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Assessing Campylobacter jejuni Extracellular Vesicle-Host Interaction Using a Microfluidic Platform with Caco-2
Silvia Tea Calzuola1,2, Jeanne Malet-Villemagne3, Debora Pinamonti4
1UMR7646 Laboratoire d'hydrodynamique (LadHyX), Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau 91128, France.
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
|June 23, 2025
Summary
Campylobacter jejuni extracellular vesicles (EVs) are less harmful to 3D intestinal cell cultures than 2D cultures. A new microfluidic device monitors these interactions, revealing protective 3D cell organization against pathogen EVs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a foodborne pathogen.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from C. jejuni contribute to pathogenicity.
- The role of C. jejuni EVs in host cell invasion is not well understood.
- Existing in vitro and animal models have limitations in studying host-pathogen interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a microfluidic platform for studying C. jejuni EV interactions with human intestinal epithelial cells.
- To investigate the impact of 3D cell culture models on host cell response to C. jejuni EVs.
- To monitor real-time host-microbe interactions using an integrated impedimetric sensor.
Main Methods:
- Development of a microfluidic device for culturing Caco-2 cells.
- Induction of 3D Caco-2 cell spheroid formation within the microfluidic device.
- Utilizing impedance spectroscopy and live microscopy for real-time monitoring.
- Assessing Caco-2 cell viability using MTT assays.
- Measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) to evaluate barrier integrity.
Main Results:
- Caco-2 cells spontaneously formed 3D spheroids in the microfluidic device.
- 3D Caco-2 spheroids exhibited enhanced resistance to C. jejuni secretome and EVs compared to 2D cultures.
- The microfluidic platform enabled real-time detection of C. jejuni EV interactions with intestinal cells.
- TEER measurements indicated paracellular diffusion of C. jejuni EVs.
- 3D cell organization demonstrated a protective role against C. jejuni EV cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- The microfluidic impedimetric platform is effective for studying host-pathogen interactions.
- 3D intestinal cell models provide a more physiologically relevant system for evaluating pathogen virulence.
- C. jejuni EVs exhibit different interactions and effects in 3D versus 2D cell cultures.
- The developed platform offers a promising tool for gastroenteritis research and understanding host-microbe dynamics.
