Anti-inflammatory effect of Lycium barbarum on polarized human intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has rapidly escalated in Asia (including Korea) due to increasing westernized diet patterns subsequent to industrialization. Factors associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are demonstrated to be one of the major causes of IBD. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Lycium barbarum ( L. barbarum ) on ER stress. MATERIALS/METHODS Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell line and polarized Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells were treated with crude extract of the L. chinense fruit (LF). Paracellular permeability was measured to examine the effect of tight junction (TJ) integrity. The regulatory pathways of ER stress were evaluated in MEF knockout (KO) cell lines by qPCR for interleukin (IL) 6, IL8 and XBP1 spliced form (XBP1s). Immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP), XBP1s and CCAAT/enhancer-binding homologous protein (CHOP) expressions were measured by RT-PCR. Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) at high resolution was applied to observe morphological changes after treatments. RESULTS Exposure to LF extract strengthened the TJ, both in the presence and absence of inflammation. In polarized Caco-2 pretreated with LF, induction in the expression of proinflammatory marker IL8 was not significant, whereas ER stress marker XBP1s expression was significantly increased. In wild type (wt) MEF cells, IL6, CHOP and XBP1 spliced form were dose-dependently induced when exposed to 12.5–50 µg/mL extract. However, absence of XBP1 or IRE1α in MEF cells abolished this effect. CONCLUSION Results of this study show that LF treatment enhances the barrier function and reduces inflammation and ER stress in an IRE1α-XBP1-dependent manner. These results suggest the preventive effect of LF on healthy intestine, and the possibility of reducing the degree of inflammatory symptoms in IBD patients.

Impact of phytochemicals and plant extracts on viability and proliferation of NK cell line NK-92 – a closer look at immunomodulatory properties of goji berries extract in human colon cancer cells

“…Wawruszak et al demonstrated the anticancer effect of ethanol extract of goji berries (EEGB) on a human breast cancer cell line (T47D) [31]. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect of goji berries was also reported in human colon cancer cell line Caco-2 [59,60], human hepatoma cell line QGY7703 [61], and human gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and SGC-7901 [62].…”

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to Copper-Induced Pyroptosis via Regulating the IRE1α-XBP1 Pathway in Pig Jejunal Epithelial Cells

“…Under ER stress, XBP1 mRNA can be processed to produce active transcription factors under the kinase and ribonuclease activity of IRE1α . Several studies found that the IRE1α–XBP1 pathway is involved in the inflammatory response. , IRE1α is the most conserved ER stress sensor, which regulates the generation of inflammatory factors via the activities of kinase and endoribonuclease in the C-terminal cytoplasmic moiety. As the downstream signal of IRE1α, XBP1 exerts a unique regulatory effect in inflammation.…”

Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation during Pregnancy Influences Insulin Sensitivity in Rabbit Does but Not in Their Offspring

“…However, it seems that polysaccharides ( Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, LBPs), of which the fruit is particularly rich, are the primary bioactive components to determine the beneficial pharmacological effects of the berry [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Previous studies have shown that Goji berries have antioxidant, anti-aging [ 12 ], antitumoral [ 16 ], anti-inflammatory [ 17 , 18 ], immunomodulatory [ 19 ], gastrointestinal-protective [ 20 ], cardioprotective [ 13 ], retinoprotective [ 14 ], and neuroprotective properties [ 21 ] as well as beneficial effects on several aspects of the reproductive sphere [ 22 , 23 ]. Last but not least, an increasing number of studies are showing the influence of Goji berries on blood glucose level homeostasis, suggesting antidiabetic [ 15 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] and hypolipidemic effects [ 26 , 28 , 29 ].…”