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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Aug 13;8(2):352–361. doi: 10.1038/mi.2014.72

A Small Intestinal Organoid Model of Non-invasive Enteric Pathogen-Epithelial Cell Interactions

Sarah S Wilson 1, Autumn Tocchi 2, Mayumi K Holly 1, William C Parks 2,3,4, Jason G Smith 1,#
PMCID: PMC4326599  NIHMSID: NIHMS614042  PMID: 25118165

Abstract

Organoids mirror in vivo tissue organization and are powerful tools to investigate the development and cell biology of the small intestine. However, their application for the study of host-pathogen interactions has been largely unexplored. We have established a model using microinjection of organoids to mimic enteric infection, allowing for direct examination of pathogen interactions with primary epithelial cells in the absence of confounding variables introduced by immune cells or the commensal microbiota. We investigated the impact of Paneth cell α-defensin antimicrobial peptides on bacterial growth. We demonstrate that organoids form a sealed lumen which contains concentrations of α-defensins capable of restricting growth of multiple strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium for at least 20 h post-infection. Transgenic expression of human defensin 5 (HD5) in mouse organoids lacking functional murine α-defensins partially restored bacterial killing. We also found that organoids from NOD2−/− mice were not impaired in α-defensin expression or antibacterial activity. This model is optimized for the study of non-invasive bacteria, but can be extended to other enteric pathogens and is amenable to further genetic manipulation of both the host and microbe to dissect this critical interface of host defense.

Keywords: organoid, Paneth cell, MMP7, matrilysin, defensin, Salmonella, enteric infection, NOD2, HD5

Introduction

The complexity of the small intestinal epithelium has been difficult to model in culture, and dissection of epithelium-specific functions in vivo is confounded by the influence of signals arising from local and systemic non-epithelial sources. The discovery of a system to culture primary stem cell-derived small intestinal organoids has addressed these issues: First, a defined growth medium allows for the differentiation and maintenance of goblet cells, Paneth cells, enterocytes, enteroendocrine cells, and stem cells that recapitulates the cellular composition of the small intestinal epithelium1,2. Second, organoids have crypt-like domains and villus-like regions and can be stably maintained in sterile culture in the absence of mesenchymal and immune cells. Third, artifacts of transformation inherent in most traditional intestinal epithelial culture models are absent. Organoids have been increasingly used to uncover aspects of cell biology, intestinal development, and wound repair but have not been widely utilized to study pathogen-epithelial cell interactions1,3. To this end, we have developed a new model of enteric infection by accessing the apical aspect of the polarized intestinal epithelium of organoids using microinjection.

As proof of concept, we used our new model to assess the need for α-defensins in epithelial defense against a replicating bacterial pathogen, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STM). α-defensins are small, cationic, amphipathic peptides that possess broad anti-microbial activity; however, there have been limited studies of the direct anti-microbial activity of naturally secreted α-defensins in a complex, physiologic extracellular milieu4. Moreover, their role in modulating bacterial pathogenesis in vivo is confounded by indirect effects of α-defensins on the immune system and the composition of the commensal microbiota5–7.

To address these shortcomings, our enteric infection model enables the first direct assessment of STM killing during prolonged ex vivo co-culture with viable primary epithelial cells capable of naturally producing enteric α-defensins. For this purpose, we established small intestinal organoids from wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice. As matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7, matrilysin) is the protease that converts mouse pro-α-defensins into their mature forms, Mmp7−/− mice lack functional α-defensins in the small intestine8. Through comparative assays using these two genotypes, we have shown by two approaches that α-defensins substantially contribute to epithelial host defense and restrict growth of STM for at least 20 h in culture. Growth inhibition was seen for multiple strains of STM and at several time-points post-injection. The assay is also responsive to host factors influencing Paneth cell function, as transgenic expression of human defensin 5 (HD5) in Mmp7−/− organoids restored bacterial killing. Nonetheless, although NOD2 deficiency has been linked to reduced α-defensin expression and function in the etiology of Crohn’s disease9, we found that bacterial killing in organoids from NOD2−/− mice was not impaired and that α-defensin expression in these organoids was equivalent to wildtype. In summary, we have created and validated a novel model to investigate interactions between enteric pathogens and small intestinal epithelial cells that can be extended to additional bacterial and viral pathogens and can be genetically dissected at both the host and pathogen level.

Results

The organoid lumen is intact and can be accessed by microinjection

For organoids to accurately model the intestine, their lumen and the apical surface of the cells should be sequestered from the extracellular basolateral environment. An intact organoid lumen would potentially allow for the accumulation of a high local concentration of secretion products including α-defensins. To access this space and mimic apical enteric infection, we utilized microinjection. We established primary small intestinal organoid cultures from wildtype C57BL/6 mice1,10. Microinjected PBS caused swelling of organoids, indicating the integrity of the lumen (Figure 1A). To demonstrate further that the lumen was functionally intact, we microinjected ~5×104 colony forming units (CFU)/organoid of the non-invasive STM strain LT2 ΔphoP either into the organoid lumen (inside) or in the surrounding Matrigel (outside) proximal to organoids. All samples received exactly 20 injections total. We then incubated the cultures for 2 h, treated with or without 100 μg/ml of the cell membrane-impermeant antibiotic gentamicin for 2 h, and enumerated surviving CFU. We recovered equal numbers of CFU from inside and outside of the organoids in the absence of gentamicin; however, >103 more CFU were protected from gentamicin when injected inside the organoids (Figure 1B).

Figure 1. The organoid lumen is intact and can be accessed by microinjection.

Figure 1

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(A) Before and after images of microinjection of PBS into the organoid lumen. Scale bar is 50 μm (B) Survival of STM after injection into the organoid lumen (inside) or into the surrounding Matrigel (outside) in the presence and absence of 100 μg/mL gentamicin. Data for wildtype (WT, black bars) and Mmp7−/− (white bars) organoids are the antilog of the average of log-transformed CFU from three independent experiments ± SD. For statistical significance, 1-way ANOVA with Tukey post-tests was used to compare all pairs of columns. Only the indicated bars (***p< 0.005) were significant, and they were significant in comparison with every other condition except each other.

Enteric α-defensins are found in secretory granules of Paneth cells in the small intestine11,12. Unlike humans, mice express an expanded repertoire of enteric α-defensins, termed cryptdins13. Mouse α-defensins are produced as pro-peptides and cleaved and activated to their mature form by MMP7 in Paneth cells8. Accordingly, Mmp7−/− mice have normal expression of pro-defensins in their Paneth cells granules but are functional knockouts of mature α-defensins in the small intestine8,14. We established organoids from Mmp7−/− mice (C57BL/6) and found that absence of MMP7 did not alter the integrity of the organoid lumen (Figure 1B). Overall, these data show that the organoid lumen is intact and can be accessed via microinjection.

Bacterial growth is inhibited in wildtype but not Mmp7−/− organoids

We next asked if α-defensins present in the organoid lumen could inhibit STM growth. Wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids were injected with STM expressing GFP (LT2 ΔphoP GFP, 5×103 CFU/organoid) and imaged at 0 h and 5 h post-injection. In three separate experiments, a reduction in fluorescence occurred by 5 h post-injection in wildtype organoids but not in Mmp7−/− organoids (Figure 2A–C). Rather, diffusion of the bacteria within the organoid lumen from the site of injection was seen in Mmp7−/− organoids. The surviving CFU were quantified at 20 h post-injection, and a 3.9-log reduction in CFU was seen in wildtype organoids compared to Mmp7−/− organoids (Figure 2D). To correlate quantification of bacterial killing by fluorescence and CFU, we imaged and then immediately isolated bacteria from parallel cultures of wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids at 0, 5, and 9 h post-infection. Under these conditions we found a close correlation between the two assays with a 1.3-log reduction in survival and a 1-log reduction in average fluorescence intensity in WT compared to Mmp7−/−at 5 h post-injection that increased to a 1.9-log reduction in survival and a 1.3-log reduction in average fluorescence intensity in WT compared to Mmp7−/−at 9 h (Supplementary Figure 1). These results indicate that changes in CFU over this time period reflect bacterial dynamics in the lumen.

Figure 2. Bacterial growth is inhibited in wildtype but not Mmp7−/− organoids.

Figure 2

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Representative images from 3 independent experiments of STM LT2 ΔphoP GFP microinjected into (A) Mmp7−/− organoids and (B)Wildtype organoids. Images were taken at 0 and 5 h post-injection, and the bright field (BF) image corresponds to the 0 h GFP image. Signal above threshold is shown for each image. (C) Data is the relative fluorescence intensity (RFU) of 3 injected organoids per experiment (9 total) for wildtype (grey) and Mmp7−/− (white). Whiskers are the minimum and maximum of the data, and the horizontal line is the mean. (D) CFU recovered 20 h post-injection. Each line corresponds to one experiment in A and B, and each data point is the average CFU from 2–3 organoids. (E) CFU recovered 9 h post-injection. Each line represents one independent experiment, and each data point is the total CFU from 20 organoids injected in a single well. Dashed lines with open symbols represent experiments using organoids pre-treated with 10 μM CCh. Scale bars are 50 μm (A and B). *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

We then assessed the magnitude of α-defensin-mediated killing in organoids from multiple independent preparations. Wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids were injected with LT2 ΔphoP (5×103 CFU/organoid), and surviving CFU from 20 injected organoids were pooled and assayed at 9 h post-injection. We observed a 1.1-log reduction in wildtype organoids compared to Mmp7−/− organoids (Figure 2E). In addition, CFU in the Mmp7−/− organoids increased in relation to the inoculum, indicating that the bacteria were able to grow in the organoid lumen (Figure 2E). We then examined the effect of carbamylcholine chloride (CCh), a known stimulator of Paneth cell secretion4, and found that although CCh induced organoid swelling, indicative of an effect on secretion (data not shown), it did not alter the magnitude of bacterial killing (dashed lines in Figure 2E). Taken together, these results by two distinct measures support the conclusion that STM were viable in the organoid lumen only in the absence of functional α-defensins.

Organoids from Mmp7−/− mice lack mature α-defensins

To support our hypothesis that impaired STM killing in Mmp7−/− organoids was due to a specific absence of functional α-defensins, we assessed the relative levels of pro- and mature α-defensins in wildtype and Mmp7−/−organoids. Organoids from both genotypes grew at similar rates and contained equivalent proportions of goblet and Paneth cells, which were readily apparent (Figures 3A–B and Supplementary Figure 2A–C). To confirm the production of pro-α-defensins, we stained organoids from both mouse strains for mouse α-defensin-5 (Crp5). We observed specific staining for Crp5 in the Paneth cells of both wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids. No staining was observed with the control antibody (Figure 3A). Thus, Paneth cells in organoids from both wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice produce granules containing pro-α-defensins.

Figure 3. Organoids from Mmp7−/− mice lack mature α-defensins.

Figure 3

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(A) Immunohistochemistry of wildtype and MMP7−/− organoids stained with goat anti-Crp5 antibody or control goat IgG. (B) Wildtype (WT) and Mmp7−/− organoids stained with hematoxylin and eosin. (C) Immunoblots of lysates from wildtype and Mmp7−/−organoids probed for MMP7. Recombinant MMP7 (rMMP7) was used as a positive control, and an antibody to GAPDH was used as a control for loading. The upper band in the rMMP7 lane corresponds to pro-MMP7 (30 kDa) and the lower band is the active form (20 kDa). The mobilities of active rMMP7 and active MMP7 in the lysates differ due to the presence of additional mass from the purification tag. (D) Equal amounts (100 μg) of lyophilized extract from freshly isolated crypts or organoids from wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice were analyzed by AU-PAGE. Each lane of organoid extract is from a separate preparation of organoids from different mice. Purified mouse α-defensin-23 (Crp23, 1 μg) indicates the mobility of mature α-defensins.

Next, the presence and activation state of α-defensins in wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids were directly assessed by acid-urea PAGE (AU-PAGE). Equivalent amounts of total protein extracted from wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids were compared to extracts of crypt-enriched fractions from wildtype and Mmp7−/−mice. Purified Crp23, an abundant α-defensin expressed in C57BL/6 mice, was included as a control13. Extracts from freshly isolated crypts and organoids derived from wildtype mice contained species with mobilities consistent with mature α-defensins. In contrast, extracts from Mmp7−/− crypts and organoids did not (Figure 3D). Furthermore, abundant active MMP7, which is present in Paneth cell granules in vivo and responsible for activation of pro-α-defensins8, was produced in wildtype but absent from Mmp7−/− organoids (Figure 3C). These findings provide further evidence that organoids recapitulate the state of α-defensin maturation reported for wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice14.

Increased sensitivity of ΔphoP STM mutants confirms a role for α-defensins in luminal killing

To further support the critical and specific role of α-defensin-mediated bacterial killing in this model, we compared the survival of wildtype and LT2 ΔphoP in organoids from both genotypes. The STM phoP phoQ two-component regulatory system is critical for sensing and responding to antimicrobial peptides, and STM phoP mutants are more sensitive to purified α-defensins15. For these experiments, we chose a later time point (20 h post-injection) to amplify any survival difference. A dose-response study identified 50 CFU/organoid as a minimal dose that reliably yielded quantifiable surviving CFU (data not shown). Significant bacterial killing was observed for both strains in wildtype organoids compared to Mmp7−/− organoids (Figure 4A). Consistent with the role of phoP in sensitizing STM to α-defensins, the difference was greater in LT2 ΔphoP (4.6-log reduction) than in wildtype LT2 (1.7-log reduction).

Figure 4. Long-term killing of multiple STM strains.

Figure 4

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STM LT2 and STM LT2 ΔphoP (A) or 14028s ΔsipB (WT) and 14028s ΔsipB ΔphoP (B) were injected into wildtype and Mmp7−/− organoids, and surviving CFU were enumerated 20 h post-injection. Each line represents an independent paired experiment, and each point is the pooled data from a well of 20 injected organoids. *p<0.05, **p<0.01. ns, not significant.

Next, we assessed the ability of organoids to defend against STM 14028s, a strain commonly used in mouse models of Salmonella pathogenesis8. We introduced a chromosomal sipB mutation that renders the bacteria unable to attach to and therefore invade epithelial cells and assessed the impact of phoP16. After 20 h, we observed a 6-log reduction in CFU in the 14028s ΔphoP background but not in the wildtype strain (Figure 4B). Thus, the increased killing of the ΔphoP mutants of both STM strains confirms the importance of α-defensins in mediating killing in our model.

Transgenic expression of HD5 rescues bacterial killing

Having established the importance of bacterial genotype in α-defensin mediated killing in our system, we sought to measure the effect of additional host genotypes relevant to Paneth cell function. We established organoids from Mmp7−/− mice that express transgenic HD5 (Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/−). Mice expressing transgenic HD5 on a wild-type background (Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/+) are resistant to oral challenge with STM; however, there has been no investigation into the anti-bacterial activity of Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− Paneth cells17.

We first examined the processing of HD5 in organoids. In humans, proHD5 is cleaved by endogenous Paneth cell trypsin; however, trypsin is not present in mouse Paneth cells18. Although HD5 can also be processed by MMP7 in vitro18, mature HD5 has also been shown in vivo in the Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− background and has been attributed to alternative host and microbial proteinases14. We observed processed HD5 in organoids and isolated crypts from both Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− and Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/+ mice via western blot (Figure 5A).

Figure 5. HD5 maturation and STM killing in Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids.

Figure 5

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(A) AU-PAGE immunoblot of extracts from Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids (lane 1, 500 μg protein) and freshly isolated crypts (lane 2, 250 μg protein), Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/+ organoids (lane 3, 500 μg protein) and freshly isolated crypts (lane 4, 250 μg protein), and wildtype (WT) organoids (lane 5, 500 μg protein) and freshly isolated crypts (lane 6, 250 μg protein) were probed for HD5. (B and C) STM LT2 ΔphoP was injected into WT, Mmp7−/− and Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids, and surviving CFU were enumerated 7 h (B) and 16 h (C) post-injection. Each symbol represents an independent paired experiment and is the pooled data from a well of 20 injected organoids. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

We then asked if transgenic expression of HD5 augmented Paneth cell anti-bacterial activity. As in our previous assays, 5×103 CFU per organoid of STM LT2 ΔphoP was injected into wildtype, Mmp7−/−, and Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids. Surviving CFU were enumerated 7 h (Figure 5B) and 16 h post-injection (Figure 5C) to capture the dynamics of STM killing by HD5. After 7 h, survival of the inoculum was reduced 50-fold upon injection into wildtype organoids. Although differences among genotypes were not significant, we observed the greatest survival in Mmp7−/− organoids and intermediate survival in Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids. By 16 h post-injection, STM grew in organoids from all three genotypes; however, survival between wildtype and Mmp7−/− (2.1-log difference) was significant. Moreover, the transgenic expression of HD5 restored wildtype killing in the Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− organoids, with a 2.3-log difference in survival between Mmp7−/− and Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/−. Consistent with Supplementary Figure 1, there is an initial decrease in CFU in all of the organoid genotypes at 7 h, with a larger reduction in organoids that contain mature α-defensins. By 16 h there is growth across the organoid genotypes from the 7 h time point, which is much larger in the Mmp7−/− background (3-log increase) than in the wildtype (1.1-log increase) or Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− (1.6-log increase) organoids.

NOD2 deletion has no effect on bacterial killing

We next addressed the importance of NOD2 expression on the capacity of organoids to impact bacterial survival. NOD2 is an intracellular receptor for peptidoglycan, and loss of function mutations in NOD2 are associated with ileal Crohn’s disease and correlated with reduced expression of enteric α-defensins9,19. In mouse models, NOD2 deficiency is linked to reduced α-defensin expression and impaired antibacterial activity of crypt secretions, indicating that decreased α-defensin expression might be an inherent phenotype of NOD2−/− mice20–22. However, a more recent study demonstrated the levels and activities of α-defensins in NOD2−/− mice are similar to those in wildtype mice23.

To address these questions, we compared the levels of activated α-defensins between organoids from NOD2−/− and wildtype mice and found that they were equivalent (Figure 6A). To assess the impact of NOD2 expression on bacterial killing, we injected 5×103 CFU of STM LT2 ΔphoP into NOD2−/− and wildtype organoids and enumerated surviving CFU at 16 h post-injection. We saw no significant difference in recovered CFU between the organoid genotypes (Figure 6B). To ensure that NOD2 was fully activated, we repeated these experiments with the addition of muramyl di-peptide (MDP) to the inoculum. We again saw no significant difference in recovered CFU between the genotypes (Figure 6C). Thus, NOD2 expression had no effect on intrinsic α-defensin levels or Paneth cell antibacterial function in this model, although the magnitude of killing in these C57BL/6J organoids was weaker than that of C57BL/NHsd organoids in our other experiments.

Figure 6. α-defensin expression and antibacterial activity of NOD2−/− organoids.

Figure 6

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(A) Equal amounts (100 μg) of lyophilized extracts from organoids from wildtype, Mmp7−/−, NOD2+/+, and NOD2−/− mice were analyzed by AU-PAGE. Purified mouse α-defensin-23 (Crp23, 1 μg) indicates the mobility of mature α-defensins. CFU recovered 16 h post-injection of STM LT2 ΔphoP mixed without (B) or with (C) 100 μg MDP. Each line represents one independent experiment, and each data point is the total CFU from 20 organoids injected in a single well.

Discussion

We have established a model to mimic apical enteric infection that utilizes microinjection of small intestinal organoids. Prominent features of this model include an intact lumen that prevents diffusion of apically secreted products into the bulk volume of the culture medium and the ability to selectively infect either the apical or basolateral aspect of the polarized epithelium. Thus, this model allows for a broad range of studies of the interactions between microbes, epithelial cells, and their secreted products. As proof of concept, we determined the impact of naturally secreted α-defensins on bacterial survival in the organoid lumen. Growth of non-invasive STM was significantly reduced in wildtype organoids compared to Mmp7−/− organoids. Killing was observed at multiple time points after injection, by two independent measures, and for two STM strains. In accordance with the survival data, organoids from wildtype mice produced mature α-defensins, whereas those from Mmp7−/− mice did not. In addition, the decreased relative survival of strains lacking the phoP regulon and the ability of transgenic expression of HD5 to restore killing are consistent with an α-defensin-dependent mechanism. These results indicate that naturally secreted α-defensins in the complex extracellular milieu of the organoid lumen are capable of killing bacteria and that α-defensin activity is sustained, protecting the epithelium of the organoid over time.

This model represents a significant improvement over standard methods to determine anti-bacterial activities of α-defensins and can be easily applied to studies of other epithelial products. Standard assays for determining the anti-bacterial activities of α-defensins predominately use purified peptides and are performed under low-salt conditions, as bacterial killing is generally inhibited in buffers with physiologic levels of salt 24,25. A limited number of ex vivo studies have examined the ability of naturally produced α-defensins or defensin-containing extracellular fluids to inhibit bacterial growth25. For enteric α-defensins, Ayabe et al. purified crypts or villi from wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice, incubated them with STM, and enumerated surviving CFU4. STM killing was observed after exposure to crypts or crypt secretions but not to villi. In addition, STM killing was markedly reduced in Mmp7−/− crypts or by an antibody against mouse α-defensin-1. These data support the notion that secreted α-defensins are capable of directly killing bacteria. However, this study utilized freshly isolated small intestinal crypts, which are unstable and only amenable to short-term experiments. Additionally, bacterial killing was demonstrated under low salt conditions and overall was modest (<10-fold) compared to the level of killing we saw with wildtype organoids (up to a 6-log reduction).

Thus, our approach supports the anti-bacterial findings of previous studies with substantial improvements. First, our model enables the study of defensins in a complex milieu without purification and without altering buffer constituents. Second, multiple experiments can be performed with equivalent, stably cultured organoids, which are stable for months to years. In contrast, while ex-vivo human and mouse biopsy specimens can be apically infected with bacterial, they are only viable for 12–48 hours26. Third, the fate of bacteria injected into a single organoid can be tracked over time. Fourth, the assay is very sensitive, as it can be amplified through prolonged co-culture of the microbes and organoids and is effective over a wide range of input CFU. Finally, organoids can be genetically manipulated or established from genetically engineered mice, allowing the role of specific proteins and pathways in enteric defense to be assessed3,27.

Given these advantages, we applied our enteric infection model to investigate the ability of organoids from NOD2−/− mice to inhibit bacterial growth compared to wildtype organoids. In genome wide association studies, NOD2 mutations contribute the greatest genetic risk for Crohn’s disease, although the exact role that NOD2 mutations play in the etiology of Crohn’s disease is unclear28. Initial studies reported a reduction in α-defensin transcript levels in NOD2−/− mice, which was mirrored in human Crohn’s disease patients with NOD2 mutations9,22. This defect was functionally confirmed through a reduction in anti-bacterial activity in NOD2−/− crypt secretions20,21. However, recent studies have reported wildtype levels of α-defensins in both mice and humans with NOD2 deficiency and support a role for NOD2 in stem cell survival23,29,30. We found that NOD2−/− organoids contain wildtype levels of α-defensins. Moreover, we observed no defect in their ability to restrict growth of luminal bacteria. These results are most consistent with the absence of an effect of NOD2 on either α-defensin expression or Paneth cell function.

Despite the strength of our approach, there are some limitations to the design and interpretation of these and future applications. First, although the epithelial cell diversity of the small intestine is recapitulated in organoids, the spatial relationships of the crypt-villus axis are not uniformly preserved. In addition, organisms are introduced in close proximity to crypt cells in the organoid, whereas in vivo they would need to traverse a greater distance from the bowel lumen to reach an anatomically equivalent location. The compact spatial organization also presents a technical challenge, in that there is a finite volume that can be injected into the organoid lumen, which could potentially be limiting for organisms that cannot be concentrated sufficiently. Second, we have shown that the organoid lumen is a discreet environment. We were unable to directly quantify the concentration of α-defensins at basal levels or in response to stimuli in the organoid lumen. This issue is specific to defensins, as it is difficult to biochemically or histologically distinguish intracellular defensins stored in granules and those released into the lumen by degranulation, a mechanism well supported by the literature 11,31. A recent imaging study demonstrated secretion of lysozyme into the lumen of organoids over a time frame equivalent to that of our experiments32. This supports our interpretation that α-defensins are secreted even by unstimulated Paneth cells, since α-defensins are stored in Paneth cell granules with lysozyme 4,11,33. Third, the degree to which the organoid lumen recapitulates the small intestinal lumen, particularly in regards to pH and osmolality, is unclear. The organoid lumen likely more accurately models the confines of intestinal crypts rather than the much larger bowel lumen. Fourth, although our study demonstrates that naturally secreted α-defensins substantially contribute to inhibiting bacterial growth, it does not preclude a role for the microbiota and the immune system in impacting the phenotype of Mmp7−/− mice after enteric infection7,8. Additionally, as Mmp7−/− mice lack both mature α-defensins and cryptdin-related sequences (CRS), both of which are anti-bacterial, we cannot formally exclude a role for CRS in the observed killing seen in wildtype organoids34,35. Finally, we encountered a quantitative issue in some experiments due to turbidity of the organoid medium 20 h post-infection in the Mmp7−/− cultures, most often with the 14028s strain. We hypothesize that the absence of α-defensins permitted bacterial overgrowth that compromised the integrity of the organoid lumen. This complication impacts the absolute quantification of experimental CFU but does not alter the qualitative interpretation of the experiments.

Overall, we believe that our organoid model has significant potential for future applications. It is readily applicable to studying the direct impact of anti-microbial peptides and proteins on pathogen growth, which can likely be extended to viruses and parasites. Although we limited our assay to non-invasive strains of STM that are more sensitive to defensin killing, organoids could be used to interrogate invasive bacteria and their effects on host cells, and additional bacterial mutants could be studied alone or in combination. The veracity of the system can be further increased by inducing the differentiation of M cells and by co-culturing with immune cells27,36. Finally, human organoids can be cultured under similar conditions, permitting translational studies of acute infection and chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease37. Thus, the establishment of this model of enteric infection enables a broad range of studies of host-pathogen interactions.

Methods

Ethics Statement

All mouse experiments were performed in strict accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health and following the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals. Protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Washington.

Mice

Wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice were on a C57BL/6NHsd background38. Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/− mice on a C57BL/6 background21 were obtained by cryorecovery from Jackson Labs and were interbred to yield Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/+ mice. Mmp7+/+ DEFA5+/− mice were then backcrossed onto the Mmp7−/− background to yield Mmp7−/− DEFA5+/− mice. NOD2−/− (stock number 5763) and control wildtype C57BL/6J mice were obtained from Jackson labs. All mice were housed under specific pathogen-free conditions.

Bacterial strains and culture conditions

Strains used in this study are listed in Supplemental Table 1. Mutants were generated in STM 14028s by P22 phage transduction. Strains were grown in LB-Miller at 37 °C with aeration. Antibiotics were added at 50 μg/mL. Strains and plasmids used are listed in Table 1.

Table 1.

Strains and plasmids used in study

Strain or plasmid name Genotype or Plasmid Backbone vector Source
BC155 S. typhimurium LT2 Brad Cookson (University of Washington, Seattle)
BC132 S. typhimurium LT2
phoP::Tn10Cam		 Brad Cookson (University of Washington, Seattle)
BC156 S. typhimurium 14028s Brad Cookson (University of Washington, Seattle)
BC1563 S. typhimurium 14028s
fljBA::FRT sipB::FKF KanR		 41
SSW1 BC156 sipB::FKF KanR This study
BC162 BC156 phoP::Tn10Cam Brad Cookson (University of Washington, Seattle)
SSW3 BC162 sipB::FKF KanR This study
pDW5 pPtetA::GFP 42
SSW4 BC132 pDW5 This study
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Small intestinal organoid production and maintenance

Organoids were cultured from crypt enriched ileal fractions from 6–10 wk old wildtype and Mmp7−/− mice as previously described1. Briefly, the distal 10 cm of the small intestine was removed and flushed with 0.04% sodium hypochlorite in PBS. After removal of mucus and villi, the epithelium was dissociated for 90 min at RT in a solution of 3 mM EDTA and 0.5 mM DTT in Hank’s Buffered Salt solution (HBSS). Crypt enriched fractions were identified following vigorous shaking into sequential changes of fresh, ice cold, sterile Ca2+/Mg2+-free HBSS. Cells were then concentrated by centrifugation at 300 × g for 5 min at 4 °C, and the pellet was resuspended in 300 μl of HBSS containing 0.5 mM Rock inhibitor (Fisher) and 10 μM Jagged-1 (Anaspec). After a second round of centrifugation, the cell pellet was resuspended in growth factor reduced Matrigel (BD Biosciences). 50 μl aliquots were plated in the center of 24 well plates and overlayed with 500 μl of Complete Crypt Culture Medium (CCCM)10. Once established, culture media was supplemented with 200 μl CCCM every 2–3 days. Organoids were subcultured every 6–7 days10.

Organoid microinjection and bactericidal assay

Organoids were subcultured as above 3–4 days prior to microinjection, deposited in 30 μl Matrigel on glass coverslips in 12-well tissue culture dishes, and overlaid with 1 mL CCCM. Before injection, organoids on coverslips were washed twice with Advanced DMEM/F12 and overlaid with 1 mL CCCM without antibiotics. A Nikon Ti microscope with Nomarski optics fitted with a rotating glide stage and a FemtoJet Microinjector (Eppendorf) was used for microinjection. Injection needles were pulled from glass capillaries (1B100-4, World Precision Instruments) on a horizontal bed puller (Sutter Instruments). The tip ends were broken using tweezers.

For injection, overnight cultures of bacteria grown in LB-Miller broth were subcultured for an additional 2 h at 37 °C with aeration under selection. 1 mL of subculture was washed twice and serially diluted in PBS to the desired concentration. The CFU of each inoculum was quantified from 20 injections into PBS prior to organoid injection.

To enumerate surviving CFU, media was removed from wells and centrifuged to recover bacteria, while organoids were removed from Matrigel using Cell Dissociation Solution (BD Biosciences) at 4 °C for 30 min. Organoids in solution were added to the bacterial pellet, centrifuged at 300 × g for 5 min, and resuspended in 100 μl sterile water for 5 min to lyse eukaryotic cells. The sample was then vortexed for 15 sec before serial dilution in PBS and plating on LB agar plates. Plates were incubated at 37 °C, and colonies were counted after 18–20 h to determine CFU.

20 organoids per sample were injected one time each with STM. Each injection contained 5×104 CFU for Figure 1B; 5×103 CFU for Figure 2A–E, Figure 5B–C, Figure 6B–C, and Supplementary Figure 1; and 50 CFU for Figure 4A–B. Note that we have graphed the total inoculum delivered to the entire well in all figures except Figures 2D and Supplementary Figure 1D in which the inoculum delivered to a single organoid is graphed. Samples were then incubated in CCCM without antibiotics (1 h for Figure 5B–C, Figure 6B–C, and Supplementary Figure 1 or 2 h for Figure 1B, Figure 2A–E, and Figure 4A–B) and then for an equal amount of time with 100 μg/mL gentamicin. Where indicated, 10μM CCh (Sigma) was added to the culture well 30 min before injection. For Figure 1B, CFU were enumerated at this point. For subsequent experiments, injected organoids were washed twice with Advanced DMEM/F12 and grown in CCCM without antibiotics. Surviving CFU was enumerated at 0, 5, 7, 9, 16, or 20 h post-injection, as indicated in each figure legend.

Image Analysis

Epifluorescence images were acquired using a Nikon Ti-E inverted microscope fitted with a 40x objective, a CCD camera, and image acquisition software (NIS Elements, Nikon). 4 μm z-stacks were obtained in both bright field and fluorescent channels for each organoid. Image analysis was performed using ImageJ v.1.45s39. To account for autofluorescence, a threshold was determined using an average of 10 uninjected organoids, and the integrated density of signal above threshold for the most focused plane of each organoid was then calculated.

Immunohistochemistry

Small intestinal organoids were removed from Matrigel using Cell Dissociation Solution as above, concentrated by centrifugation, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF). Fixed organoids were then resuspended in Histogel (Thermo-scientific), stored overnight in 10% NBF, and embedded in paraffin. Deparaffinized samples were incubated with goat anti-Crp5 (1:8000, a kind gift from Dr. Andre Ouellette35) or goat IgG (0.6 μg/ml, Life Technologies) followed by diaminobenzidine precipitation and hematoxylin counterstaining. Non-sequential sections from the same blocks were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Western blot

Small intestinal organoids were cultured for 6 days and removed from Matrigel using Cell Dissociation Solution as above. Cell lysates were prepared in RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1% NP-40, 0.5% deoxycholate, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate) with protease inhibitors. After separation by SDS-PAGE, immunoblots were probed for MMP7 (ab5706, Abcam) or GAPDH (sc-32233, Santa Cruz) and visualized with chemiluminescence. To generate rMMP7, the Mmp7 gene was cloned into a pET27 vector with a C-terminal Strep tag. Upon expression in E. coli strain BL21, rMMP7 was purified from solubilized inclusion bodies by affinity chromatography using StrepTactin Sepharose (IBA GmbH).

AU-PAGE and AU-PAGE western blot

Organoids or crypt-enriched fractions from mouse ileum were concentrated by centrifugation, resuspended in 30% acetic acid, and sonicated. After incubation overnight at 4 °C with agitation, samples were diluted 3-fold with water. Insoluble material was removed by centrifugation at 100,000 × g for 2 h at 4 °C, protein concentrations of the supernatants were determined by Bio-Rad Protein Assay (Bio-Rad), and equivalent amounts of each sample were lyophilized. Lyophilized samples were dissolved in 5% acetic acid and separated by 17% AU-PAGE14. Folded Crp23 was created from a synthesized 80% pure linear peptide (CPC Scientific) by the same procedure as previously reported for the α-defensin HD540. Proteins were visualized with SYPRO Ruby (Life Technologies). Gels were imaged using a Typhoon 9400 variable mode imager (GE Healthcare). For western blot, samples were separated by 12.5% AU-PAGE and semi-dry transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Membranes were immediately fixed in glutaraldahyde and blocked in 5% milk, before overnight RT incubation in rabbit anti-HD5 antibody (kind gift from Edith Porter12) at a 1:1000 dilution. Membranes were incubated in goat-anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 488 (Invitrogen) and imaged using a Typhoon 9400 variable mode imager (GE Healthcare).

Statistics

Experiments were analyzed using Prism (v. 5.0d, GraphPad). For Figure 1B, data were log transformed and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey post-tests. For Figure 2C, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s Multiple Comparison Test was used. For Figures 2D, 2E, 5B–C, 6B–C, Supplementary Figure 1C–D, and Supplementary Figure 2B–C data were log transformed and analyzed by repeated measures one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-tests. For Figures 4A, and 4B, data were log transformed and analyzed by paired t test. In all analyses, p < 0.05 was considered significant. In the figures, * indicates p < 0.05, ** indicates p < 0.01, and *** indicates p < 0.005.

Supplementary Material

Acknowledgments

We thank B. Thomasson and J. Maxwell for NOD2 organoid isolation; M. Stewart, L. Cummings, and B. Cookson for STM strains and plasmids; and M. Stewart for help in STM strain construction. J. Mougous and M. LeRoux provided access and technical expertise for microcopy, and D. Miller and J. Horsman helped establish a microinjection system. R. Edwards and K. Wang provided guidance on establishing organoid cultures. This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health grants R56 AI097311 (to J.G.S.), R01 AI104920 (to J.G.S.), HL098067 (to W.C.P.), T32 GM07270 (S.S.W.), and T32 AI083203 (S.S.W.).

Footnotes

Conflict of interest: The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Disclosure. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

SSW and JGS conceived and designed the experiments. SSW AT and MKH performed the experiments. SSW MKH and JGS analyzed the data and SSW JGS AT and WCP wrote the paper.

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Supplementary Materials

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