Mamoru Ito

A Metabolomic-Based Evaluation of the Role of Commensal Microbiota throughout the Gastrointestinal Tract in Mice

Commensal microbiota colonize the surface of our bodies. The inside of the gastrointestinal tract is one such surface that provides a habitat for them. The gastrointestinal tract is a long organ system comprising of various parts, and each part possesses various functions. It has been reported that the composition of intestinal luminal metabolites between the small and large intestine are different; however, comprehensive metabolomic and commensal microbiota profiles specific to each part of the gastrointestinal lumen remain obscure. In this study, by using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS)-based metabolome and 16S rRNA gene-based microbiome analyses of specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germ-free (GF) murine gastrointestinal luminal profiles, we observed the different roles of commensal microbiota in each part of the gastrointestinal tract involved in carbohydrate metabolism and nutrient production. We found that the concentrations of most amino acids in the SPF small intestine were higher than those in the GF small intestine. Furthermore, sugar alcohols such as mannitol and sorbitol accumulated only in the GF large intestine, but not in the SPF large intestine. On the other hand, pentoses, such as arabinose and xylose, gradually accumulated from the cecum to the colon only in SPF mice, but were undetected in GF mice. Correlation network analysis between the gastrointestinal microbes and metabolites showed that niacin metabolism might be correlated to Methylobacteriaceae. Collectively, commensal microbiota partially affects the gastrointestinal luminal metabolite composition based on their metabolic dynamics, in cooperation with host digestion and absorption.

Antibody-secreting plasma cells with unique CD5+IgG+CD21lo phenotype developed in humanized NOG mice

The developmental process of human antibody (Ab)-secreting B cells in humanized mice is not fully defined. To examine the characteristics of class-switched and Absecreting B cells in humanized mice, we analyzed NOD/Shi-scid, common γc-null mice reconstituted with cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells (CB-NOG). Most of the CD138-positive plasmablasts (PBs)/plasma cells (PCs) in the NOG spleen maintained CD5 expression. Moreover, IgG-bearing B cells, including PBs and memory cells, predominantly had a CD21-CD24hiCD5+ phenotype. We examined the expression of CD21, CD24 and CD5 on B cells developed in CB-NOG mice. We observed three types of B cells (CD24high CD21-; T1, CD24low/CD21-; T2, CD24-CD21+; T3) within CB-NOG CD5+ cells, which are similar to transitional B cells. However, the surface marker expression was different from normal transitional B cells. First, CD21 expression was significantly lower than in human peripheral blood and CB-derived mature B cells. Second, the expression of CD5 increased according to the developmental stage. The splenocytes were sorted according to the transitional subsets and examined for IL-10 expression. The CD21-CD24hiCD5+ fraction had the highest IL-10 expression among the CD5+ cells, suggesting the involvement of regulatory B cells. The same fractions were cultured in the presence of CpG and IgM. These stimulated B cells secreted a low level of IgM and IgG Abs to CpG and IgM stimulation in vitro and maintained a CD5+CD21low phenotype. These results demonstrate that IgG-bearing B cells with a CD21-CD24hiCD5+ irregular phenotype are developed in humanized NOG mice and have become the source of antibodies in CB-NOG mice. (250 words). Correspondence to: Yoshie Kametani, Ph.D, Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143, Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan, Tel: +81-463-93-1121; Fax: +81-463-94-2976; E-mail: y-kametn@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp