Phenethyl isothiocyanate as an anti-nutritional factor attenuates deoxynivalenol-induced IPEC-J2 cell injury through inhibiting ROS-mediated autophagy

Effects of Glutamine or Glucose Deprivation on Inflammation and Tight Junction Disruption in Yak Rumen Epithelial Cells

Yak is a special free-ranging cattle breed in the plateau areas of Qinghai and Tibet. Pasture withering in cold-season pastures results in energy deficiency in yaks, which undermines the rumen epithelial barrier. However, the leading factor causing rumen epithelial injury remains unknown. Glutamine (Gln), a conditionally essential amino acid, is insufficient under pathological conditions. Glucose (GLU) is an important energy source. Thus, we explored the effects of Gln or GLU deprivation on the barrier function of yak rumen epithelial cells and investigated the underlying mechanisms, as well as the differences in rumen epithelial barrier function between Gln deprivation (Gln-D) and GLU deprivation (GLU-D). In previous work, we constructed the yak rumen epithelial cells (YRECs) line by transferring the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) and simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40T) into primary YRECs. The YRECs were exposed to normal, Gln-D, GLU-D, and serum replacement (SR) media for 6, 12, and 24 h. Our data displayed that cell viability and tight junction protein expression in the SR group were not significantly changed compared to the normal group. Whereas, compared with the SR group, Gln-D treated for more than 12 h reduced cell viability and proliferation, and GLU-D treated for more than 12 h damaged the cell morphology and reduced cell viability and proliferation. The cell proliferation and cell viability were decreased more in GLU-D than in Gln-D. In addition, Gln-D treated for more than 12 h disrupted YREC cellular partially tight junctions by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and GLU-D treated for more than 12 h disrupted YREC cellular tight junctions by inducing apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Compared with Gln-D, GLU-D more significantly induced cell injury and reduced tight junction protein levels. Our results provided evidence that GLU-D induced damage through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/c-junN-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, which was more serious than Gln-D treated for more than 12 h.

Isothiocyanates in medicine: A comprehensive review on phenylethyl-, allyl-, and benzyl-isothiocyanates

In recent years, isothiocyanates (ITCs), bioactive compounds primarily derived from Brassicaceae vegetables and herbs, have gained significant attention within the biomedical field due to their versatile biological effects. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of the therapeutic potential and individual biological mechanisms of the three specific ITCs phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), as well as their collective impact within the formulation of ANGOCIN® Anti-Infekt N (Angocin). Angocin comprises horseradish root (Armoracia rusticanae radix, 80 mg) and nasturtium (Tropaeoli majoris herba, 200 mg) and is authorized for treating inflammatory diseases affecting the respiratory and urinary tract. The antimicrobial efficacy of this substance has been confirmed both in vitro and in various clinical trials, with its primary effectiveness attributed to ITCs. PEITC, AITC, and BITC exhibit a wide array of health benefits, including potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, along with noteworthy anticancer potentials. Moreover, we highlight their ability to modulate critical biochemical pathways, such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, shedding light on their involvement in cellular apoptosis and their intricate role to guide immune responses.

Deoxynivalenol induced intestinal barrier injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload by inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3Rs)-mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) calcium axis

Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination is widespread in crops and could easily cause intestinal injury, which brings hazards to animals. Mitochondria are considered as an important target of DON, nevertheless, the mechanism is still unclear. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs) have gained arousing interest and are recognized as critical signaling hubs that control calcium signaling transduction between ER and mitochondria. This study aims to investigate the effects of DON on intestinal barrier, mitochondria, MAMs and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3Rs)-mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) calcium axis in piglets and porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). Furthermore, inhibition of IP3Rs or MCU was used to explore whether IP3Rs-MCU axis of MAMs was involved in the mitochondria dysfunction and intestinal epithelium barrier injury induced by DON in IPEC-J2. The data showed that DON induced intestinal barrier injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and ERS in piglets' jejunum and IPEC-J2. Moreover, DON increased MAMs by upregulating the protein level of Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), increasing the percentage of mitochondria with MAMs/total mitochondria and the ratio of MAMs length/mitochondrial perimeter and shortening the distance between mitochondria and ER of MAMs. Importantly, DON influenced IP3Rs-glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75)-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1)-MCU calcium axis by increasing the protein levels of GRP75 and MCU and the interaction of VDAC1-GRP75-IP3Rs complex, which in turn induced mitochondrial calcium overload. Furthermore, inhibition of IP3Rs or MCU alleviated DON-induced intestinal epithelium barrier injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial calcium overload of IPEC-J2. The current investigation proposed that DON induced intestinal injury, mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload via IP3Rs-GRP75-VDAC1-MCU calcium axis.

DON induced DNA damage triggers absence of p53-mediated G2 arrest and apoptosis in IPEC-1 cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) stands among the prevalent mycotoxins, and usually contaminates cereal foods and animal feed, leading to human and animal clinical poisoning symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. To date, the mechanism of toxicity of DON in different mammalian cells is not fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the detrimental impacts of DON on porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-1), serving as a representative model for porcine intestinal epithelial cells. After treating cells with DON for 24 h, DON can significantly inhibit the activity of cells, induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly reduce the content of glutathione and the activity of catalase, and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde, leading to an imbalance in intracellular redox status. In addition, DON can induce DNA double-strand breaks, and decrease mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, DON can promote the release of Cyt C through changes in mitochondrial permeability through inhibit the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins, leading to apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. On the other hand, we found that DON can cause IPEC-1 cells G2 phase cycle arrest. Different with our pervious study, DON induces cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase only by activating the ATM-Chk2-Cdc 25 C pathway, but cannot regulate the cell cycle arrest via the ATM-p53 pathway. These results indicate that DON can induce the same toxic phenotype in different cells, but its toxic mechanism is different. All these provide a rationale for revealing DON induced cytotoxicity and intestinal diseases.

Mitigating the adverse effects of Aflatoxin B1 in LMH, IPEC-J2 and 3D4/21 cells by a novel integrated agent

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of TOXO-XL (XL), an integrated mycotoxin-mitigating agent, on aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-induced damage in Leghorn male hepatoma (LMH), porcine jejunum epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) and porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21) cells, and to explore its potential mechanisms. The results showed that 30% inhibition concentration (IC₃₀) of AFB₁ in LMH, IPEC-J2 and 3D4/21 cells was 0.5, 15.0, and 2.5 mg/L, respectively. Notably, cell viability, ROS, apoptosis and DNA lesion induced by AFB₁ (IC₃₀) could be ameliorated by the supplementation with XL at the dosage of 0.025, 0.025 and 0.005%, respectively. Additionally, the migration and phagocytosis abilities impaired by AFB₁ were also restored by XL in 3D4/21. Further experiments revealed that XL supplementation markedly attenuated AFB₁-induced inflammatory response by decreasing IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in LMH, IL-6 in IPEC-J2 and IL-1β in 3D4/21 cells. Meanwhile, XL supplementation reversed the alterations of BAX, BCL-2 and caspase-3 induced by AFB₁ in the three cells, suggesting that AFB₁-induced apoptosis may be suppressed via the mitochondria-dependent pathway. Furthermore, XL may have a protective effect on the intestinal barrier through the restoration of occludin protein. Conclusively, these findings indicated that XL could alleviate AFB₁-induced cytotoxicity in the three cells, potentially through the regulation of cytokines, ROS, apoptotic and DNA damage signaling.

Cysteamine and N-Acetyl-cysteine Alleviate Placental Oxidative Stress and Barrier Function Damage Induced by Deoxynivalenol

Sows are highly sensitive to deoxynivalenol (DON) and susceptible to reproductive toxicity caused by oxidative stress, but the potential mechanisms and effective interventions remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of two antioxidants (cysteamine and N-acetyl-cysteine) in regulating the reproductive performance, redox status, and placental barrier function of sows and their potential mechanisms under DON exposure. Maternal dietary supply of antioxidants from day 85 of gestation to parturition reduced the incidence of stillbirths and low-birth-weight piglets under DON exposure. Moreover, the alleviation of DON-induced reproductive toxicity by dietary antioxidants was associated with the alleviation of placental oxidative stress, the enhancement of the placental barrier, and the vascular function of sows. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro vascularized placental barrier modeling further demonstrated that antioxidants could reverse both DON transport across the placenta and DON-induced increase of placental barrier permeability. The molecular mechanism of antioxidant resistance to DON toxicity may be related to the signal transducer and activator of the transcription-3-occludin/zonula occludens-1 signaling pathway. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of antioxidants to protect the mother from DON-induced reproductive toxicity by alleviating placental oxidative stress and enhancing the placental barrier.

Deoxynivalenol triggers porcine intestinal tight junction disorder: Insights from mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is universally detected trichothecene in most cereal commodities, which is considered as a major hazardous material for human and animal health. Intestine is the most vulnerable organ with higher concentration of DON than other organs, owing to the first defense barrier function to exogenous substances. However, the underling mechanisms about DON-induced intestinal toxicity remain poorly understood. Here, DON poisoning models of IPEC-J2 cells was established to explore adverse effect and the potential mechanism of DON-induced enterotoxicity. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Results showed that DON exposure destroyed IPEC-J2 cells morphology. Intestinal epithelial barrier injury was caused by DON with increasing LDH release, decreasing cell viability as well decreasing tight junction protein expressions (Occludin, N-Cad, ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Claudin-3). Moreover, DON caused mitochondrial dysfunction by opening mitochondrial permeability transition pore and eliminating mitochondrial membrane potential. DON exposure upregulated protein and mRNA expression of mitochondrial fission factors (Drp1, Fis1, MIEF1 and MFF) and mitophagy factors (PINK1, Parkin and LC3), downregulated mitochondrial fusion factors (Mfn1, Mfn2, except OPA1), resulting in mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and mitophagy. Overall, these findings suggested that DON induced tight junction dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells was related to mitochondrial dynamics-mediated mitophagy.