Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40655144›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2025

Neutrophils aggravate inflammatory lesions in intestinal organoids from necrotizing enterocolitis.

Kim M Heuer, Michael Boettcher, Laia Pagerols Raluy, Johanna Hagens, Jan P Kolman, Madeleine J Bunders, Jasmin Wesche, Jasmin Knopf, Martin Herrmann, Konrad Reinshagen and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Kim M Heuer *Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Michael Boettcher *Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Laia Pagerols RaluyDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Johanna HagensDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Jan P KolmanDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Madeleine J BundersDepartment of Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany.
Jasmin WescheDepartment of Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany.
Jasmin KnopfDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Martin HerrmannDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Konrad ReinshagenDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Deirdre VincentDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of neonatal death and long-term morbidity, involving complex pathophysiology including prematurity, abnormal bacterial colonization, and ischemia-reperfusion injury, partially mediated by neutrophils. However, the limitations of current animal models hinder the development of targeted therapies for NEC. Thus, this study aimed to develop a human intestinal organoid model for NEC to investigate its pathophysiology, understand neutrophil involvement, and bridge animal and human research. Methods: Organoid cultures were established from human neonatal intestinal samples with NEC (n=7) and without gut inflammation (controls, n=7), treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and/or cocultured with neutrophils. Flow cytometry quantified neutrophil survival (propidium iodide/Annexin-V), activation (CD11b/CD66b), and TLR-4 expression, as well as organoid TLR-4 expression and apoptosis markers. NEC status and neutrophil recruitment were analyzed using immunofluorescence. Results: After LPS administration, NEC organoids showed significantly increased TLR-4 expression, intestinal apoptosis markers, and NEC scores compared to controls, with more pronounced differences after neutrophil addition. Neutrophil activation markers were elevated when cocultured with both NEC and control organoids, but TLR-4 expression increased only with NEC organoids. Discussion: The findings suggest that epithelial cells from NEC patients have a heightened innate TLR-4 expression upon LPS stimulation, potentially contributing to NEC development. LPS stimulation resulted in more pronounced NEC-like lesions in NEC organoids, which were exacerbated by neutrophils. This model demonstrates that neutrophils might contribute to NEC manifestation and maintenance and that NEC organoids can reflect disease aspects, potentially aiding in the development of targeted therapies.

Indexed as

Enterocolitis, NecrotizingIntestinesNeutrophilsOrganoidsApoptosisCoculture TechniquesHumansInfant, NewbornInflammationIntestinal MucosaLipopolysaccharidesToll-Like Receptor 4LipopolysaccharidesTLR4 protein, humanToll-Like Receptor 4co-cultureinnate immune systemintestinal organoidsNECneonateneutrophilsTLR-4

Identifiers

PMID40655144
PMCPMC12245675

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.