteins into EVs of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) bacteria could represent a scientific novelty, with applications in food, nutraceuticals and clinical therapies.