Protective effects of vitamin D against injury in intestinal epithelium

• DOI: 10.1007/s00383-019-04586-y
• Publication Date: 2019-10-14T15:57:38Z
• Authors: Carol Lee; Ethan Lau; Sinobol Chusilp; Rachel Filler; Bo Li; Haitao Zhu; Masaya Yamoto; Agostino Pierro
• Keywords: Intestinal epithelium; Intestinal Permeability; Intestinal mucosa; Barrier function; Proinflammatory cytokine

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with intestinal barrier dysfunction, which contributes to pathogenesis of acute intestinal injury in children. We aim to investigate the effects of vitamin D on intestinal injury in intestinal epithelial cells and organoids.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce injury in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-18) and organoids, and the effect of vitamin D was assessed. Cell viability was measured and inflammation cytokines TNFα and IL-8 were quantified. FITC-dextran 4 kDa (FD4) permeability was measured using Transwell while tight junction markers were assessed by immunofluorescence staining in IEC-18 and intestinal organoids. Data were compared using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-test.IEC-18 viability was decreased by LPS treatment, but was prevented by vitamin D. The upregulation of inflammation was inhibited by vitamin D, which also decreased epithelium permeability. Vitamin D restored tight junction ZO-1 and claudin 2. In addition, vitamin D decreased TNFα expression and prevented the disruption of ZO-1 in injured organoids.Vitamin D rescued epithelial barrier function by improving permeability and restoring tight junctions, leading to decrease inflammation. This study confirms the protective effects of vitamin D, which could be used as a treatment strategy for infants at risk of developing intestinal injury.