Spatial and temporal colonization dynamics of segmented filamentous bacteria is influenced by gender, age and experimental infection with Helicobacter hepaticus in Swiss Webster mice

In this study, we examined colonization dynamics of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) in intestine of Swiss Webster (SW) mice infected with Helicobacter hepaticus (Hh). At 8 weeks post-inoculation with Hh (WPI), cecal and colonic SFB levels in the control males were significantly lower compared to those at 16 WPI. Hh infection in both genders did not alter SFB levels in the jejunum and ileum, but increased SFB levels in the cecum and colon of males compared to the controls (P < 0.05) at 8 WPI. At 16 WPI, the Hh-infected females contained lower levels of SFB in the jejunum, cecum and colon compared to the female controls. Irrespective of gender, aging and Hh infection, the Il-17A mRNA levels decreased from the small intestine to the cecum and then to the colon, whereas the Foxp3 mRNA levels were comparable in these intestinal regions. There were significant differences in Il-17A mRNA levels in the ileum (P < 0.05, R2 = 0.31), with females having greater Il-17A mRNA levels than males, and higher SFB colonization levels related to more Il-17A mRNA. These results indicate that aging and gender play an important role in colonization dynamics of intestinal SFB and ileal SFB-associated Th17 response.