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Published on: July 6, 2014
Cy3-Based Nanoviscosity Determination of Mucus: Effect of Mucus Collection Methods and Antibiotics Treatment
Jacqueline Gottwald1, Jens Balke1, Johannes Stellmacher1
1Physics Department, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract:
The integrity of the protective mucus layer as a primary defense against pathogen invasion and microbial leakage into the intestinal epithelium can be compromised by the effects of antibiotics on the commensal microbiome. Changes in mucus integrity directly affect the solvent viscosity in the immediate vicinity of the mucin network, that is, the nanoviscosity, which in turn affects both biochemical reactions and selective transport. To assess mucus nanoviscosity, a reliable readout via the viscosity-dependent fluorescence lifetime of the molecular rotor dye cyanine 3 is established and nanoviscosities from porcine and murine ex vivo mucus are determined. To account for different mucin concentrations due to the removal of digestive residues during mucus collection, the power law dependence of mucin concentration on viscosity is used. The impact of antibiotics combinations (meropenem/vancomycin, gentamycin/ampicillin) on ex vivo intestinal mucus nanoviscosity is presented. The significant increase in viscosity of murine intestinal mucus after treatment suggests an effect of antibiotics on the microbiota that affects mucus integrity. This method will be a useful tool to assess how drugs, directly or indirectly, affect mucus integrity. Additionally, the method can be utilized to analyze the role of mucus nanoviscosity in health and disease, as well as in drug development.
Insights
Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome, compromising intestinal mucus integrity. This study developed a method to measure mucus nanoviscosity, revealing that antibiotics significantly increase viscosity, impacting gut health.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
Background:
- The intestinal mucus layer is crucial for gut barrier function, protecting against pathogens.
- Antibiotics can alter the gut microbiome, potentially compromising mucus integrity and altering local viscosity.
- Changes in mucus nanoviscosity can affect biochemical reactions and transport across the intestinal epithelium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reliable method for assessing intestinal mucus nanoviscosity.
- To investigate the impact of antibiotic combinations on ex vivo intestinal mucus nanoviscosity.
- To explore the utility of mucus nanoviscosity as a biomarker for drug effects and disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the viscosity-dependent fluorescence lifetime of cyanine 3 dye to measure nanoviscosity.
- Determined nanoviscosities of porcine and murine ex vivo intestinal mucus.
- Applied a power law to account for variations in mucin concentration.
Main Results:
- Established a reliable method for measuring mucus nanoviscosity using a molecular rotor dye.
- Quantified ex vivo intestinal mucus nanoviscosities in porcine and murine models.
- Observed a significant increase in murine intestinal mucus nanoviscosity after antibiotic treatment (meropenem/vancomycin, gentamycin/ampicillin).
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic treatment can significantly alter intestinal mucus nanoviscosity, suggesting an impact on microbiota and mucus integrity.
- The developed method provides a valuable tool for assessing drug effects on mucus integrity.
- Mucus nanoviscosity analysis holds potential for understanding health and disease states and for drug development.
