Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Malnutrition is linked to 45% of death below the age of 5 and intestinal dysfunction, including intestinal barrier breakdown and mucosal atrophy. Exosomes are minute extracellular vesicles that were shown to influence intestinal stem cell function, which could stimulate intestinal repair. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exosomes in malnutrition-induced mucosal atrophy and barrier dysfunction. C57BL/6J mice received a control or isocaloric protein deficient diet for 14 days to induce malnutrition. From day 10 to 14 they received daily oral gavage of milk-derived exosomes or PBS control. Malnourished mice demonstrated villus blunting, increased permeability as evidenced by significantly increased FITC levels and loss of Claudin-3 which were improved with exosomes. Small intestinal cellular proliferation was increased with exosomes (Ki67 staining) and associated with signs of increased leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 stem cell activity. Exosomes could be an attractive therapy to restore intestinal function in malnourished children.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3163912763