Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin HlyA induces host cell polarity changes, epithelial barrier dysfunction and cell detachment in human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cell model via PTEN-dependent dysregulation of cell junctions

Escherichia coli of the B2 phylotype reside in human and animal intestines. We addressed the questions which host cell processes were dysregulated by E. coli HlyA that can potentiate intestinal diseases. The colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2 was infected by HlyA+ E. coli. Cell polarity regulation was analyzed by live cell imaging for the localization of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) abundance in the plasma membrane. In Caco-2 monolayers, transepithelial electrical resistance was measured to determine barrier function. Cell morphologyproliferation and dissemination was assessed microscopically. Cell signaling and polarity regulation was analyzed by RNA-Seq. Overall design: mRNA profiles from infected Caco-2 cells and controls were generated by paired-end sequencing using Illumina NovaSeq 6000