title: The effect of berberine in vitro on tight junctions in human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells.
abstract: Berberine is one of the main alkaloids of Rhizoma coptidis which has been used for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. The major aim of this study was to investigate the effect of berberine on tight junction. Caco-2 cells were treated with various concentration of berberine. We observed the integrity of tight junction by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and also studied the effect of berberine on morphology of tight junction and tight junction protein. These findings showed the first time that berberine could reduce epithelial gut permeability, and might help explain the possible mechanisms of anti-diarrhea activity of berberine.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of General Surgery, Nanjing JingLing Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China. drgulilil@163.com
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiurong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chengyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jieshou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects*; D039323:Coptis / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine