Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers

Abstract Background Elevation of the transcription factor HIF-1 is a prominent mediator of not only processes that accompany hypoxia, but also the tumor microenvironment and tissue regeneration. This study uses mediators of “chemical hypoxia” to ask the question whether HIF-1α elevation in a healthy...

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Main Authors: K. M. DiGuilio, M. C. Valenzano, E. Rybakovsky, J. M. Mullin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-01-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12876-017-0731-5
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author K. M. DiGuilio
M. C. Valenzano
E. Rybakovsky
J. M. Mullin
author_facet K. M. DiGuilio
M. C. Valenzano
E. Rybakovsky
J. M. Mullin
author_sort K. M. DiGuilio
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Elevation of the transcription factor HIF-1 is a prominent mediator of not only processes that accompany hypoxia, but also the tumor microenvironment and tissue regeneration. This study uses mediators of “chemical hypoxia” to ask the question whether HIF-1α elevation in a healthy epithelial cell layer leads to leakiness in its tight junctional seals. Methods Transepithelial electrical resistance and transepithelial diffusion of 14C–D-mannitol and other radiolabeled probes are used as indicators of transepithelial barrier function of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers cultured on permeable supports. Western immunoblot analyses of integral tight junctional proteins (occludin and claudins) are used as further indicators of barrier function change. Results Cobalt, an inhibitor of the prolyl hydroxylase enzymes governing HIF-1α breakdown in the cell, induces transepithelial leakiness in CaCo-2 BBe cell layers in a time and concentration-dependent manner. This increased leakiness is accompanied by significant changes in certain specific integral tight junctional (TJ) proteins such as a decreased level of occludin and increased level of claudin-5. Similar results regarding barrier function compromise also occur with other chemical inhibitors of HIF-1α breakdown, namely ciclopiroxolamine (CPX) and dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). The increased leak is manifested by both decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (Rt) and increased paracellular diffusion of D-mannitol (Jm). The induced transepithelial leak shows significant size selectivity, consistent with induced effects on TJ permeability. Less-differentiated cell layers were significantly more affected than well-differentiated cell layers regarding induced transepithelial leak. A genetically modified CaCo-2 variant with reduced levels of HIF-1β, showed reduced transepithelial leak in response to cobalt exposure, further indicating that elevation of HIF-1α levels induced by agents of “chemical hypoxia” is responsible for the compromised barrier function of the CaCo-2 BBe cell layers. Conclusions Exposure to inducers of chemical hypoxia elevated HIF-1α levels and increased transepithelial leak. The degree of epithelial differentiation has significant effects on this action, possibly explaining the varying effects of HIF-1 modulation in epithelial and endothelial barrier function in different physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-2568f1322a4f4917a11accc92a9d1ba32022-12-21T17:59:57ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2018-01-0118111110.1186/s12876-017-0731-5Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layersK. M. DiGuilio0M. C. Valenzano1E. Rybakovsky2J. M. Mullin3Lankenau Institute for Medical ResearchLankenau Institute for Medical ResearchLankenau Institute for Medical ResearchLankenau Institute for Medical ResearchAbstract Background Elevation of the transcription factor HIF-1 is a prominent mediator of not only processes that accompany hypoxia, but also the tumor microenvironment and tissue regeneration. This study uses mediators of “chemical hypoxia” to ask the question whether HIF-1α elevation in a healthy epithelial cell layer leads to leakiness in its tight junctional seals. Methods Transepithelial electrical resistance and transepithelial diffusion of 14C–D-mannitol and other radiolabeled probes are used as indicators of transepithelial barrier function of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers cultured on permeable supports. Western immunoblot analyses of integral tight junctional proteins (occludin and claudins) are used as further indicators of barrier function change. Results Cobalt, an inhibitor of the prolyl hydroxylase enzymes governing HIF-1α breakdown in the cell, induces transepithelial leakiness in CaCo-2 BBe cell layers in a time and concentration-dependent manner. This increased leakiness is accompanied by significant changes in certain specific integral tight junctional (TJ) proteins such as a decreased level of occludin and increased level of claudin-5. Similar results regarding barrier function compromise also occur with other chemical inhibitors of HIF-1α breakdown, namely ciclopiroxolamine (CPX) and dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). The increased leak is manifested by both decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (Rt) and increased paracellular diffusion of D-mannitol (Jm). The induced transepithelial leak shows significant size selectivity, consistent with induced effects on TJ permeability. Less-differentiated cell layers were significantly more affected than well-differentiated cell layers regarding induced transepithelial leak. A genetically modified CaCo-2 variant with reduced levels of HIF-1β, showed reduced transepithelial leak in response to cobalt exposure, further indicating that elevation of HIF-1α levels induced by agents of “chemical hypoxia” is responsible for the compromised barrier function of the CaCo-2 BBe cell layers. Conclusions Exposure to inducers of chemical hypoxia elevated HIF-1α levels and increased transepithelial leak. The degree of epithelial differentiation has significant effects on this action, possibly explaining the varying effects of HIF-1 modulation in epithelial and endothelial barrier function in different physiological and pathophysiological conditions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12876-017-0731-5CaCo-2Tight junctionClaudinCobaltHIF-1Occludin
spellingShingle K. M. DiGuilio
M. C. Valenzano
E. Rybakovsky
J. M. Mullin
Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
BMC Gastroenterology
CaCo-2
Tight junction
Claudin
Cobalt
HIF-1
Occludin
title Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
title_full Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
title_fullStr Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
title_full_unstemmed Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
title_short Cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of CaCo-2 BBe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
title_sort cobalt chloride compromises transepithelial barrier properties of caco 2 bbe human gastrointestinal epithelial cell layers
topic CaCo-2
Tight junction
Claudin
Cobalt
HIF-1
Occludin
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12876-017-0731-5
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AT erybakovsky cobaltchloridecompromisestransepithelialbarrierpropertiesofcaco2bbehumangastrointestinalepithelialcelllayers
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