Integrin-activating Yersinia protein Invasin sustains long-term expansion of primary epithelial cells as 2D organoid sheets

Matrigel/BME, a basement membrane-like preparation, supports long-term growth of epithelial 3D organoids from adult stem cells (ASC). Here, we show that interaction between Matrigels major component Laminin111 with epithelial alfa6beta1-integrin is crucial for this process. The outer membrane protein Invasin of Yersinia is known to activate multiple integrin-beta1 complexes, including integrin-alfa6beta1. A C-terminal integrin-binding fragment of Invasin, coated on culture plates, mediated gut epithelial cell adhesion. Addition of organoid growth factors allowed multi-passage expansion in 2D. Polarization, junction formation and generation of enterocytes, goblet cells, Paneth cells, and enteroendocrine cells was stable over time. Sustained expansion of other human-, mouse-, and even snake epithelia was accomplished under comparable conditions. The 2D organoid sheet format holds advantages over the 3D in gel format in terms of imaging, accessibility of basal and apical domains and automation for high throughput screening. Invasin represents a fully defined, affordable, versatile, and animal-free complement to Matrigel/BME.