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Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2007; 13(13): 1962-1965
Published online Apr 7, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i13.1962
Lactobacillus plantarum inhibits epithelial barrier dysfunction and interleukin-8 secretion induced by tumor necrosis factor-α
Jae Sung Ko, Hye Ran Yang, Ju Young Chang, Jeong Kee Seo
Jae Sung Ko, Hye Ran Yang, Ju Young Chang, Jeong Kee Seo, Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, Korea
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by grant No. 0520050040 from the Seoul National University Hospital Research Fund and by KT&G Reserach Fund
Correspondence to: Jeong Kee Seo, Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongro-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. jkseo@snu.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-20723627 Fax: +82-2-7433455
Received: February 5, 2007
Revised: February 18, 2007
Accepted: March 19, 2007
Published online: April 7, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To determine whether Lactobacillus plantarum can modify the deleterious effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on intestinal epithelial cells.

METHODS: Caco-2 cells were incubated with TNF-α alone or in the presence of L. plantarum. Transepithelial electrical resistance was used to measure epithelial barrier function. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion by intestinal epithelial cells was measured using an ELISA. Cellular lysate proteins were immunoblotted using the anti-extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), anti-phospho-ERK and anti-IκB-α.

RESULTS: A TNF-α-induced decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance was inhibited by L. plantarum. TNF-α-induced IL-8 secretion was reduced by L. plantarum. L. plantarum inhibited the activation of ERK and the degradation of IκB-α in TNF-α-treated Caco-2 cells.

CONCLUSION: Induction of epithelial barrier dysfunction and IL-8 secretion by TNF-α is inhibited by L. plantarum. Probiotics may preserve epithelial barrier function and inhibit the inflammatory response by altering the signal transduction pathway.

Keywords: Lactobacillus plantarum; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Epithelial barrier; Interleukin-8; ERK; IκB-α