TNF-alpha-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction permeability requires NF-KB activation

摘要

Crohn's disease (CD) patients have an abnormal increase in intestinal epithelial permeability. The defect in intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier has been proposed as an important etiologic factor of CD. TNF-a increases intestinal TJ permeability. Because TNF-a levels are markedly increased in CD, TNF-a increase in intestinal TJ permeability could be a contributing factor of intestinal permeability defect in CD. Our purpose was to determine some of the intracellular mechanisms involved in TNF-a modulation of intestinal epithelial TJ permeability by using an in vitro intestinal epithelial system consisting of filter-grown Caco-2 monolayers. TNF-a produced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in Caco-2 TJ permeability. TNF-a-induced increase in Caco-2 TJ permeability correlated with Caco-2 NF-KB activation.