scholarly journals Differentiation of Human Colon Tissue In Culture: Effects of calcium on trans-epithelial electrical resistance and tissue cohesive properties

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon D McClintock ◽  
Michael K Dame ◽  
Aliah Richter ◽  
Durga Attili ◽  
Sabrina S Silvestri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tight Junction ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Electrical Resistance ◽  
Calcium Supplementation ◽  
Permeability Barrier ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Low Calcium ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Junction Proteins

AbstractBackground and aimsHuman colonoid cultures maintained under low-calcium (0.25 mM) conditions undergo differentiation spontaneously and, concomitantly, express a high level of tight junction proteins, but not desmosomal proteins. When calcium is included to a final concentration of 1.5 – 3.0 mM (provided either as a single agent or as a combination of calcium and minerals), there is little change in tight junction proteins but a strong up-regulation of desmosomal proteins and an increase in desmosome formation. The aim of this study was to assess functional consequences of the differences in calcium-mediated barrier protein expression.MethodsHuman colonoid-derived epithelial monolayers were interrogated in transwell culture under low- or high-calcium conditions. Ion permeability and monolayer integrity were assessed by measuring trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) across the confluent monolayer. Colonoid cohesiveness was assessed in parallel.ResultsTEER values were high in the low-calcium environment and increased only modestly in response to calcium. In contrast, colonoid cohesiveness increased substantially with calcium supplementation. In both assays, the response to Aquamin was greater than the response to calcium alone. However, differences between interventions were small and only compared to the 0.25 mM calcium were they statistically significant. Consistent with these findings, occludin expression (a measure of tight junctions) was high at 0.25 mM calcium and did not increase with supplementation. Cadherin-17 and desmoglein-2 were weakly-expressed under low calcium conditions but increased with intervention.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that low ambient calcium levels are sufficient to support formation of a permeability barrier in the colonic epithelium. Higher calcium levels are necessary to promote tissue cohesion and enhance barrier function. These findings may help explain how an adequate daily intake of calcium contributes to colonic health by improving barrier function, even though there is little change in colonic histological features over a wide range of calcium intake levels.

scholarly journals The role of zinc deficiency in alcohol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (5) ◽  
pp. G625-G633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhong ◽  
Craig J. McClain ◽  
Matthew Cave ◽  
Y. James Kang ◽  
Zhanxiang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Zinc Deficiency ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Junction Proteins

Disruption of the intestinal barrier is a causal factor in the development of alcoholic endotoxemia and hepatitis. This study was undertaken to determine whether zinc deficiency is related to the deleterious effects of alcohol on the intestinal barrier. Mice were pair fed an alcohol or isocaloric liquid diet for 4 wk, and hepatitis was detected in association with elevated blood endotoxin level. Alcohol exposure significantly increased the permeability of the ileum but did not affect the barrier function of the duodenum or jejunum. Reduction of tight-junction proteins at the ileal epithelium was detected in alcohol-fed mice although alcohol exposure did not cause apparent histopathological changes. Alcohol exposure significantly reduced the ileal zinc concentration in association with accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Caco-2 cell culture demonstrated that alcohol exposure increases the intracellular free zinc because of oxidative stress. Zinc deprivation caused epithelial barrier disruption in association with disassembling of tight junction proteins in the Caco-2 monolayer cells. Furthermore, minor zinc deprivation exaggerated the deleterious effect of alcohol on the epithelial barrier. In conclusion, epithelial barrier dysfunction in the distal small intestine plays an important role in alcohol-induced gut leakiness, and zinc deficiency attributable to oxidative stress may interfere with the intestinal barrier function by a direct action on tight junction proteins or by sensitizing to the effects of alcohol.

scholarly journals Differential effects of claudin-3 and claudin-4 on alveolar epithelial barrier function

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (1) ◽  
pp. L40-L49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie A. Mitchell ◽  
Christian E. Overgaard ◽  
Christina Ward ◽  
Susan S. Margulies ◽  
Michael Koval
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Alveolar Epithelium ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Junction Proteins

Alveolar barrier function depends critically on the claudin family tight junction proteins. Of the major claudins expressed by alveolar epithelial cells, claudin (Cldn)-3 and Cldn-4 are the most closely related by amino acid homology, yet they differ dramatically in the pattern of expression. Previously published reports have shown that Cldn-3 is predominantly expressed by type II alveolar epithelial cells; Cldn-4 is expressed throughout the alveolar epithelium and is specifically upregulated in response to acute lung injury. Using primary rat alveolar epithelial cells transduced with yellow fluorescent protein-tagged claudin constructs, we have identified roles for Cldn-3 and Cldn-4 in alveolar epithelial barrier function. Surprisingly, increasing expression of Cldn-3 decreased alveolar epithelial barrier function, as assessed by transepithelial resistance and dye flux measurements. Conversely, increasing Cldn-4 expression improved alveolar epithelial transepithelial resistance compared with control cells. Other alveolar epithelial tight junction proteins were largely unaffected by increased expression of Cldn-3 and Cldn-4. Taken together, these results demonstrate that, in the context of the alveolar epithelium, Cldn-3 and Cldn-4 have different effects on paracellular permeability, despite significant homology in their extracellular loop domains.

scholarly journals Novel Effects of Azithromycin on Tight Junction Proteins in Human Airway Epithelia

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1805-1812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valthor Asgrimsson ◽  
Thorarinn Gudjonsson ◽  
Gudmundur Hrafn Gudmundsson ◽  
Olafur Baldursson
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Electrical Resistance ◽  
Transepithelial Electrical Resistance ◽  
Tight Junction Proteins ◽  
Airway Epithelia ◽  
Diffuse Panbronchiolitis ◽  
Human Airway ◽  
Junction Proteins ◽  
Human Airway Epithelia

ABSTRACT The macrolide antibiotic azithromycin improves lung function and prognosis among patients with cystic fibrosis or diffuse panbronchiolitis, independently of bacterial eradication. Anti-inflammatory effects have been implicated, but data from in vivo studies are scarce, and the link between abnormal electrolyte content in airway surface liquid and bronchial infections remains uncertain. In the present study, we treated human airway epithelia on filter supports with azithromycin and monitored transepithelial electrical resistance. We found that azithromycin increased transepithelial electrical resistance of airway epithelia in a dose-dependent manner. Immunocytochemistry and Western blotting showed that addition of azithromycin changed the locations of proteins in cell cultures and induced processing of the tight junction proteins claudin-1 and claudin-4, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule-A. These effects were reversible, and no effect was seen when cells were treated with penicillin or erythromycin. The data indicate that azithromycin increases the transepithelial electrical resistance of human airway epithelia by changing the processing of tight junction proteins. The results are novel and may help explain the beneficial effects of azithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and community-acquired pneumonia.

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