A14 ABLATION OF THE INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL SIALOME PREDISPOSES TO SPONTANEOUS COLITIS AND COLITIS-ASSOCIATED TUMORIGENESIS VIA MUCUS-DEPENDENT AND -INDEPENDENT MECHANISMS IN MICE

TL;DR

Removing sialic acid from gut cells in mice causes chronic colitis and tumors, affecting mucus and gut bacteria.

Contribution

This study reveals the role of complete intestinal sialylation deficiency in colitis and tumorigenesis through mucus-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Findings

Ablation of sialylation in gut epithelial cells leads to chronic colitis and rectal tumors in aged mice.

Loss of sialylation reduces mucus thickness and increases susceptibility to fecal protease degradation.

Sialylation deficiency impairs stem cell activity and worsens mucositis after injury.

Abstract

Recent work suggests epithelial sialylation (capping of glycoconjugates with the acidic sugar sialic acid) can protect the gut mucosa from inflammatory bowel disease by promoting mucus function. However, these studies are based on partial sialylation knockouts, potentially underestimating the role of glycoconjugate sialylation in mucosal homeostasis.

We sought to uncover how the complete intestinal epithelial sialome (the total glycan sialylation repetoire) regulates colitis susceptibility in vivo.

We generated a model of total gut epithelial sialylation deficiency by conditionally and inducibly (via tamoxifen, TM) targeting the CMP-Sia transporter, Slc35a1, in epithelial cells using Cre-Lox technology (Slc35a1f/f; VillinCre(ERT2) or (TM-)IEC Slc35a1-/- mice). We analyzed phenotypes clinically, histologicaly, and via multi-omic apporaches at baseline and in response to challenge.

We confirmed the ablation of mucus sialylation via lectin staining, epithelial Slc35a1 gene expression, and O-glycomics of extracted mucins. In contrast to partial sialylation deficiencies, we found that IEC Slc35a1-/- mice developed mild spontaneous microbiota-dependent chronic colitis that was associated with tumorigenesis in the rectum in 30% of aged mice (>12 mo.). TM-IEC Slc35a1-/- mice developed less severe spontaneous colitis, but were susceptible to acute injury with 1% DSS. Ablation of the gut epithelial sialome led to reduced mucus thickness on fecal sections and within tissues, although the b1/b2 barrier layers were still intact. TM-IEC Slc35a1-/- mice showed altered microbiota composition with an increase in Clostridium spp. at the expense of a global reduction in the abundance of at least 20 unique taxa; however metabolomic analysis did not show any significant differences in short-chain fatty acid levels. IEC Slc35a1-/- Muc2 was more susceptible to fecal protease degradation vs.WT Muc2. While no spontaneous phenotype was observed in the small intestine (SI), treatment with 5-fluorouracil led to worsened SI mucositis and morbidity vs. WT littermates. This was traced to impaired stem cell activities via reduced Lgr5+ cell representation in small intestinal crypts in IEC Slc35a1-/-;Lgr5GFP mice.

Ablation of the intestinal epithelial sialome impacts the mucus-microbiota-stem cell axis with consequences on colonic mucosal homeostasis based on the type of injury. At baseline, loss of sialylation impairs mucus stability and the stem cell niche leading to microbiota-dependent spontaneous colitis and tumorigenesis. However, these same epithelial defects impair epithelial renewal and worsen colitis following acute injury likely due to the cytotoxic environment caused by the chemical agent.

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