Determining effects of microbial metabolite, Urolithin A on colon epithelial cells

Numerous studies signify that diets rich in phytochemicals reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, their effects are often not uniform among individuals, possibly due to inter-individual variation in gut microbiota. The host indigenous gut microbiota and their metabolites have emerged as factors that greatly influence the efficacy of dietary interventions. The biological activities, mechanisms of actions and the specific targets of several microbial metabolites are unknown. Urolithin A (UroA) is one such natural microbial metabolite, which showed (including our recent study) anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The goal of the experiment to determine if Urolithin A blocks the genes induced by lipopolysaccharide (mimicking bacterial effects on colon) as well as determine effects of Urolithin A alone. Examination of the effects of Urolithin A on lipopolysaccharide (mimicking bacterial effects on colon) as well as effects of Urolithin A alone using five conditions (vehicle; Urolithin A, 25um; Urolithin A, 50uM; lipopolysaccharide; Urolithin A, 50uM + lipopolysaccharide) with three replicates per condition.