BACKGROUND L-Glutamate (Glu) is a major amino acid in milk and postweaning diets for mammals (including pigs and human infants). However, effects of Glu on intestinal mucosal barrier and antioxidative functions are unknown. OBJECTIVE This study tested the hypothesis that Glu may enhance the barrier function of intestinal porcine epithelial cell line 1 (IPEC-1) cells by upregulating the expres...

Infectious agents such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) challenge the functional properties of the alveolar-capillary barrier (ACB) in the lung. In this study, we analyse the site-specific effects of LPS on the ACB and reveal the effects on the individual cell types and the ACB as a functional unit. Monocultures of H441 epithelial cells and co-cultures of H441 with endothelial cells cultured on Tra...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an impaired intestinal barrier function. We aimed to investigate the role of reticulon-4B (RTN-4B/NOGO-B), a structural protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, in intestinal barrier function and IBD. We used immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, real-time PCR, and Western blotting to study tissue distribution and expression levels of RTN-4...

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by the endothelial cells of cerebral microvessels and forms the critical interface regulating molecular flux between blood and brain. It contributes to homoeostasis of the microenvironment of the central nervous system and protection from pathogens and toxins. Key features of the BBB phenotype are presence of complex intercellular tight junctions giving a...

BACKGROUND Although most of cases of dengue infections are asymptomatic or mild symptomatic some individuals present warning signs progressing to severe dengue in which plasma leakage is a hallmark. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The present study used Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS®) which allows for electrical monitoring of cellular barrier function measuring changes in Tra...

Objective(s): Severe injuries are often associated with tissue hypothyroidism, elevated damaging mediators in circulation, and broken gut epithelial barrier.  However, the relationships between the hypothyroid state and gut epithelial damage are largely unknown.  Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of L-thyroxine (T4) on in vitro models of intact and ...

This article has not been copyedited and formatted. The final version may differ from this version. ABSTRACT In diabetic retinopathy, vision loss is usually secondary to macular edema, which is thought to depend on the functional integrity of the blood-retina barrier. The levels of advanced glycation end-products in the vitreous correlate with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Natriureti...

In diabetic retinopathy, vision loss is usually secondary to macular edema, which is thought to depend on the functional integrity of the blood-retina barrier. The levels of advanced glycation end products in the vitreous correlate with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Natriuretic peptides (NP) are expressed in the eye and their receptors are present in the retinal pigment epithelium (R...

The aim of this investigation was to design and develop nanoemulsions (NEs) as novel delivery systems for rapamycin. Phase behavior of quaternary systems composed of Traicetin (as oil), various surfactants and co-surfactants and water at different surfactant/co-surfactant weight ratios was investigated by the construction of phase diagrams. Formulations were taken from the o/w NE region of the ...

BACKGROUND Intracranial pressure changes during head impact cause brain injuries such as vasogenic edema and cerebral contusion. However, the influence of impulsive pressure on endothelial function has not yet been fully studied in vitro. In this study, we developed a pressure loading device that produced positive and negative pressures by modifying an in vitro fluid percussion model and examin...