Painong San, a Traditional Chinese Compound Herbal Medicine, Restores Colon Barrier Function on DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice

Objective. The intestinal barrier decreases in colitis and restores the integrity of the mucosal barriers that could be used for the treatment of colitis. Painong San (PNS), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine originally recorded in “Jingui Yaolve” by Zhongjing Zhang in the Later Han Dynasty, is often used in China and Japan to treat various purulent diseases including intestinal carbuncle. This study was to investigate the effect of PNS on mucosal barrier function in mice with DSS-induced colitis and its related mechanisms. Methods. BALB/C mice were given 3% DSS to induce colitis. The body weight and stool status of the mice were recorded daily, and the histopathological changes of the colon were observed after execution. The permeability of the intestinal mucosa was measured by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 4000, the change of intestinal microbiota was measured by 16S rDNA, and the tight junction-related proteins and Muc-2 were investigated by immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence. The possible signaling pathways were detected by western blot. Results. Compared with the control group, the composition of the microbiota in the PNS group was close to that of the normal group, the number of goblet cells was improved, and the mucosal permeability was significantly reduced. PNS could upregulate the expression of tight junction-related proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin) and Muc-2, and at the same time, regulate the Notch pathway. Conclusion. PNS could effectively improve the mucosal barrier function through multiple ways, including restoring the balance of intestine flora, enhancement of the mucous layer barrier, and mechanical barrier function. These protective effects may relate to inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway activated by DSS.

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Methamphetamine-induced alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier function occur via the microRNA-181c/ TNF-α/tight junction axis

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.12.020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 321 ◽

pp. 73-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Simin Shen ◽

Jingjiao Zhao ◽

Yicong Dai ◽

Fengrong Chen ◽

Zunyue Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tight Junction ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Mucosal Barrier ◽

Intestinal Mucosal Barrier ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Mucosal Barrier Function

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Konjac glucomannan polysaccharide and inulin oligosaccharide enhance the colonic mucosal barrier function and modulate gut-associated lymphoid tissue immunity in C57BL/6J mice

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711451900285x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 123 (3) ◽

pp. 319-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chih-Hsuan Changchien ◽

Yi-Chun Han ◽

Hsiao-Ling Chen

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Control Diet ◽

Konjac Glucomannan ◽

Mucosal Barrier ◽

Low Level ◽

Inflammatory Status ◽

Junction Protein ◽

Mucosal Barrier Function

AbstractBoth konjac glucomannan (KGM) and inulin oligosaccharide have been shown to improve bowel function, but their effects on the mucosal barrier function and immunity are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a low-level supplementation of dietary fibres on the colonic mucosal barrier function, antioxidant enzyme defence and immunity. C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks of age, eight per group) were randomly assigned to consume one of the following diets: control or control diet supplemented with 2 % (w/w) of KGM, inulin oligosaccharide (degree polymerisation = 8) or KGM+inulin (1 %, w/w each (K+I)). Fresh faeces were collected on days 19–21. Mice were killed on day 22 after fasting. Segments of colon tissues were processed for histological procedure and stained for acidic mucins and tight junction protein marker zona occludin-1 (ZO-1). The remaining tissues were processed to determine the gene expression of mucin 2, tight junction proteins, antioxidant enzymes and cytokines. The plasma cytokines were measured. Results indicated that KGM, inulin and K+I significantly increased the mucosal layer thickness, mucin density (granule number/crypt) and gene expression of Muc2 as compared with the control. All fibre treatments increased the gene expressions of ZO-1, occludin, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase π, catalase and IL-10. In addition, all fibre treatments increased faecal butyrate and probiotics, and plasma IL-10 concentrations. In conclusion, supplementation of low-level, 2 % (w/w), of K+I was sufficient to enhance the mucosal barrier function and anti-inflammatory status.

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Chloride channel ClC-2 modulates tight junction barrier function via intracellular trafficking of occludin

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00072.2011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 302 (1) ◽

pp. C178-C187 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Prashant K. Nighot ◽

Anthony T. Blikslager

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Chloride Channel ◽

Barrier Function ◽

Intracellular Trafficking ◽

Cell Clone ◽

Mucosal Barrier ◽

Caveolin 1 ◽

Junction Protein ◽

Mucosal Barrier Function

Previously, we have demonstrated that the chloride channel ClC-2 modulates intestinal mucosal barrier function. In the present study, we investigated the role of ClC-2 in epithelial barrier development and maintenance in Caco-2 cells. During early monolayer formation, silencing of ClC-2 with small interfering (si)RNA led to a significant delay in the development of transepithelial resistance (TER) and disruption of occludin localization. Proteomic analysis employing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry /mass spectrometry revealed association of ClC-2 with key proteins involved in intracellular trafficking, including caveolin-1 and Rab5. In ClC-2 siRNA-treated cells, occludin colocalization with caveolin-1 was diffuse and in the subapical region. Subapically distributed occludin in ClC-2 siRNA-treated cells showed marked colocalization with Rab5. To study the link between ClC-2 and trafficking of occludin in confluent epithelial monolayers, a Caco-2 cell clone expressing ClC-2 short hairpin (sh)RNA was established. Disruption of caveolae with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) caused a marked drop in TER and profound redistribution of caveolin-1-occludin coimmunofluorescence in ClC-2 shRNA cells. In ClC-2 shRNA cells, focal aggregations of Rab5-occludin coimmunofluorescence were present within the cytoplasm. Wortmannin caused an acute fall in TER in ClC-2 shRNA cells and subapical, diffuse redistribution of Rab5-occludin coimmunofluorescence in ClC-2 shRNA cells. An endocytosis and recycling assay for occludin revealed higher basal rate of endocytosis of occludin in ClC-2 shRNA cells. Wortmannin significantly reduced the rate of recycling of occludin in ClC-2 shRNA cells. These data clearly indicate that ClC-2 plays an important role in the modulation of tight junctions by influencing caveolar trafficking of the tight junction protein occludin.

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N-Acetylcysteine improves intestinal function and attenuates intestinal autophagy in piglets challenged with β-conglycinin

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-80994-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Huiyun Wang ◽

Chengcheng Li ◽

Meng Peng ◽

Lei Wang ◽

Di Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peptide Transporter ◽

Mucosal Barrier ◽

Control Group ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Intestinal Function ◽

Villus Height ◽

Human Infants ◽

Fatty Acid Binding ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Mucosal Barrier Function

Abstractβ-Conglycinin (β-CG), an anti-nutritional factor, is a major allergen in soybeans to induce intestinal dysfunction and diarrhea in neonatal animals, including piglets and human infants. This study with a piglet model determined the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on intestinal function and autophagy in response to β-CG challenge. Twenty-four 12-day-old piglets (3.44 ± 0.28 kg), which had been weaned at 7 days of age and adapted for 5 days after weaning, were randomly allocated to the control, β-CG, and β-CG + NAC groups. Piglets in the control group were fed a liquid diet containing 10% casein, whereas those in the β-CG and β-CG + NAC groups were fed the basal liquid diets containing 9.5% casein and 0.5% β-CG for 2 days. Thereafter, pigs in the β-CG + NAC group were orally administrated with 50 mg (kg BW)−1 NAC for 3 days, while pigs in the other two groups were orally administrated with the same volume of sterile saline. NAC numerically reduced diarrhea incidence (− 46.2%) and the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, but increased claudin-1 and intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (iFABP) protein abundances and activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the jejunum of β-CG-challenged piglets. Although β-CG challenge decreased the villus height, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and mRNA levels of claudin-1 and occludin, no significant differences were observed in these indices between the control and β-CG + NAC groups, suggesting the positive effects of NAC supplementation on intestinal mucosal barrier function. Moreover, NAC increased the concentrations of citrulline and D-xylose in the plasma, as well as the expression of genes for aquaporin (AQP) 3, AQP4, peptide transporter 1 (PepT1), sodium/glucose co-transporter-1 (SGLT-1), potassium inwardly-rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 13 (KCNJ13), and solute carrier family 1 member 1 (SLC1A1) in the jejunum, demonstrating that NAC augmented intestinal metabolic activity and absorptive function. Remarkably, NAC decreased Atg5 protein abundance and the LC3II/LC3I ratio (an indicator of autophagy) in the jejunum of β-CG-challenged piglets. Taken together, NAC supplementation improved intestinal function and attenuated intestinal autophagy in β-CG-challenged piglets.

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