Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 induces a distinct global transcriptomic programme in neonatal murine intestinal epithelial cells

The underlying health-driving mechanisms of Bifidobacterium during early life are not well understood, particularly how this microbiota member may modulate the intestinal barrier via programming of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We investigated the impact of Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 on the transcriptome of neonatal murine IECs. Small IECs from two-week-old neonatal mice administered B. breve UCC2003 or PBS (control) were subjected to global RNA-Seq, and differentially expressed genes, pathways and affected cell types determined. We observed extensive regulation of the IEC transcriptome with ∼4,000 genes significantly up-regulated, including key genes linked with epithelial barrier function. Enrichment of cell differentiation pathways were observed, along with an overrepresentation of stem cell marker genes, indicating an increase in the regenerative potential of the epithelial layer. In conclusion, B. breve UCC2003 plays a central role in driving intestinal epithelium homeostatic development during early life and suggests future avenues for next-stage clinical studies.