Publications by authors named "Therese Sergent"

Scope: Silicon (Si) is one of the most abundant trace elements in the body. Although pharmacokinetics data described its absorption from the diet and its body excretion, the mechanisms involved in the uptake and transport of Si across the gut wall have not been established.

Methods And Results: Caco-2 cells were used as a well-accepted in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium to investigate the transport, across the intestinal barrier in both the absorption and excretion directions, of Si supplied as orthosilicic acid stabilized by vanillin complex (OSA-VC).

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In an attempt to understand the beneficial health effects of Artemisia annua other than its anti-malaria properties, extracts from different cultivars prepared as tea infusions were investigated using Caco-2 cells on the intestinal inflammation and cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities. The characterisation of their phenolic compound (PC) profile revealed rosmarinic and chlorogenic acids as the main PCs. The extracts, assayed on Caco-2 cells at a plausible intestinal concentration, significantly decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-8 and IL-6.

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Phenolic compounds (PCs) are considered to possess anti-inflammatory properties and therefore were proposed as an alternative natural approach to prevent or treat chronic inflammatory diseases. However their effects are not fully understood, particularly at the intestinal level. To further understand their mode of action at the molecular level during intestinal inflammation, an in vitro model of inflamed human intestinal epithelium was established.

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Based on the imidazo-[1,2-a]-pyrazin-3-(7H)-one scaffold, a dual action prodrug has been designed for combining antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, possibly unmasked upon oxidation. The construction of the target-molecule requires two building blocks, namely a 2-amino-1,4-pyrazine and a 2-ketoaldehyde. Attempts to synthesize the 2-ketoaldehyde (5a) derived from ibuprofen failed, but led to the corresponding 2-ketoaldoxime (7a) which could not be condensed with the pyrazine synthons.

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Deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the most common mycotoxin contaminants of raw and processed cereal food, adversely affects the gastrointestinal tract. Since DON acts as a protein synthesis inhibitor, the constantly renewing intestinal epithelium could be particularly sensitive to DON. We analyzed the toxicological effects of DON on intestinal epithelial protein synthesis and barrier integrity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Flavonoids may have health benefits but can also exhibit toxic properties, raising concerns about their interactions with drug metabolism.
  • A study examined nine flavonoids and their effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A1 and CYP3A4) in human intestinal cells, revealing that genistein, quercetin, and chrysin cause a dose-dependent increase in CYP1A1 activity without altering gene expression.
  • Chrysin showed strong inhibition of CYP1A1 activity induced by TCDD, while quercetin inhibited the activity of CYP3A4 and interfered with its induction by vitamin D, suggesting these flavonoids could affect drug metabolism and the activation of potential carcinogens in the intestine.
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Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor mediating the adverse effects of dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, we investigated the genetic-, time-, dose-, species- and tissue-dependent AhR-mediated agonistic/antagonistic activities of three food flavonoids: quercetin, chrysin and genistein. To that end, four stably transfected cell lines were used in cell-based luciferase reporter gene assays: three lines were transformed with the ptKLuc vector harbouring four dioxin-responsive elements (DREs) upstream of the thymidine kinase promoter and the luciferase gene (HepG2-Luc, T-47D-Luc and H4IIE-ULg).

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Imazalil (IMA) is a widely used imidazole-antifungal pesticide and, therefore, a food contaminant. This compound is also used as a drug (enilconazole). As intestine is the first site of exposure to ingested drugs and pollutants, we have investigated the effects of IMA, at realistic intestinal concentrations, on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and efflux pumps by using Caco-2 cells, as a validated in vitro model of the human intestinal absorptive epithelium.

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The intestinal mucosa is not simply a barrier allowing entry of compounds such as nutrients or chemicals, and restricting that of others. Intestinal cells and activities perform selective absorption, biotransformations and efflux back to the lumen. Furthermore, food substances affect both bioavailability and intestinal function.

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Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin of the trichothecenes family to which human exposure levels can be high. Epidemiological studies suggest a link between DON and gastrointestinal illness. We investigated the interaction of DON with Caco-2 cells, a widely used in vitro model of the human intestinal barrier.

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The effect of polyphenols (PPs) on the absorption of ochratoxin A (OTA), a food-borne mycotoxin, was investigated in an in vitro model of the human intestinal barrier based on Caco-2 cells cultivated in a bicameral system. Two intraluminal concentrations of OTA approaching physiological levels were chosen (0.75 nM and 7.

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Ochratoxin A (OTA), a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, is absorbed from small intestine and, in plasma, binds to serum albumin. Prolonged half-live results from reabsorption by proximal tubules and enterohepatic circulation. The mechanism whereby OTA crosses intestine was investigated by means of a cell culture system consisting of Caco-2 cells, as in vitro model of human intestinal epithelium.

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