Vitamin D3 Mediated Molecular Mechanisms for the Function of the Alveolar-Capillary Barrier in Vitro
This study aimed to clarify the effect of Vitamin D3 on the maintenance of the function of the alveolar-capillary barrier, and the specific molecular mechanisms underlying its effect.
This study used an in vitro co-culture model of alveolar epithelial cells and capillary microvascular endothelial cells in Transwell® to simulate the alveolar-capillary barrier in vivo.
This study also performed the mono-culture models of individual cell types including alveolar epithelial cells and capillary microvascular endothelial cells respectively. The mono-culture of alveolar epithelial cells in Transwell® was also applied to mimic the alveolar epithelial barrier in vivo.
The results of this study demonstrated that Vitamin D3 significantly increased the TEER values of the mono-culture model of NCI-H441 cells and Calu-3 cells in Transwell®, and the TEER values of the co-culture model of NCI-H441 cells and OECs in Transwell®. Moreover, Vitamin D3 significantly increased and still maintained the TEER values of the co-culture model of NCI-H441 cells and OECs during the challenge with the bacterial endotoxin (LPS) treatment.
Vitamin D3 attenuated the LPS-induced increased gene expression of IL-6 in NCI-H441 cells, and attenuated LPS-induced significant gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in OECs. In addition, Vitamin D3 increased the protein expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and E-Cadherin in NCI-H441 cells.
These findings verified the significant positive effect of Vitamin D3 on the improvement of the function of the alveolar-capillary barrier and implicated the potential molecular mechanisms of Vitamin D3 in the maintenance of the properties of the alveolar-capillary barrier for the prevention of LPS-induced disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier.
Vorschau
Rechte
Nutzung und Vervielfältigung:
Bitte beachten Sie, dass einzelne Bestandteile der Publikation anderweitigen Lizenz- bzw. urheberrechtlichen Bedingungen unterliegen können.