The Role of Processed Aloe vera Gel in Intestinal Tight Junction: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Abstract

Leaky gut is a condition of increased paracellular permeability of the intestine due to compromised tight junction barriers. In recent years, this affliction has drawn the attention of scientists from different fields, as a myriad of studies prosecuted it to be the silent culprit of various immune diseases. Due to various controversies surrounding its culpability in the clinic, approaches to leaky gut are restricted in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding irritating factors, and practicing alternative medicine, including the consumption of supplements. In the current study, we investigate the tight junction-modulating effects of processed Aloe vera gel (PAG), comprising 5–400-kD polysaccharides as the main components. Our results show that oral treatment of 143 mg/kg PAG daily for 10 days improves the age-related leaky gut condition in old mice, by reducing their individual urinal lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio. In concordance with in vivo experiments, PAG treatment at dose 400 μg/mL accelerated the polarization process of Caco-2 monolayers. The underlying mechanism was attributed to enhancement in the expression of intestinal tight junction-associated scaffold protein zonula occludens (ZO)-1 at the translation level. This was induced by activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, which inhibits the translation repressor 4E-BP1. In conclusion, we propose that consuming PAG as a complementary food has the potential to benefit high-risk patients.

Human Milk Exosomes Induce ZO-1 Expression <i>via</i> Inhibition of REDD1 Expression in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells

“…21) Furthermore, Phan et al showed that aloe vera gel treatment induced ZO-1 expression by accelerating 4E-BP1 phosphorylation at the threonine 70 position in Caco-2 cells. 22) These results suggest that the regulation of ZO-1 expression in Caco-2 cells may be related to the activation of PI3K/Akt/ mTOR signaling and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1.…”

Aloe vera-Based Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Properties and Therapeutic Effects

“…It can be a functional food in the activation of lipolysis and the prevention of metabolic changes related to obesity since the phytosterols of Aloe gel are effective in reducing visceral fat due to the interaction with cholesterol and also has an effect on glucose metabolism, reducing blood sugar in the experimental mouse model [100]. It acts in intestinal disorders (combats constipation) due to its laxative, anti-dysenteric, anti-hemorrhoidal, and cicatrizing properties [101][102][103]. Moreover, even AV flowers are consumed more often today, knowing that diets rich in antioxidants reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases and cancers [104].…”