Figure 3.

Artificial sweeteners significantly disrupt the interaction between model gut bacterial and intestinal epithelial cells. E. coli (panels a–c) and E. faecalis (panels d–f) were exposed to artificial sweeteners, saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame (100 µM), for 24 h. Adhesion of bacteria to Caco-2 cells (panels a,d) and invasion of bacteria into Caco-2 cells (panels b,e) were measured following incubation with Caco-2 cells for 1 h. Cytotoxic effects of bacterial soluble factors were assessed by culturing bacterial supernatant with Caco-2 cells for 24 h (panels c,f). Specific bacteria for each study are included in underlined text. Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M. * p < 0.05 versus vehicle.