Comparative analysis of theophylline and cholera toxin in rat colon reveals an induction of sealing tight junction proteins.

Claudin tight junction proteins have been identified to primarily determine intestinal epithelial barrier properties. While functional contribution of single claudins has been characterized in detail, information on the interplay with secretory mechanisms in native intestinal epithelium is scarce. Therefore, effects of cholera toxin and theophylline on rat colon were analyzed, including detection of sealing claudins. Tissue specimens were stripped off submucosal tissue layers and mounted in Ussing chambers, and short-circuit current (ISC) and transepithelial resistance (TER) were recorded. In parallel, expression and localization of claudins was analyzed and histological studies were performed employing hematoxylin-eosin staining and light and electron microscopy. Theophylline induced a strong increase of ISC in colon tissue specimens. In parallel, a decrease of TER was observed. In contrast, cholera toxin did not induce a significant increase of ISC, whereas an increase of TER was detected after 120 min. Western blots of membrane fractions revealed an increase of claudin-3 and -4 after incubation with cholera toxin, and theophylline induced an increase of claudin-4. In accordance, confocal laser-scanning microscopy exhibited increased signals of claudin-3 and -4 after incubation with cholera toxin, and increased signals of claudin-4 after incubation with theophylline, within tight junction complexes. Morphological analyses revealed no general changes of tight junction complexes, but intercellular spaces were markedly widened after incubation with cholera toxin and theophylline. We conclude that cholera toxin and theophylline have different effects on sealing tight junction proteins in native colon preparations, which may synergistically contribute to transport functions, in vitro.

Increased paracellular permeability of tumor-adjacent areas in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The morphology and functions of the proximal and distal large intestine are not the same. The incidence of colorectal cancer in these regions is also different, as tumors more often appear in the descending colon than in the ascending colon. Inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer can increase transepithelial permeability, which is a sign of reduced intestinal barrier function. However, there is not enough evidence to establish a connection between the difference in colorectal cancer incidence in the proximal and distal colon and intestinal permeability or the effects of carcinogenesis on the barrier properties in various areas of the colon. The aim of the study was to assess the permeability of different segments of the large intestine according to a developed mapping methodology in healthy rats and rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The short circuit current, the transepithelial electrical resistance and the paracellular permeability to fluorescein of large intestine wall of male Wistar rats were examined in the Ussing chambers. The optical density of the solution from the serosa side to assess the concentration of the diffused fluorescein from mucosa to serosa was analyzed by spectrophotometry. The morphometric and histological studies were performed by optical microscopy. RESULTS: Rats with DMH-induced colon adenocarcinomas showed elevated transepithelial electrical resistance in the areas of neoplasm development. In contrast, there was no change in the electrophysiological properties of tumor adjacent areas, however, the paracellular permeability of these areas to fluorescein was increased compared to the control rats and was characterized by sharply reduced barrier function. CONCLUSIONS: The barrier properties of the colon vary depending on tumor location. The tumors were less permeable than the intact intestinal wall and probably have a negative influence on tumor-adjacent tissues by disrupting their barrier function.

Molecular Characterization of Barrier Properties in Follicle-Associated Epithelium of Porcine Peyer's Patches Reveals Major Sealing Function of Claudin-4.

The pig represents a preferred model for the analysis of intestinal immunology. However, the barrier of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) covering porcine Peyer's patches (PP) has not yet been characterized in detail. This study aimed to perform this characterization in order to pave the way toward an understanding of the functional contribution of epithelial barrier properties in gut immunology. Porcine tissue specimens were taken from the distal small intestine in order to obtain electrophysiological data of PP FAE and neighboring villous epithelium (VE), employing the Ussing chamber technique. Transepithelial resistance (TER) and paracellular fluorescein flux were measured, and tissues were morphometrically compared. In selfsame tissues, expression and localization of major tight junction (TJ) proteins (claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -8) were analyzed. PP FAE specimens showed a higher TER and a lower apparent permeability for sodium fluorescein than VE. Immunoblotting revealed an expression of all claudins within both epithelia, with markedly stronger expression of the sealing TJ protein claudin-4 in PP FAE compared with the neighboring VE. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression and localization of all claudins in both PP FAE and VE, with stronger claudin-4 abundance in PP FAE. The results are in accordance with the physiological function of the FAE, which strongly regulates and limits antigen uptake determining a mandatory transcellular route for antigen presentation, highlighting the importance of this structure for the first steps of the intestinal immune response. Thus, this study provides detailed insights into the specific barrier properties of the porcine FAE covering intestinal PP, at the interface of intestinal immunology and barriology.