Gut Microbes· Gut microbes·· 2 days agoPickScore66
A stratified human colon model reveals SCFA cross-feeding-driven host-microbe dynamics associated with epithelial and immune responses
In brief
Researchers developed the Mm 3D-HaeMan oxygen-stratified colon co-culture platform, which reproduces the human colonic oxygen gradient and supports co-culture of epithelial cells, hPBMCs, and obligate anaerobes to resolve SCFA cross-feeding. Co-culture with the AcBb consortium was associated with enhanced epithelial mitochondrial respiration, maintained transepithelial electrical resistance, tight junction protein expression, and rebalanced cytokine profiles, with no barrier disruption.
Why it matters
Most in vitro models lack physiological oxygen gradients and stable co-culture; this platform reproduces colonic stratification and supports layered sampling of bidirectional host-microbe interactions.
Source: Gut Microbes · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov