Krill oil reduces intestinal inflammation by improving epithelial integrity and impairing adherent-invasive Escherichia coli pathogenicity

BackgroundKrill oil is a marine derived oil rich in phospholipids, astaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids. Several studies have found benefits of krill oil against oxidative and inflammatory damage.AimsWe aimed at assessing the ability of krill oil to reduce intestinal inflammation by improving epithelial barrier integrity, increasing cell survival and reducing pathogenicity of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli.MethodsCACO2 and HT29 cells were exposed to cytomix (TNFα and IFNγ) to induce inflammation and co-exposed to cytomix and krill oil. E-cadherin, ZO-1 and F-actin levels were analyzed by immunofluorescence to assess barrier integrity. Scratch test was performed to measure wound healing. Cell survival was analyzed by flow cytometry. Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli LF82 was used for adhesion/invasion assay.ResultsIn inflamed cells E-cadherin and ZO-1 decreased, with loss of cell–cell adhesion, and F-actin polymerization increased stress fibres; krill oil restored initial conditions and improved wound healing, reduced bacterial adhesion/invasion in epithelial cells and survival within macrophages; krill oil reduced LF82-induced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.ConclusionsKrill oil improves intestinal barrier integrity and epithelial restitution during inflammation and controls bacterial adhesion and invasion to epithelial cells. Thus, krill oil may represent an innovative tool to reduce intestinal inflammation.