In complex multicellular organisms, epithelia lining body cavities regulate absorption and secretion of ions, organic molecules, and water. Proper function of epithelia depends on apically and basolaterally situated ion channels as well as tight junctions which seal the apical intercellular space. Without tight junctions, transepithelial concentration gradients of ions and nutrients would be dissipated through the paracellular space. Elevated tight junction permeability is a feature of many diseases of multiple organs, including the gastrointestinal tract [1,2,3(•),4(•)], kidney [5,6], and lungs [7,8]. In the intestines, epithelial barrier dysfunction is a major contributor to diarrhea and malnutrition and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2014.07.017 | DOI Listing |
Inflammation
January 2025
Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Cholestasis is a multifactorial hepatobiliary disorder, characterized by obstruction of bile flow and accumulation of bile, which in turn causes damage to liver cells and other tissues. In severe cases, it can result in the development of life-threatening conditions, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Paeoniflorin (PF) has been demonstrated to possess favourable therapeutic potential for the treatment of cholestasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe gastrointestinal epithelium serves as a critical barrier separating intestinal lumen contents from the underlying tissue environment. Structure and function of the apical junctional complex (AJC), comprising tight and adherens junctions, are essential for establishing and maintaining a polarized and functional epithelial barrier. In this study, we investigated mechanisms by which an apical polarity protein Crumbs homolog 3 (CRB3) regulates AJC assembly and barrier function in primary murine intestinal epithelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Immunol
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226006, China. Electronic address:
Background: The intestinal mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients expresses high levels of interleukin 34, and mice lacking IL-34 have more severe DSS-induced experimental colitis. There are no studies on the effects of directly upregulating intestinal IL-34 on experimental colitis in mice.
Methods: The bacteria EcN/CSF-1 and EcN/IL-34, which express CSF-1 and IL-34, respectively, were genetically engineered from Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN).
Chemosphere
January 2025
Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life Earth and Environment, University of Namur, 61 Rue de Bruxelles, B-5000, Namur, Belgium.
ZnO and TiO nanoparticles (NPs) are widely employed for their antibacterial properties, but their potential environmental impact is raising concerns. This study aimed to assess their single and combined effects at environmentally relevant concentrations (210 μg L) on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gills microbiota and immune functions. 16S rRNA gene sequencing performed after 5 and 28 days of exposure suggests that TiO NPs had a more immediate impact on bacterial diversity, while prolonged exposure to the mixture altered community composition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiophys J
January 2025
Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany. Electronic address:
Translocation across barriers and through constrictions is a mechanism that is often used in vivo for transporting material between compartments. A specific example is apicomplexan parasites invading host cells through the tight junction that acts as a pore, and a similar barrier crossing is involved in drug delivery using lipid vesicles penetrating intact skin. Here, we use triangulated membranes and energy minimization to study the translocation of vesicles through pores with fixed radii.
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