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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2013; 19(33): 5500-5507
Published online Sep 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i33.5500
Published online Sep 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i33.5500
Fucoidan enhances intestinal barrier function by upregulating the expression of claudin-1
Atsushi Iraha, Akira Hokama, Kazuto Kishimoto, Tetsuo Hirata, Futoshi Higa, Masao Tateyama, Jiro Fujita, Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan
Hiroshi Chinen, Tetsu Kinjo, Manabu Nakamoto, Nagisa Kinjo, Fukunori Kinjo, Department of Endoscopy, University of the Ryukyus Hospital, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan
Takumi Yonashiro, Uruma Bio Co Ltd, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2234, Japan
Author contributions: Iraha A and Chinen H designed and performed the research; Iraha A wrote the manuscript; Hokama A reviewed the manuscript; Yonashiro T, Kinjo T, Kishimoto K, Nakamoto M, Hirata T and Kinjo N provided technical support; Hokama A, Higa F, Tateyama M, Kinjo F and Fujita J supervised the project.
Correspondence to: Akira Hokama, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan. hokama-a@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-98-8951144 Fax: +81-98-8951414
Received: April 25, 2013
Revised: July 7, 2013
Accepted: July 23, 2013
Published online: September 7, 2013
Revised: July 7, 2013
Accepted: July 23, 2013
Published online: September 7, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: The oxidative stress-induced disruption of the intestinal epithelial cells and subsequent increased paracellular permeability are critically important in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A growing body of experimental evidence indicates that fucoidan, a dietary substance of fucose-enriched sulfated polysaccharides, display a wide variety of pharmacological anti-inflammatory activities. This study demonstrates that fucoidan protected the epithelial barrier function from oxidative injury of the tight junction as well as barrier disruption by upregulating the expression of claudin-1. Thus, fucoidan may be an appropriate therapy for the treatment of IBD.