Toxigenic Clostridium perfringens isolated from at-risk pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:The goal was to identify microbial drivers of IBD, by investigating mucosal-associated bacteria and their detrimental products in IBD patients. METHODS:We directly cultured bacterial communities from mucosal biopsies from pediatric gastrointestinal patients and examined for pathogenicity-associated traits. Upon identifying C. perfringens as toxigenic bacteria present in mucosal biopsies, we isolated strains and further characterized toxicity and prevalence. RESULTS:Mucosal biopsy microbial composition differed from corresponding stool samples. C. perfringens was present in 8 of 9 patients' mucosal biopsies, correlating with hemolytic activity, while not in all corresponding stool samples. Large IBD datasets showed higher C. perfringens prevalence in stool samples of IBD adults (18.7-27.1%) versus healthy (5.1%). In vitro, C. perfringens supernatants were toxic to cell types beneath the intestinal epithelial barrier, including endothelial, neuroblasts, and neutrophils, while impact on epithelial cells was less pronounced, suggesting C. perfringens may be damaging particularly when barrier integrity is compromised. Further characterization using purified toxins and genetic insertion mutants confirmed PFO toxin was sufficient for toxicity. Toxin RNA signatures were found in the original patient biopsies by PCR, suggesting intestinal production. C. perfringens supernatants also induced activation of neuroblast and dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro, suggesting C. perfringens in inflamed mucosal tissue may directly contribute to abdominal pain, a frequent IBD symptom. CONCLUSIONS:Gastrointestinal carriage of certain toxigenic C. perfringens may have an important pathogenic impact on IBD patients. These findings support routine monitoring of C. perfringens and PFO toxins and potential treatment in patients.