Introdução: o estresse psicológico aumenta a permeabilidade intestinal em roedores e humanos, potencialmente levando a inflamação de baixo grau e aos sintomas em distúrbios gastrintestinais funcionais. No entanto, o efeito do estresse agudo combinado ao estresse da vida crônica, que mimetiza potencialmente melhor a situação humana, é desconhecido. Além disso, há poucos dados disponíveis sobre os efeitos do estresse em intestino delgado versus cólon. Métodos: ratos Wistar foram alocados em quatro protocolos de estresse: 1/ controles; 2/ estresse agudo (isolamento e movimentos limitados); 3/ Crowding stress:crônico e 4/ estresse agudo + estresse crônico. Amostras de jejuno e cólon foram colhidas para estudar a permeabilidade em câmaras deUssing, a expressão gênica de moléculas de junção firmes e a densidade de mastócitos. Níveis de corticosterona no plasma foram medidos. Principais resultados:corticosterona plasmática foi avaliada nas três condições de estresse, teve níveis mais altos na condição de estresse combinado. Permeabilidade do jejuno foi aumentada em todas as condições de estresse e correlacionada com os níveis de corticosterona. O aumento da expressão das claudinas 1, 5 e 8, daocludina e da ZO-1 foi detectado no estado de estresse agudo no jejuno. Em contraste, a permeabilidade do cólon foi aumentada no protocolo de estresse combinado, e a expressão de moléculas das junção firmes permaneceu inalterada. O aumento da densidade de mastócitos foi observado no cólon nos ratos submetidos aos estresses crônico e combinado. Conclusão e inferências:os estresses agudo, crônico e combinado influenciam diferentemente a permeabilidade intestinal, a expressão de moléculas de junção firmes e a atividade dos mastócitos, no jejuno e no cólon. Estes resultados fornecem uma visão mais aprofundada dos mecanismos de hiperpermeabilidade intestinal relacionadas ao estresse. / Background: Psychological stress increases intestinal permeability in rodents and humans, potentially leading to low-grade inflammation and symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders through disturbances in brain-gut axis. However, the effect of acute stress on the background of Crhonic life stress, potentially better approaching the human situation, is unknown. Moreover, only limited information is available on the effects in small intestine versus colon in animal model. Methods: Wistar rats were allocated to 4 stress protocols: 1/ sham; 2/ acute stress (isolation and limited movement); 3/ Crhonic crowding stress and 4/ acute + Crhonic stress (n = 8 per group). Jejunum and colon were harvested to study permeability in Ussing chambers, gene expression of tight junction molecules and mast cell density. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured. Key Results: Plasma corticosterone was elevated in all three stress conditions, with the highest levels in the combined stress condition. Permeability of the jejunum was increased in all stress conditions and correlated with corticosterone levels. Increased expression of claudin 1, 5 and 8, occludin and ZO-1 was detected in the acute stress condition in the jejunum. In contrast, colonic permeability was increased in the acute on Crhonic stress protocol only and the expression of tight junction molecules was unaltered. Increased mast cell density was observed in the Crhonic and acute on Crhonic stress condition in the colon only. Conclusion and Inferences: Acute, Crhonic and combined stress differentially affect intestinal permeability, expression of tight junction molecules and mast cells in the jejunum and the colon. These findings provide further insight in the mechanisms of stress-related intestinal hyperpermeability and barrier.

Introdução: o estresse psicológico aumenta a permeabilidade intestinal em roedores e humanos, potencialmente levando a inflamação de baixo grau e aos sintomas em distúrbios gastrintestinais funcionais. No entanto, o efeito do estresse agudo combinado ao estresse da vida crônica, que mimetiza potencialmente melhor a situação humana, é desconhecido. Além disso, há poucos dados disponíveis sobre os efeitos do estresse em intestino delgado versus cólon. Métodos: ratos Wistar foram alocados em quatro protocolos de estresse: 1/ controles; 2/ estresse agudo (isolamento e movimentos limitados); 3/ Crowding stress:crônico e 4/ estresse agudo + estresse crônico. Amostras de jejuno e cólon foram colhidas para estudar a permeabilidade em câmaras deUssing, a expressão gênica de moléculas de junção firmes e a densidade de mastócitos. Níveis de corticosterona no plasma foram medidos. Principais resultados:corticosterona plasmática foi avaliada nas três condições de estresse, teve níveis mais altos na condição de estresse combinado. Permeabilidade do jejuno foi aumentada em todas as condições de estresse e correlacionada com os níveis de corticosterona. O aumento da expressão das claudinas 1, 5 e 8, daocludina e da ZO-1 foi detectado no estado de estresse agudo no jejuno. Em contraste, a permeabilidade do cólon foi aumentada no protocolo de estresse combinado, e a expressão de moléculas das junção firmes permaneceu inalterada. O aumento da densidade de mastócitos foi observado no cólon nos ratos submetidos aos estresses crônico e combinado. Conclusão e inferências:os estresses agudo, crônico e combinado influenciam diferentemente a permeabilidade intestinal, a expressão de moléculas de junção firmes e a atividade dos mastócitos, no jejuno e no cólon. Estes resultados fornecem uma visão mais aprofundada dos mecanismos de hiperpermeabilidade intestinal relacionadas ao estresse. / Background: Psychological stress increases intestinal permeability in rodents and humans, potentially leading to low-grade inflammation and symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders through disturbances in brain-gut axis. However, the effect of acute stress on the background of Crhonic life stress, potentially better approaching the human situation, is unknown. Moreover, only limited information is available on the effects in small intestine versus colon in animal model. Methods: Wistar rats were allocated to 4 stress protocols: 1/ sham; 2/ acute stress (isolation and limited movement); 3/ Crhonic crowding stress and 4/ acute + Crhonic stress (n = 8 per group). Jejunum and colon were harvested to study permeability in Ussing chambers, gene expression of tight junction molecules and mast cell density. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured. Key Results: Plasma corticosterone was elevated in all three stress conditions, with the highest levels in the combined stress condition. Permeability of the jejunum was increased in all stress conditions and correlated with corticosterone levels. Increased expression of claudin 1, 5 and 8, occludin and ZO-1 was detected in the acute stress condition in the jejunum. In contrast, colonic permeability was increased in the acute on Crhonic stress protocol only and the expression of tight junction molecules was unaltered. Increased mast cell density was observed in the Crhonic and acute on Crhonic stress condition in the colon only. Conclusion and Inferences: Acute, Crhonic and combined stress differentially affect intestinal permeability, expression of tight junction molecules and mast cells in the jejunum and the colon. These findings provide further insight in the mechanisms of stress-related intestinal hyperpermeability and barrier.

Introdução: o estresse psicológico aumenta a permeabilidade intestinal em roedores e humanos, potencialmente levando a inflamação de baixo grau e aos sintomas em distúrbios gastrintestinais funcionais. No entanto, o efeito do estresse agudo combinado ao estresse da vida crônica, que mimetiza potencialmente melhor a situação humana, é desconhecido. Além disso, há poucos dados disponíveis sobre os efeitos do estresse em intestino delgado versus cólon. Métodos: ratos Wistar foram alocados em quatro protocolos de estresse: 1/ controles; 2/ estresse agudo (isolamento e movimentos limitados); 3/ Crowding stress:crônico e 4/ estresse agudo + estresse crônico. Amostras de jejuno e cólon foram colhidas para estudar a permeabilidade em câmaras deUssing, a expressão gênica de moléculas de junção firmes e a densidade de mastócitos. Níveis de corticosterona no plasma foram medidos. Principais resultados:corticosterona plasmática foi avaliada nas três condições de estresse, teve níveis mais altos na condição de estresse combinado. Permeabilidade do jejuno foi aumentada em todas as condições de estresse e correlacionada com os níveis de corticosterona. O aumento da expressão das claudinas 1, 5 e 8, daocludina e da ZO-1 foi detectado no estado de estresse agudo no jejuno. Em contraste, a permeabilidade do cólon foi aumentada no protocolo de estresse combinado, e a expressão de moléculas das junção firmes permaneceu inalterada. O aumento da densidade de mastócitos foi observado no cólon nos ratos submetidos aos estresses crônico e combinado. Conclusão e inferências:os estresses agudo, crônico e combinado influenciam diferentemente a permeabilidade intestinal, a expressão de moléculas de junção firmes e a atividade dos mastócitos, no jejuno e no cólon. Estes resultados fornecem uma visão mais aprofundada dos mecanismos de hiperpermeabilidade intestinal relacionadas ao estresse. / Background: Psychological stress increases intestinal permeability in rodents and humans, potentially leading to low-grade inflammation and symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders through disturbances in brain-gut axis. However, the effect of acute stress on the background of Crhonic life stress, potentially better approaching the human situation, is unknown. Moreover, only limited information is available on the effects in small intestine versus colon in animal model. Methods: Wistar rats were allocated to 4 stress protocols: 1/ sham; 2/ acute stress (isolation and limited movement); 3/ Crhonic crowding stress and 4/ acute + Crhonic stress (n = 8 per group). Jejunum and colon were harvested to study permeability in Ussing chambers, gene expression of tight junction molecules and mast cell density. Plasma corticosterone levels were measured. Key Results: Plasma corticosterone was elevated in all three stress conditions, with the highest levels in the combined stress condition. Permeability of the jejunum was increased in all stress conditions and correlated with corticosterone levels. Increased expression of claudin 1, 5 and 8, occludin and ZO-1 was detected in the acute stress condition in the jejunum. In contrast, colonic permeability was increased in the acute on Crhonic stress protocol only and the expression of tight junction molecules was unaltered. Increased mast cell density was observed in the Crhonic and acute on Crhonic stress condition in the colon only. Conclusion and Inferences: Acute, Crhonic and combined stress differentially affect intestinal permeability, expression of tight junction molecules and mast cells in the jejunum and the colon. These findings provide further insight in the mechanisms of stress-related intestinal hyperpermeability and barrier.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review article aims to explore the GI changes induced by SARS-CoV-2 and how gut microbial homeostasis can influence these changes and affect the lung-gut axis and its relationship with the induction of the cytokine release syndrome in severe COVID-19 patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects not only the respiratory system but can produce multi-systemic damage. The expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the high prevalence of GI symptoms in severely ill COVID-19 patients, and the abnormalities described in the gut microbiome in these patients have raised concerns about the influence of GI tract as a risk factor or as a potential modulator to reduce the severity of COVID-19. Understanding the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis may influence viral transmission and disease progression in COVID-19 may help in shaping how accessible therapies, like diet modulation, can potentially help beat the devastating consequences of COVID-19.

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biological and Medical Sciences Candidate: Lucie Ambrožová Supervisor: Doc. MUDr. Josef Herink, DrSc. Title of diploma thesis: Intestinal microbiota and mood disorders The intestinal microbiom is composed mainly of two dominated strains - Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The other strains are just not numerous like the previous ones. The specimens have the invariable core of microbiom which doesn't change in time. Nevertheless they have also the transient gut bacteria, which change during their life. Intestinal microbiom is influenced by many factors. Between them we can categorize for example the way of the childbirth, the breast - feeding, the alimentation, the state of health, and the medicaments. Every specimen has own specific microbiom. It was found that human population is possible to divide into three intestinal groups or enterotypes. To each enterotype dominates different bacterial strain. It was proved that intestinal microbiom communicates with the brain and it works also vice versa. This communication system is called "brain - intestine" and takes several ways in several body systems (such as nervous, endocrine, metabolic, and immune). To normal development of the brain is needed the right colonisation of non...

Les maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l’intestin (maladie de Crohn, rectocolite hémorragique, colite inclassée) de l’enfant peuvent occasionner des séquelles anatomiques telles que la fibrose intestinale responsable de sténoses, ainsi que! des troubles fonctionnels intestinaux (TFI) persistants lors de la rémission de la maladie. L’objectif de la thèse était d’estimer l’impact de ces complications et de rechercher une association avec les caractéristiques antérieures de la maladie. Nous avons utilisé pour cela deux séries pédiatriques et deux modèles animaux. Dans l’étude TFI\MICI, nous avons montré que 20% des enfants et adolescents avec MICI en rémission clinique et biologique avaient des TFI, et 15% des douleurs abdominales fonctionnelles (DAF). Les DAF étaient associées à une fatigue accrue, à des symptômes dépressifs et une diminution de la qualité de vie, mais pas à de l’anxiété. Il n’y avait pas d’association entre la gravité de la MICI et la présence de DAF. Dans l’étude STENO\PED, nous avons montré que les seuls critères cliniques et radiologiques associés à la nécessité de résection chirurgicale des enfants ayant une maladie de Crohn sténosante du grêle étaient une dilatation sus-sténotique > 30 mm et un PCDAI > 22,5 au diagnostic de sténose. L’administration d’un traitement anti-TNF après le diagnostic de sténose était un facteur protecteur par rapport au risque de chirurgie. Il manque de modèles expérimentaux permettant de suivre l’histoire naturelle de la fibrose intestinale en lien avec l’inflammation et l’effet des traitements, notamment chez l’animal pré-pubère. Nous avons adapté au rat pré-pubère un modèle de colite aiguë (1 dose de TNBS) et chronique (3 doses de TNBS) et avons montré que les rats développaient une inflammation significative dans les 2 modèles, basé sur un score histologique. L’IRM montrait un épaississement de la paroi colique et des sténoses dans les 2 modèles, et des ulcérations de la muqueuse dans le modèle aigu. En histologie, il y avait une fibrose légère à modérée dans le modèle TNBS chronique et une ébauche non significative de fibrose dans le modèle aigu. Le traitement des rats par MODULEN IBD® exclusif dès le début de l’induction de l’inflammation n’a pas entraîné de diminution de l’inflammation ni de la fibrose histologiques dans les deux modèles. La prise en charge des séquelles anatomiques et fonctionnelles des MICI pédiatriques devient un enjeu majeur même si la prévalence des douleurs fonctionnelles nous est apparue comme non augmentée par rapport à la population générale. Les modèles animaux pré-pubères pourraient permettre de mieux analyser la cinétique de la fibrogenèse et l’impact d’une suppression précoce de l’inflammation et/ou de nouvelles thérapeutiques anti-fibrosantes. / The course of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s diseae, ulcerative colitis and IBDD unclassified) can be complicated by structural or functional sequelae. Structural complications include intestinal fibrosis which can cause bowel strictures. IBD can be associated with functional abdominal pain persisting despite remission of inflammation. The purpose of our work was to determine the burden of these complications and search for association with previous severity of inflammation, based on!two clinical studies and two animal models. In the first study, TFI-MICI, we showed that 20% of children and adolescents with IBD in clinical and biochemical Remission had functional gastrointestinal disorders, among which 15% had functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD). FAPD was! Ssociated with increased fatigue, depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life, but not with anxiety. There was no association between the severity of IBD and presence of FAPD. The second study, STENO-PED, focused on imaging and clinical predictors of response!to treatment in children and adolescents with stricturing small bowel Crohn’s disease. We showed that the predictors for surgery were a dilation proximal to the stricture of >30mm, and a PCDAI score at diagnosis of stricture > 22.5. Receiving an anti-TNFα treatment after diagnosis of stricture was a protective factor from surgery. Experimental models allowing to follow the progression of fibrosis along with inflammation and assess response to Treatment are lacking, in particular for pre-pubertal animals. We adapted to Sprague-Dawley pre-pubertal rats a model of acute (1 dose of! TNBS) and chronic (3 doses of TNBS) hapten-induced colitis. The rats in both models developed significant inflammation, based on histology and magnetic resonance colonography. Rats in the chronic colitis model developed histologic fibrosis. There was a non-significant trend to fibrosis in the acute model. !We treated rats in both models with MODULEN IBD® from induction of colitis to collection of colonic samples. This treatment did not reverse inflammation nor fibrosis. Fibrosis and functional abdominal pain in pediatric-onset IBD are two important problems, although functional pain appeared to be not more frequent than in the general population. Animal models could be of great assistance in order to better decipher the link between inflammation and fibrosis, and see if an effective early suppression of inflammation along with new anti-fibrotic therapies could halt the progression of fibrosis.

L’axe cerveau-intestin désigne l’interaction bidirectionnelle entre le cerveau et le tube digestif. Bien que la leptine, hormone produite par le tissu adipeux, participe à la régulation de cet axe, son mode d’action dans le système nerveux entérique a été peu étudié. A l’heure actuelle, une relation étroite entre une perturbation de l’axe cerveau-intestin et la schizophrénie est supposée. Par conséquent, les objectifs de ce travail étaient d’évaluer 1) les effets ex vivo de la leptine dans la neurotransmission entérique chez le rat et 2) les altérations périphériques dans un modèle neurodéveloppemental de la schizophrénie (NVHL) chez le rat. Nous avons montré que la leptine module l’activité des neurones entériques inhibiteurs et excitateurs dans le jéjunum et le côlon proximal. L’implication des neurones afférents primaires intrinsèques a été discutée. Chez les rats NVHL, nous avons mis en évidence une réduction de la masse corporelle, des variations hormonales, une inflammation du jéjunum et des altérations motrices digestives. La relation entre les troubles périphériques, notamment vagaux, et la physiopathologie de la schizophrénie a été discutée. / The brain-gut axis refers to the bidirectional interaction between the gut and the brain. Although leptin, a hormone released from fat tissue, is involved in the brain-gut axis control, its mechanism of action in the enteric nervous system has not been studied so far. Nowadays, brain-gut axis dysfunctions are supposed to be in close connection with schizophrenia. Therefore, the goals of this work were to determine 1) the effects of leptin on rat enteric nervous system neurotransmission and 2) peripheral alterations in the NVHL neurodevelopmental rat model of schizophrenia. We showed that leptin modulates inhibitory and excitatory enteric motor neurons activity in jejunum and proximal colon. Implication of intrinsic primary afferent neurons was discussed. In NVHL rats, we showed a decrease in body mass, some hormonal variations, jejunal inflammation and gastro-intestinal mechanical activities alterations. The relation peripheral alterations, like vagus nerve dysfunction, and the physiopathology of schizophrenia was discussed.