• Jian Chen, Ren Zhang, Jian Wang, Peng Yu, Quan Liu, Dan Zeng, Houpan Song, and Zaoyuan Kuang.
• School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
• Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2015 Apr 1; 93 (4): 233-7.

AimsTo investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of baicalin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury in intestinal epithelial cells and intercellular tight junctions.MethodsIEC-6 cells were stimulated with LPS (1.0 μg/mL), with or without baicalin, for 24 h. The levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined using ELISA. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for determining the mRNA expression level of claudin-3, occludin, and ZO-1; Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis were used for analyzing the expression level and the distribution patterns of ZO-1 protein.ResultsPretreatment with baicalin (10.0 μg/mL) improved LPS-stimulated cell viability and repressed IL-6 and TNF-α levels. In addition, pretreatment with baicalin up-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1 and kept the protein intact in IEC-6 cells injured with LPS.ConclusionBaicalin has the capacity to protect IEC-6 cells and the intercellular tight junctions from LPS-induced injury. The mechanisms may be associated with inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines, and up-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of ZO-1.

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