Assessment of equine intestinal epithelial junctional complexes and barrier permeability using a monolayer culture system.
Authors: Stewart Amy Stieler, Kopper Jamie J, McKinney-Aguirre Caroline, Veerasamy Brittany, Sahoo Dipak Kumar, Freund John M, Gonzalez Liara M
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Gastrointestinal disease remains the leading cause of death in adult horses, yet the lack of suitable in vitro models has significantly limited our ability to develop and test new therapeutic interventions. Researchers from this 2024 study developed and characterised equine small intestinal epithelial monolayers from jejunal tissue samples, using three-dimensional enteroid cultures to generate confluent cell layers that achieved full coverage within 5–7 days and demonstrated differentiated intestinal cell types with intact tight junction proteins. The resulting monolayers exhibited physiologically relevant barrier function, with transepithelial resistance measurements of 179.9 ± 33.7 ohms·cm², restricted macromolecule passage (22 ± 8.8% flux at 60 minutes), and the capacity to repair epithelial wound defects within 24 hours—mirroring the intestinal restitution process that occurs in vivo. This validated culture system provides equine professionals and researchers with a reproducible platform to investigate intestinal barrier dysfunction and screen potential therapeutic agents for colic and other gastrointestinal conditions without relying solely on postmortem samples or animal models. For practitioners, this work signals progress towards evidence-based treatment development specifically tailored to equine intestinal pathophysiology, potentially improving outcomes in cases where barrier integrity is compromised.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This in vitro model offers a new tool for researchers to test potential colic treatments before equine trials, potentially accelerating development of novel therapeutics for this leading cause of equine mortality.
- •The characterization of normal equine intestinal barrier function provides baseline parameters that could help identify mechanisms of barrier dysfunction in colic and post-surgical complications.
- •Understanding intestinal epithelial restitution mechanisms may inform future nutritional or pharmaceutical interventions to support recovery in horses with gastrointestinal disease.
Key Findings
- •Equine jejunal monolayers achieved 100% confluency by 5-7 days with confirmed differentiated epithelial cell types and tight junction proteins.
- •Monolayers demonstrated physiologically normal transepithelial resistance (179.9 ± 33.7 ohms*cm²) and limited macromolecule flux (22 ± 8.8% at 60 min), indicating functional intestinal barrier.
- •Epithelial cells closed scratch-induced gap defects within 24 hours, demonstrating restitution capacity in vitro.
- •This model system provides a novel platform for testing therapeutics targeting equine intestinal barrier function and colic pathogenesis.