Proinflammatory fecal mRNA and childhood bacterial enteric infections

• Published in: Gut microbes Vol. 1; no. 4; pp. 209 - 212
• Main Authors: Bennett, Jr, William E, González-Rivera, Rosbel, Puente, Bao N, Shaikh, Nurmohammad, Stevens, Harold J, Mooney, Jody C, Klein, Eileen J, Denno, Donna M, Draghi, II, Andrew, Sylvester, Francisco A, Tarr, Phillip I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Landes Bioscience 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Binding; Biology; Bioscience; Brief Report; Calcium; Cancer; Cell; Cycle; Landes; Organogenesis; Proteins
• ISSN: 1949-0976; 1949-0984
• DOI: 10.4161/gmic.1.4.13004

Introduction: Assessment of specific mRNAs in human samples is useful in characterizing disease. However, mRNA in human stool has been understudied. Methods: We purified fecal RNA from 46 children infected with Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., or Shigella sonnei and 26 controls, and compared the proportions of IL-1β, IL-8, osteoprotegerin, and calprotectin mRNA between groups using qRT-PCR. We determined the concentrations of calprotectin, IL-8, and osteoprotegerin by enzyme immunoassays in cognate specimens. Results: Compared to controls, infected stools showed increased transcripts of IL-1β, IL-8, and calprotectin. mRNA and protein concentrations correlated for IL-8, but not for calprotectin. Discussion: Stool mRNA quantification offers a potentially useful, noninvasive way to assess inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, and may be more sensitive than EIA.