EICOSATETRAYNOIC ACID REGULATES MITOCHONDRIAL AND EXTRA-CELLULAR MATRIX GENE EXPRESSION AND TISSUE STIFFNESS IN A HUMAN INTESTINAL ORGANOID MODEL OF ILEAL CROHN’S DISEASE
Authors: Jurickova Ingrid , Huron Alex , Angerman Elizabeth , Bonkowski Erin , Jegga Anil , Haberman Yael , Denson Lee 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Mutations in the DUOX2 intestinal epithelial cell NADPH oxidase are associated with risk for Crohn’s Disease (CD), and may influence wound healing and the development of strictures. Patients who develop strictures exhibit reduced expression of genes encoding mitochondrial sub-units, and increased expression of genes encoding extra-cellular matrix proteins, in the ileum at diagnosis. We conducted a perturbagen bioinformatics analysis which predicted that the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor eicosatetraynoic-acid (ETYA) would reverse the ileal gene signature associated with stricture development. In the current study we tested effects of ETYA in a human intestinal organoid model (HIO) system.

METHODS
HIO were derived from wild type (WT) and DUOX2 mutant (DUOX2var) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) prepared from CD patients. WT and DUOX2var HIO were examined under basal conditions, and following exposure to ETYA for 72 hours or 12 days. Superoxide production in EPCAM+ epithelial cells and CD90+ stromal cells was measured by flow cytometry. RNA was prepared and expression of mitochondrial and extra-cellular matrix genes linked to strictures in patients was determined using RNA sequencing and a TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA) card. HIO tissue stiffness was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

RESULTS
ETYA reduced superoxide production by HIO EPCAM+ epithelial cells only in WT organoids; no effect was observed in DUOX2var HIO. This was specific, as no effect of ETYA upon superoxide production was detected in CD90+ stromal cells. Under basal conditions, RNA sequencing demonstrated that WT HIO expressed core mitochondrial and extra-cellular matrix genes and enriched biologic functions implicated in CD strictures. Expression of extra-cellular matrix and wound healing genes was increased in DUOX2var HIO under basal conditions. ETYA up-regulated expression of the COX5B, POLG2, and SLC25A27 mitochondrial genes associated with lower rates of strictures, while reducing expression of the ACTA2, VIM, and COL1A1 extra-cellular matrix genes associated with higher rates of strictures, independent of DUOX2 genotype. WT and DUOX2var HIO exhibited tissue stiffness comparable to normal human ileum under basal conditions; this was significantly reduced by ETYA exposure only in DUOX2var HIO.

CONCLUSIONS
ETYA regulates mitochondrial and extra-cellular matrix genes implicated in stricture formation in an HIO model system. DUOX2var HIO exhibit increased extra-cellular matrix gene expression under basal conditions, which is reduced by ETYA exposure in conjunction with a reduction in tissue stiffness. Collectively, these data confirm that HIO provide a relevant model system to study mechanisms regulating stricture formation in CD, including screening of small molecules prioritized by perturbagen bioinformatics analysis.