219 EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATION OF MILK FROM TRANSGENIC COWS CONTAINING RECOMBINANT HUMAN LACTOFERRIN IN A PIG MODEL OF MALNUTRITION

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
C. Feltrin ◽  
L. C. Garas ◽  
C. A. Cooper ◽  
K. Hamilton ◽  
R. V. L. Filho ◽  
...  

Infant mortality is still a major problem, with the interaction between malnutrition and diarrhoea among the leading causes of death. One option to fight both diarrhoea and malnutrition is breastfeeding. Benefits of breast milk are attributed to the actions of antimicrobial proteins in human milk, such as lactoferrin (LF), which increase intestinal and systemic immune functions. One way to convey the benefits of LF to children is the use of transgenic animals that express human proteins in the mammary gland. In this sense, the availability of animal milk with properties of human milk can be a potential source to increase and prolong the protective benefits of human milk in reducing disease and stimulating growth. Transgenic cows expressing rhLF were produced by pronuclear microinjection with the goal of using the milk to improve human health. To test this hypothesis, we have created a model of malnutrition in pigs by reducing the intake (50%) of calories and protein. The animals (n = 26) were randomly divided as follows: after weaning at 3 weeks of age, 18 animals were fed the protein and calorie-restricted diet (mal) for 3 weeks and 8 animals served as a control group and were fed standard feed (full-fed). After 3 weeks, 4 animals in each group were necropsied and the remaining animals (n = 18) were placed into the following experimental groups: 4 animals remained in the control group (full-fed-no milk), and the 14 malnourished animals were divided as follows: 4 animals were maintained on food restriction but received no milk (mal-no milk) and 10 animals were maintained on food restriction with 5 receiving 500 mL of control milk/day (con milk) and 5 receiving 500 mL of rhLF milk/day (rhLF milk) for a total of 15 days. Intestinal permeability and morphology, mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (ZO1, claudin, occludin), and cytokines (TGF-β, TLR-4, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-6 IL-8, CCL-11) in the intestine, and hematological parameters were assessed. Data were analysed by ANOVA with P-values <0.05 considered statistically significant. The restricted diet was capable of inducing a state of malnutrition after 3 weeks as demonstrated by multiple changes in blood chemistry, a significant decrease in gut surface area, and an increase in electrical conductance indicative of compromised intestinal barrier function. Supplementation of the diet with either control milk or rhLF milk promoted the recovery of the intestine as indicated by significantly improved intestinal morphology and permeability. Levels of TNF-α were increased in the mal-no milk group; however, rhLF-fed animals were capable of regulating the expression of TNF-α, which did not significantly differ from full-fed controls. Tight junction proteins were also significantly up-regulated in the rhLF group. Overall, a model of malnutrition was established and the administration of both control and rhLF milk was beneficial in the recovery of the gastrointestinal tract. Our intention is that such milk from transgenic animals can benefit malnourished children around the world.

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (11) ◽  
pp. G970-G979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Fischer ◽  
Markus Gluth ◽  
Ulrich-Frank Pape ◽  
Bertram Wiedenmann ◽  
Franz Theuring ◽  
...  

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is pivotal in the etiology of inflammatory bowel diseases. Combined clinical and endoscopic remission (“mucosal healing”) in patients who received anti-TNF-α therapies suggests restitution of the intestinal barrier, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. We therefore investigated the impact of the anti-TNF-α antibody adalimumab on barrier function in two in vitro models. Combined stimulation of Caco-2 and T-84 cells with interferon-γ and TNF-α resulted in a significant decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) within 6 h that was prevented by adalimumab in concentrations down to 100 ng/ml. Adalimumab furthermore antagonized the appearance of irregular membrane undulations and prevented internalization of tight junction proteins upon cytokine exposure. In addition, TNF-α induced a downregulation of claudin-1, claudin-2, claudin-4, and occludin as well as activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling in T-84 but not Caco-2 cells, which was reversed by adalimumab. At the signaling level, adalimumab prevented increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain as well as activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB accompanying the decline in TEER in both model systems. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB signaling partially prevented the TNF-α-induced TEER loss, whereas inhibition of p38 worsened barrier dysfunction in Caco-2 but not T-84 cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that adalimumab prevents barrier dysfunction induced by TNF-α both functionally and structurally as well as at the level of signal transduction. Barrier protection might therefore constitute a novel mechanism how anti-TNF-α therapy contributes to epithelial restitution and tissue repair in inflammatory bowel diseases.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Changhong Miao ◽  
Jiawei Chen

Abstract Purpose: The levels of tight junction proteins (TJs), especially occludin, correlate with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption caused by inflammation in central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that propofol, the most commonly used anesthetic, could inhibit inflammation response in CNS. In this study, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and propofol on occludin expression in human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, D3 clone (hCMEC/D3 cells), and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The hCMEC/D3 cells were treated with propofol, followed by TNF-α. The expression and phosphorylation of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, ERK, p38MAPK and occludin were measured by Western blot analysis. The cell viability of hCMEC/D3 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results: TNF-α (10 ng/ml, 4 h) significantly decreased the expression of occludin, which was attenuated by propofol (25 μM). TNF-α induced Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, while propofol could inhibit it. TNF-α induced the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, while propofol had no effect on it. In addition, the inhibitors of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, and ERK could reduce the effect of TNF-α on occludin expression. Conclusion: TNF-α could decrease the expression of occludin via activating Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, which was attenuated by propofol.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fubin Qiu ◽  
Zehui Zhang ◽  
Ying Ma ◽  
Linxue Yang ◽  
Rui Li

Abstract Background: Tight junction proteins play crucial role in maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier. Although previous studies had shown that the Notch signal is closely related to tight junction proteins, the mechanism by which it does so remains unknown. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 affects intestinal mucosal barrier stability through Notch signal pathway.Results: To assess the effect of vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 on the intestinal mucosal barrier, electron microscopic observation of ultrastructure of tight junctions was done. And tight junction proteins gene and Notch signal gene expression were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, expression of tight junction protein in SW480 cells interfered with by LPS were examined by western blot. We found that vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 had protective effect on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in guinea pig intestinal mucosa. Electron microscopy results showed that both low dose and high dose of vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 could maintain DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in guinea pig intestinal epithelium tight junction, however, the combination of medium dose vitamin C and vitamin D3 did not have this effect; Compared with the control group, the expression level of ZO-1 mRNA in the colon tissue of high-dose vitamin C group was significantly increased. In SW480 cell experiments, compared with the control group, the cell migration and repair ability of different concentrations of vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 group were significantly improved, the protein expression of Notch-1 was increased, but the protein expression of claudin-2 was significantly decreased. Conclusions: our results of this experiment showed that the appropriate amount of vitamin C combined with vitamin D3 might regulate the expression of claudin-2 by regulating Notch-1, slow the intestinal mucosal barrier destruction, and promote the damage repair of cell mucosal barrier.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Xuewen Xu ◽  
Xinyue Zhang ◽  
Linlin Gao ◽  
Chunfeng Liu ◽  
Kai You

Hyperoxia is essential to manage in preterm infants but causes injury to immature kidney. Previous study indicates that hyperoxia causes oxidative damage to neonatal kidney and impairs renal development. However, the underlying mechanisms by which neonatal hyperoxia effects on immature kidney still need to be elucidated. Tight junction, among which the representative proteins are claudin-4, occludin, and ZO-1, plays a crucial role in nephrogenesis and maintaining renal function. Inflammatory cytokines are involved in the pleiotropic regulation of tight junction proteins. Here, we investigated how neonatal hyperoxia affected the expression of key tight junction proteins and inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) in the developing rat kidneys and elucidated their correlation with renal injury. We found claudin-4, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression in proximal tubules was significantly downregulated after neonatal hyperoxia. The expression of these tight junction proteins was positively correlated with that of IL-6 and TNF-α, while claudin-4 expression was positively correlated with injury score of proximal tubules in mature kidneys. These findings indicated that impaired expression of tight junction proteins in kidney might be a potential mechanism of hyperoxia-induced nephrogenic disorders. It provides new insights to further study oxidative renal injury and development disorders and will be helpful for seeking potential therapeutics for hyperoxia-induced renal injury in the future.


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (5) ◽  
pp. G1025-G1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia B. Ewaschuk ◽  
Hugo Diaz ◽  
Liisa Meddings ◽  
Brendan Diederichs ◽  
Andrea Dmytrash ◽  
...  

Live probiotic bacteria are effective in reducing gut permeability and inflammation. We have previously shown that probiotics release peptide bioactive factors that modulate epithelial resistance in vitro. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of factors released from Bifidobacteria infantis on intestinal epithelial cell permeability and tight junction proteins and to assess whether these factors retain their bioactivity when administered to IL-10-deficient mice. B. infantis conditioned medium (BiCM) was applied to T84 human epithelial cells in the presence and absence of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Transepithelial resistance (TER), tight junction proteins [claudins 1, 2, 3, and 4, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, and occludin] and MAP kinase activity (p38 and ERK) were examined. Acute effects of BiCM on intestinal permeability were assessed in colons from IL-10-deficient mice in Ussing chambers. A separate group of IL-1-deficient mice was treated with BiCM for 4 wk and then assessed for intestinal histological injury, cytokine levels, epithelial permeability, and immune response to bacterial antigens. In T84 cells, BiCM increased TER, decreased claudin-2, and increased ZO-1 and occludin expression. This was associated with enhanced levels of phospho-ERK and decreased levels of phospho-p38. BiCM prevented TNF-α- and IFN-γ-induced drops in TER and rearrangement of tight junction proteins. Inhibition of ERK prevented the BiCM-induced increase in TER and attenuated the protection from TNF-α and IFN-γ. Oral BiCM administration acutely reduced colonic permeability in mice whereas long-term BiCM treatment in IL-10-deficient mice attenuated inflammation, normalized colonic permeability, and decreased colonic and splenic IFN-γ secretion. In conclusion, peptide bioactive factors from B. infantis retain their biological activity in vivo and are effective in normalizing gut permeability and improving disease in an animal model of colitis. The effects of BiCM are mediated in part by changes in MAP kinases and tight junction proteins.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Changhong Miao ◽  
Jiawei Chen

Abstract Background: The levels of tight junction proteins (TJs), especially occludin, correlate with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption caused by inflammation in central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that propofol, the most commonly used anesthetic, could inhibit inflammation response in CNS. In this study, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and propofol on occludin expression in human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, D3 clone (hCMEC/D3 cells), and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The hCMEC/D3 cells were treated with propofol, followed by TNF-α. The expression and phosphorylation of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, ERK, p38MAPK and occludin were measured by Western blot analysis. The cell viability of hCMEC/D3 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results: TNF-α (10 ng/ml, 4 h) significantly decreased the expression of occludin, which was attenuated by propofol (25 μM). TNF-α induced Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, while propofol could inhibit it. TNF-α induced the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, while propofol had no effect on it. In addition, the inhibitors of Hif-1α, VEGFR-2, and ERK could reduce the effect of TNF-α on occludin expression. Conclusion: TNF-α could decrease the expression of occludin via activating Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, which was attenuated by propofol.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhui Zheng ◽  
Gang Liu ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Yajing Wang ◽  
Zhijun Cao ◽  
...  

Escherichia coli is a common mastitis-causing pathogen that can disrupt the blood-milk barrier of mammals. Although Lactobacillus casei Zhang (LCZ) can alleviate mice mastitis, whether it has a prophylactic effect on E. coli-induced mastitis through intramammary infusion, as well as its underlying mechanism, remains unclear. In this study, E. coli-induced injury models of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) and mice in lactation were used to fill this research gap. In vitro tests of BMECs revealed that LCZ significantly inhibited the E. coli adhesion (p &lt; 0.01); reduced the cell desmosome damage; increased the expression of the tight junction proteins claudin-1, claudin-4, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1; p &lt; 0.01); and decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 (p &lt; 0.01), thereby increasing trans-epithelial electric resistance (p &lt; 0.01) and attenuating the lactate dehydrogenase release induced by E. coli (p &lt; 0.01). In vivo tests indicated that LCZ significantly reduced the injury and histological score of mice mammary tissues in E. coli-induced mastitis (p &lt; 0.01) by significantly promoting the expression of the tight junction proteins claudin-3, occludin, and ZO-1 (p &lt; 0.01), which ameliorated blood-milk barrier disruption, and decreasing the expression of the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in mice mammary tissue (p &lt; 0.01). Our study suggested that LCZ counteracted the disrupted blood-milk barrier and moderated the inflammatory response in E. coli-induced injury models, indicating that LCZ can ameliorate the injury of mammary tissue in mastitis.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Changhong Miao ◽  
Jiawei Chen

Abstract Purpose: The levels of tight junction proteins (TJs), especially occludin, correlate with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption caused by inflammation in central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that propofol, the most commonly used anesthetic, could inhibit inflammation response in CNS. In this study, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and propofol on occludin expression in human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, D3 clone (hCMEC/D3 cells), and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The hCMEC/D3 cells were treated with propofol, followed by TNF-α. The expression and phosphorylation of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, ERK, p38MAPK and occludin were measured by Western blot analysis. The cell viability of hCMEC/D3 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results: TNF-α (10 ng/ml, 4 h) significantly decreased the expression of occludin, which was attenuated by propofol (25 μM). TNF-α induced Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, while propofol could inhibit it. TNF-α induced the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, while propofol had no effect on it. In addition, the inhibitors of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, and ERK could reduce the effect of TNF-α on occludin expression. Conclusion: TNF-α could decrease the expression of occludin via activating Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, which was attenuated by propofol.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252930
Author(s):  
V. Ivashkin ◽  
Y. Poluektov ◽  
E. Kogan ◽  
O. Shifrin ◽  
A. Sheptulin ◽  
...  

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a pathologic condition characterized by changes in gut microbiome composition, low-grade inflammation, and disruption of intestinal wall permeability. The interaction between the gut microbiome and the disease manifestation remains unclear. The changing of tight junction proteins and cytokines expression throughout the gastrointestinal tract in IBS patients has not been studied yet. Aim of the study To assess the changes of gut microbiome composition, tight junction proteins, and cytokines expression of intestinal mucosa from the duodenum to the distal part of the colon in IBS patients and healthy volunteers. Methods In 31 IBS patients (16 patients with IBS-D; 15 patients with IBS-C) and 10 healthy volunteers the expression of CLD-2, CLD-3, CLD-5, IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α in mucosal biopsy specimens was determined by morphological and immune-histochemical methods. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the intestinal microbiota was assessed based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing in both groups of patients. Results The expression of IL-2 and TNF-α was significantly increased in IBS patients compared with the controls (p<0.001), with a gradual increase from the duodenum to the sigmoid colon. The expression of IL-10, CLD-3, and CLD-5 in mucosal biopsy specimens of these patients was lower than in the control group (p<0.001). Increased ratios of Bacteroidetes and decreased ratios of Firmicutes were noted in IBS patients compared to healthy volunteers (p<0.05). Conclusion IBS patients have impaired gut permeability and persisting low-grade inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in the gut microbiota may support or exacerbate these changes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Xiaowei Ding ◽  
Changhong Miao ◽  
Jiawei Chen

Abstract Background: The levels of tight junction proteins (TJs), especially occludin, correlate with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption caused by inflammation in central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that propofol, the most commonly used anesthetic, could inhibit inflammation response in CNS. In this study, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and propofol on occludin expression in human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line, D3 clone (hCMEC/D3 cells), and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The hCMEC/D3 cells were treated with propofol, followed by TNF-α. The expression and phosphorylation of Hif-1α, VEGF, VEGFR-2, ERK, p38MAPK and occludin were measured by Western blot analysis. The cell viability of hCMEC/D3 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8. Results: TNF-α (10 ng/ml, 4 h) significantly decreased the expression of occludin, which was attenuated by propofol (25 μM). TNF-α induced Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, while propofol could inhibit it. TNF-α induced the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, while propofol had no effect on it. In addition, the inhibitors of Hif-1α, VEGFR-2, and ERK could reduce the effect of TNF-α on occludin expression. Conclusion: TNF-α could decrease the expression of occludin via activating Hif-1α/VEGF/VEGFR-2/ERK signaling pathway, which was attenuated by propofol.


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