Environment and intestinal epithelium
Team 6
Keywords: Environmental factors, Intestinal epithelium physio(patho)logy, Regeneration, , Intestinal permeability, Inflammation
Research programs
The intestinal epithelium represents an essential functional barrier for our body, enabling the absorption of nutrients, salts, and water while providing protection against pathogens. To fulfill these functions, the cells of the intestinal mucosa renew every 5 days, subjecting the digestive tract to significant stress in controlling proliferation, differentiation, and cellular organization. Intestinal renewal is tightly regulated and depends on the spatial organization of signals from supporting mesenchymal cells, particularly the fibroblasts that sheath the crypt and sustain the intestinal epithelium.
The homeostasis—and thus the integrity—of the intestinal epithelium is constantly challenged by external environmental factors from the intestinal lumen (food additives, nutritional compounds, microbiota, etc.) and internal factors (stroma, genetic predisposition, etc.). Environmental factors that promote or worsen colonic inflammation or disrupt epithelial cell renewal are a major concern. Indeed, any disruption of intestinal homeostasis contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and tumor transformation.
The two main forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). One of the major complications of IBD is colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, sporadic colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in industrialized countries.
Our research projects aim to investigate the impact of environmental factors—both external and internal—on the physio(patho)logy of the intestinal epithelium, the development of inflammatory processes, and carcinogenesis.
Membres
Cellular and Animal Models
Cellular Models
- Primary cultures of human colorectal fibroblasts
- Human and murine 3D colonic organoid primary cultures
- Caco-2 cells stably transfected with wild-type Nod2 or mutated polymorphisms
- Caco-2 cells stably transfected with 300A or 300T variants for ATG16L1
Animal Models
- Murine model of colorectal cancer: Orthotopic grafting in murine models
- Alterations in Nod2 pathways (Nod2 knockout or mutated mice)
- Alterations in endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways (IL-1 and NOX-1 knockout mice)
Methods
- 2D and 3D cell culture
- Animal experimentation
- Protein expression analysis (Western blot, etc.)
- RT-qPCR
- Capillary electrophoresis
- Confocal and two-photon imaging
Publications
Article type:
Intestinal toxicity of functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics in NOD2 models of Crohn’s disease susceptibility. Manon Dussol, Sandrine Ménard, ..., Frédérick Barreau, et al., Frontiers in Toxicology 2026. DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2026.1839932
Exclusive enteral nutrition containing transforming growth factor‐β improves intestinal barrier function in a colitis mouse model. Kawthar Boumessid, Vickie Lacroix, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Emmanuel Mas, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2026. DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.70517
Su1472 COLITIS-PRIMED CIRCULATING T CELLS DRIVE SMALL INTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTION THROUGH MICROBIOTA-DEPENDENT MECHANISMS. Talal Nabhani, Arthur Mauduit, et al., Gastroenterology 2026. DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5085(26)02679-x
Su1472 COLITIS-PRIMED CIRCULATING T CELLS DRIVE SMALL INTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTION THROUGH MICROBIOTA-DEPENDENT MECHANISMS. Talal Nabhani, Arthur Mauduit, et al., Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2026. DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5107(26)02610-6
Fatty acids from adipocyte lipolysis stimulate insulin secretion. Camille Fournes-Fraresso, Émilie Courty, ..., Stéphanie Cassant‐Sourdy, et al., bioRxiv 2026. DOI: 10.64898/2026.05.13.724851
Main genetic factors associated with inflammatory bowel diseases and their consequences on intestinal permeability: involvement in gut inflammation. Arthur Mauduit, Emmanuel Mas, ..., Sandrine Ménard, Frédérick Barreau, Journal of Gastroenterology 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s00535-025-02289-x
Deciphering the interplay between biology and physics with a finite element method-implemented vertex organoid model: A tool for the mechanical analysis of cell behavior on a spherical organoid shell. Julien Laussu, Déborah Michel, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Emmanuel Mas, et al., PLOS Computational Biology 2025. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012681
Dietary intake remains unchanged while nutritional status improves in children and adults with cystic fibrosis on Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor. Raphaël Enaud, Jeanne Languepin, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Clinical Nutrition 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2025.04.027
Evolution of hepatobiliary involvement in cystic fibrosis children on CFTR modulators. Mélanie Auvray, Nolwenn Laborde, ..., Frédérick Barreau, ..., Emmanuel Mas, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2025.05.003
Intestinal involvement in graft versus host disease in children: An overview by the ESPGHAN Gastroenterology Committee. Marina Vincent, Amit Assa, ..., Emmanuel Mas, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2025. DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.70087
Colitis-primed circulating T cells drive small intestinal barrier function through Nod2, microbiota and myosin light chain kinase-dependent mechanisms. Arthur Mauduit, Talal Nabhani, ..., Emmanuel Mas, Frédérick Barreau, et al., bioRxiv 2025. DOI: 10.1101/2025.07.10.663215
Drugs in focus: Budesonide and its role in paediatric gastrointestinal disorders. Sohail Aziz, Maria Giovanna Puoti, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2025. DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.70245
Skin Manifestations of Adult-Onset Immunodeficiencies. Sandrine Ménard, Robert Gniadecki, et al., Diseases of Blood and Skin 2025. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-65292-9_16
Toxicity of polystyrene particles to mice and in vitro models of intestinal cells, both healthy and with genetic susceptibility to Crohn’s disease. Manon Dussol, Sandrine Ménard, ..., Frédérick Barreau, et al., 2025. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5550796
Human colonic organoids for understanding early events of familial adenomatous polyposis pathogenesis. Nolwenn Laborde, Alexandre Barusseaud, ..., Nathalie Vergnolle, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Claire Racaud‐Sultan, Emmanuel Mas, The Journal of Pathology 2024. DOI: 10.1002/path.6366
Correction: Perinatal foodborne titanium dioxide exposure-mediated dysbiosis predisposes mice to develop colitis through life. Caroline Carlé, Delphine Boucher, ..., Sandrine Ménard, ..., Emmanuel Mas, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2024. DOI: 10.1186/s12989-024-00570-0
Toxicity of Polystyrene Particles to Mice and in Vitro Models of Intestinal Cells, Both Healthy and with Genetic Susceptibility to Crohn's Disease. Manon Dussol, Sandrine Ménard, ..., Frédérick Barreau, et al., 2024. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.4964764
Tu1735 IMPACT OF PERINATAL EXPOSITION TO PLASTIC ON INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES AND ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS IN MICE OFFSPRING. Melvin Airaud, Amandine Roldan, ..., Sandrine Ménard, Frédérick Barreau, Gastroenterology 2024. DOI: 10.1016/s0016-5085(24)03672-2
Deleterious imprinting of perinatal exposure to nano-polystyrene on inflammatory bowel diseases. Melvin Airaud, Amandine Roldan, ..., Lisa Isoard, Emmanuel Mas, ..., Sandrine Ménard, Frédérick Barreau, bioRxiv 2024. DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.20.629591
P340 Despite an unchanged energy intake, both pediatric and adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experienced improvement in their body mass index (BMI) under ETI modulator therapy. M. Lagarrigues, A. Arrouy, Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2024. DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(24)00636-2
P268 Evolution of hepatobiliary involvement in cystic fibrosis children on CFTR modulators. Marie Auvray, Nolan Joseph Laborde, Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2024. DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(24)00569-1
Cold-induced thermogenesis requires neutral-lipase-mediated intracellular lipolysis in brown adipocytes. Étienne Mouisel, A Bodon, ..., Stéphanie Cassant‐Sourdy, et al., Cell Metabolism 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.10.018
Rôle sexuellement dimorphique du récepteur aux œstrogènes ER alpha hépatocytaire dans la progression vers la stéato-hépatite métabolique. Blandine Tramunt, Marie-Lou Calmy, ..., Stéphanie Cassant‐Sourdy, et al., Annales d'Endocrinologie 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2024.08.090
Pediatric Magnet Ingestion, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention. Ahmed Nugud, Christos Tzivinikos, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2023. DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003702
Cross-Talk Between the Intestinal Epithelium and Salmonella Typhimurium. Sandrine Ménard, Sonia Lacroix‐Lamandé, ..., Agnès Wiedemann, Frontiers in Microbiology 2022. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.906238
Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Button Battery Ingestion in Childhood. Amani Mubarak, Marc A. Benninga, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2021. DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003048
Gastrointestinal Perspective of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children—An Updated Review. Amit Assa, Marc A. Benninga, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2021. DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003204
Bacteria-derived long chain fatty acid exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in colitis. Julien Pujo, Camille Petitfils, ..., Frédérick Barreau, ..., Éric Oswald, et al., Gut 2020. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321173
Psychological Stress, Intestinal Barrier Dysfunctions, and Autoimmune Disorders: An Overview. Hanna Ilchmann-Diounou, Sandrine Ménard, Frontiers in Immunology 2020. DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01823
The food contaminant, deoxynivalenol, modulates the Thelper/Treg balance and increases inflammatory bowel diseases. Delphine Payros, Sandrine Ménard, et al., Archives of Toxicology 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02817-z
Characterization of Human Colon Organoids From Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients. Emilie d'Aldebert, Muriel Quaranta, ..., Claire Racaud‐Sultan, Emmanuel Mas, Céline Deraison, Nathalie Vergnolle, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 2020. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00363
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Incidence and Prevalence Across Europe. Stephen Roberts, Kym Thorne, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 2020. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa037
FAK activity in cancer‐associated fibroblasts is a prognostic marker and a druggable key metastatic player in pancreatic cancer. Sonia Zaghdoudi, Emilie Decaup, ..., Stéphanie Cassant‐Sourdy, et al., EMBO Molecular Medicine 2020. DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012010
Vegan diet in children and adolescents. Recommendations from the French-speaking Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group (GFHGNP). Julie Lemale, Emmanuel Mas, et al., Archives de Pédiatrie 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2019.09.001
Overview and Comparison of Intestinal Organotypic Models, Intestinal Cells, and Intestinal Explants Used for Toxicity Studies. Marc Maresca, Philippe Pinton, ..., Sandrine Ménard, et al., Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 2018. DOI: 10.1007/82_2018_142
NOD2 Expression in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Protects Toward the Development of Inflammation and Associated Carcinogenesis. Audrey Ferrand, Ziad Al Nabhani, ..., Emmanuel Mas, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.10.009
Management of Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome in Children and Adolescents. Shlomi Cohen, Warren Hyer, Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2018. DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002246
Diagnostic Yield of Next-generation Sequencing in Very Early-onset Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Multicentre Study. Fabienne Charbit‐Henrion, Marianna Parlato, ..., Emmanuel Mas, et al., Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 2018. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy068
Identification of an analgesic lipopeptide produced by the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917. Teresa Pérez, Julien Pujo, ..., Frédérick Barreau, ..., Éric Oswald, et al., Nature Communications 2017. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01403-9
Nod2: The intestinal gate keeper. Ziad Al Nabhani, Gilles Dietrich, ..., Frédérick Barreau, PLOS Pathogens 2017. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006177
Continuous*in vitro*exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to E171 food additive causes oxidative stress, inducing oxidation of DNA bases but no endoplasmic reticulum stress. Marie Dorier, David Béal, ..., Frédérick Barreau, et al., Nanotoxicology 2017. DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2017.1349203
Chemotherapy-Resistant Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Are Not Enriched for Leukemic Stem Cells but Require Oxidative Metabolism. Thomas Farge, Estelle Saland, ..., Stéphanie Cassant‐Sourdy, et al., Cancer Discovery 2017. DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-16-0441
*Nod2*Deficiency Leads to a Specific and Transmissible Mucosa-associated Microbial Dysbiosis Which Is Independent of the Mucosal Barrier Defect. Ziad Al Nabhani, Patricia Lepage, ..., Frédérick Barreau, Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 2016. DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw095
