Probiotic lactobacilli mediated changes in global epigenetic signatures of human intestinal epithelial cells during Escherichia coli challenge

Host genome environment association is critical for proper development and functioning of an individual. Microbiota and probiotics within the cellular vicinity may serve such critical stimuli that can bring out different epigenetic mediated host responses. The aim of present study was to explore the changes in epigenetic signatures of Caco-2 cells by probiotic strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC 5897: LR, Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC 5898: LF and their mixture: RF), respectively, or during challenge with Escherichia coli (ATCC 14948) using exclusion, competition and displacement assays. Adenocarcinoma intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells were treated with LR, LF, RF and E. coli for 6 h, respectively. Caco-2 cells were also challenged with E. coli and probiotic lactobacilli during exclusion, competition and displacement assays. Finally, global epigenetic modifications by acetylation of H4 and H3 histone proteins and DNA methylation patterns were determined. Probiotic-treated Caco-2 cells displayed significant (p