Increasing intestinal mucin production using algaeextracts

摘要

In the small intestine the mucus layer and transmembrane proteins act as the first line of defense against pathogens and toxins present in the lumen. The mucus layer is a 3D, viscoelastic network structured by mucin glycoproteins. It protects the epithelial cells from dehydration, mechanical damage, and autodigestion, as well as preventing pathogen absorption and system dissemination. The mucus layer also hosts a wide range of innate immune molecules to help further eliminate pathogens. The various transmembrane proteins control the paracellular space between epithelial cells, by mitigating the types of products that can pass between the cells. They pievent the passage of undesirable substances and control ion flux and cell polarity. Both the mucuslayer and the transmembrane proteins play important roles in controlling animal and gut health. Previous work' has suggested that an extract from the algae Ulva sp. can stimulate the excretion of mucin proteins from colonic goblet cells, but the mode ofaction was not identified. Thus, one objective of the present study was to determine the mechanism for how mucus production was being stimulated. A second objective was to determine if the extract would improve tight junction protein expression given theit complementary role in protecting the animal from pathogen absorption. The hypothesis was that the Ulva sp extract from Ol-mix (MSP~RMUC1N) was stimulating the mRNA expression of both goblet cells and tight junction proteins.