Escherichia coli affects expression of circadian clock genes in human hepatoma cells

Kovač, Urša (author), Žužek, Zala (author), Raspor Dall'Olio, Lucija (author), Pohar, Katka (author), Ihan, Alojz (author), Moškon, Miha (author), Rozman, Damjana (author), Starčič Erjavec, Marjanca (author)

Recent research has indicated that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can lead to an altered circadian clock of the mammalian host. Herein we developed an original system that allows real-time circadian studies of human HepG2 hepatoma cells co-cultured with bacteria. The HepG2 cells with stably integrated firefly luciferase reporter under the control of PERIOD2 promoter were co-cultured with E. coli strains isolated from human fecal samples from healthy individuals. The two E. coli strains differ in the phylogenetic group and the number of ExPEC virulence-associated genes: BJ17 has only two, and BJ23 has 15 of 23 tested. In the first 24 h, the E. coli BJ17 affected the HepG2 circadian clock more than BJ23. Cosinor analysis shows a statistically significant change in the amplitude of PER1 and 2 and the phase advance of PER3. A high percentage of necrotic and apoptotic cells occurred at 72 h, while a correlation between the number of ExPEC genes and the influence on the HepG2 core clock gene expression was observed. Our study reveals that the E. coli genetic background is important for the effect on the mammalian circadian clock genes, indicating possible future use of probiotic E. coli strains to influence the host circadian clock.

• Language: English
• Keywords: intestinal microbiota, Escherichia coli, circadian clock, circadian rhythm, HepG2
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine; BF - Biotechnical Faculty; FRI - Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 9, iss. 4, art. 869
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135300
• UDC: 579
• ISSN on article: 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040869
• COBISS.SI-ID: 61091843
• Publication date in RUL: 07.03.2022

KOVAČ, Urša, ŽUŽEK, Zala, RASPOR DALL’OLIO, Lucija, POHAR, Katka, IHAN, Alojz, MOŠKON, Miha, ROZMAN, Damjana and STARČIČ ERJAVEC, Marjanca, 2021, Escherichia coli affects expression of circadian clock genes in human hepatoma cells. Microorganisms [online]. 2021. Vol. 9, no. 4,  869. [Accessed 11 June 2025]. DOI 10.3390/microorganisms9040869. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=135300

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Microorganisms
• Shortened title: Microorganisms
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2607
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523277081

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 17.04.2021