The dual role of Escherichia coli in the course of ulcerative colitis

This study examines the dual role of Escherichia coli in the course of ulcerative colitis (UC). The intestinal microbiota is considered to play an important role in UC pathogenesis, but how E. coli contributes to inflammation in UC is still unknown. On the one hand, we demonstrated that there was a significant increase in the number of E. coli at the sites of inflammation in patients with UC, which can lead to immune system activation, whilst, on the other hand, E. coli may contribute to the resolution of inflammatory reactions since E. coli can inhibit hydroxyl radical formation by eliminating substrates of the Fenton reaction, by assimilating ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) and inducing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). On this way, E. coli may affect the initiation and/or prolongation of remission stages of UC.

Ten E. coli strains were isolated from the colonic mucosa of patients in the acute phase of UC. Using PCR, we examined the presence of genes encoding catalases (katG and katE) and proteins participating in iron acquisition (feoB, fepA, fhuA, fecA, iroN, fyuA, and iutA) in these E. coli strains. To determine if iron ions influence the growth rate of E. coli and its ability to decompose H₂O₂, we grew E. coli in defined culture media without iron (M9(-)) or with ferrous ions (M9(Fe²⁺)). Expression levels of genes encoding catalases were examined by real-time PCR.

All investigated E. coli strains had catalase genes (katG, katE), genes coding for receptors for Fe²⁺ (feoB) and at least one of the genes responsible for iron acquisition related to siderophores (fepA, fhuA, fecA, iroN, fyuA, iutA). E. coli cultured in M9(Fe²⁺) grew faster than E. coli in M9(-). The presence of Fe²⁺ in the media contributed to the increased rate of H₂O₂ decomposition by E. coli and induced katG gene expression.

E. coli eliminates substrates of the Fenton reaction by assimilating Fe²⁺ and biosynthesizing enzymes that catalyze H₂O₂ decomposition. Thus, E. coli can inhibit hydroxyl radical formation, and affects the initiation and/or prolongation of remission stages of UC.