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Modification of Tight Junction Structure and Permeability by Nutritional Means
Author(s) -
Mullin James M.,
Skrovanek Sonja M.,
Valenzano Mary Carmen
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04028.x
Subject(s) - tight junction , paracellular transport , claudin , barrier function , cysteine , methionine , chemistry , cystine , microbiology and biotechnology , mannitol , occludin , amino acid , permeability (electromagnetism) , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , membrane
The relative abundance of various claudin proteins of LLC‐PK 1 renal epithelial tight junctions (TJs) is modulated by culturing the cells in a medium that is sharply reduced in the sulfur‐containing amino acids, cysteine, cystine, and methionine. The functional result is an epithelial barrier that has a higher transepithelial electrical resistance and a decreased paracellular leak to D‐mannitol (i.e., improved barrier function). This is accomplished without affecting the culture's confluent cell density, its short circuit current, or its hallmark differentiated property, Na + ‐dependent sugar transport. The implications of being able to enhance epithelial TJ barrier function by nutritional means are discussed, particularly in light of the ability of methionine‐restrictive diets to enhance life span and forestall age‐related morbidity.