Chitosan enhances transcellular permeability in human and rat intestine epithelium.

The intestinal epithelium regulates the transit of molecules from and into the organism. Several agents act as absorption enhancers inducing changes in both transcellular and paracellular routes. Chitosan is a non-toxic biocompatible polysaccharide widely used as dietary supplement and mucosal delivery. Chitosan triggers both the activation of intestinal epithelial cells and the release of regulatory factors relevant for its immunomodulatory activity. Yet, the interaction of chitosan with intestinal epithelial cells is poorly characterized. We studied the uptake of this polysaccharide, and we evaluated its effects in both the net water and ion movements across human and rat colon samples and the epithelial permeability. Herein, we demonstrate that chitosan increases the transcellular permeability to ions, water and protein markers in human and rat intestinal mucosa and decreases the water permeability across the paracellular pathway. These findings are relevant to understand the activity of the polysaccharide in the mucosal environment.

Signals elicited at the intestinal epithelium upon chitosan feeding contribute to immunomodulatory activity and biocompatibility of the polysaccharide.

Chitosan is a copolymer of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine derived from chitin with several applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. This polysaccharide exhibits adjuvant properties in mucosal immune responses of humans, rats and mice. Characterization of signals elicited by chitosan at the intestinal epithelium could explain its immunomodulatory activity and biocompatibility. We fed normal rats with single doses of chitosan and 16h later, we purified intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) to assess immune and biochemical parameters. Following chitosan administration, mRNA expression and release of several cytokines and chemokines increased, injury markers maintained constitutive levels and MHC type II molecule expression was augmented. IEC supernatants showed higher levels of IL-10, IL-6 and TGF-beta. Arginase activity of IECs increased upon chitosan interaction in vivo and in vitro. Together, after chitosan feeding, mild activation of IECs occurs in vivo, with production of regulatory factors that could be relevant for its biocompatibility and immunomodulatory effects.