title: Effect of berberine on barrier function in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of berberine, an alkaloid isolated from some medicinal herbs, on the disruption of the barrier function in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19) stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).
  
  
  METHODS
  ARPE-19 cells were cultured to confluence. Berberine and IL-1beta were added to the medium. Barrier functions were evaluated by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the permeability to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and sodium fluorescein (SF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Berberine dose-dependently inhibited decreased TER and increased the permeability to HRP and SF in the cells stimulated with IL-1beta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine dose-dependently inhibited the disruption of the barrier function in the ARPE-19 cell line induced by IL-1beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. ophthal@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hu-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayasaka
authors.forename: Xue-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayasaka
authors.forename: Zai-Long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Lian-Shun
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D001599:Berberine; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D019793:Fluorescein