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Updated: May 28, 2025
Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut
Published on: May 24, 2011
An optimised faecal microRNA sequencing pipeline reveals fibrosis in Trichuris muris infection
Emma Layton1,2,3, Sian Goldsworthy4, EnJun Yang3
1Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Abstract:
The intestine is a site of diverse functions including digestion, nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and microbial symbiosis. Intestinal microRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in faeces and regulate barrier integrity, host-microbe interactions and the immune response, potentially offering valuable non-invasive tools to study intestinal health. However, current experimental methods are suboptimal and heterogeneity in study design limits the utility of faecal miRNA data. Here, we develop an optimised protocol for faecal miRNA detection and report a reproducible murine faecal miRNA profile in healthy mice. We use this pipeline to study faecal miRNAs during infection with the gastrointestinal helminth, Trichuris muris, revealing roles for miRNAs in fibrosis and wound healing. Intestinal fibrosis was confirmed in vivo using Hyperion® imaging mass cytometry, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach. Further applications of this optimised pipeline to study host-microbe interactions and intestinal disease will enable the generation of hypotheses and therapeutic strategies in diverse contexts.
Insights
Researchers developed an optimized method to detect microRNAs (miRNAs) in mouse feces. This new protocol reveals miRNA roles in gut fibrosis and wound healing during helminth infection, offering new diagnostic tools.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Immunology
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
Background:
- The intestine performs critical functions including digestion, nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and microbial symbiosis.
- Intestinal microRNAs (miRNAs) in feces are potential non-invasive biomarkers for gut health, regulating barrier integrity, host-microbe interactions, and immune responses.
- Current methods for fecal miRNA detection are suboptimal, limiting the utility of this data due to study design heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an optimized protocol for detecting microRNAs (miRNAs) in fecal samples.
- To establish a reproducible murine fecal miRNA profile in healthy mice.
- To investigate the role of fecal miRNAs during gastrointestinal helminth infection (Trichuris muris).
Main Methods:
- Development and optimization of a protocol for fecal miRNA detection.
- Characterization of a reproducible fecal miRNA profile in healthy mice.
- Application of the optimized pipeline to study fecal miRNAs during Trichuris muris infection.
- In vivo confirmation of intestinal fibrosis using Hyperion® imaging mass cytometry.
Main Results:
- An optimized protocol for fecal miRNA detection was successfully developed.
- A reproducible murine fecal miRNA profile was established for healthy mice.
- The study identified roles for miRNAs in fibrosis and wound healing during Trichuris muris infection.
- Intestinal fibrosis was confirmed in vivo, validating the approach.
Conclusions:
- The optimized pipeline provides a robust method for fecal miRNA analysis.
- Fecal miRNAs are implicated in the host response to gastrointestinal helminth infection, particularly in fibrosis and wound healing.
- This approach facilitates hypothesis generation and the development of therapeutic strategies for intestinal diseases and host-microbe interactions.
