Cited by 2,130Gut microbiota and healthBarrier Structure and Function StudiesGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Butyrate enhances the intestinal barrier by facilitating tight junction assembly via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in Caco-2 cell monolayers

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Peng, Luying, Li, Zhong-Rong, Green, Robert S., Holzmanr, Ian R., Lin, Jing·2009·The Journal of Nutrition

Abstract

Butyrate, one of the SCFA, promotes the development of the intestinal barrier. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the butyrate regulation of the intestinal barrier are unknown. To test the hypothesis that the effect of butyrate on the intestinal barrier is mediated by the regulation of the assembly of tight junctions involving the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), we determined the effect of butyrate on the intestinal barrier by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and inulin permeability in a Caco-2 cell monolayer model. We further used a calcium switch assay to study the assembly of epithelial tight junctions and determined the effect of butyrate on the assembly of epithelial tight junctions and AMPK activity. We demonstrated that the butyrate treatment increased AMPK activity and accelerated the assembly of tight junctions as shown by the reorganization of tight junction proteins, as well as the development of TER. AMPK activity was also upregulated by butyrate during calcium switch-induced tight junction assembly. Compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, inhibited the butyrate-induced activation of AMPK. The facilitating effect of butyrate on the increases in TER in standard culture media, as well as after calcium switch, was abolished by compound C. We conclude that butyrate enhances the intestinal barrier by regulating the assembly of tight junctions. This dynamic process is mediated by the activation of AMPK. These results suggest an intriguing link between SCFA and the intracellular energy sensor for the development of the intestinal barrier.

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Authors
Peng, L., Li, Z.-R., Green, R. S., Holzmanr, I. R., & Lin, J.
Affiliations
  • Tongji University (CN)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Corresponding author
Lin, Jing
Venue
The Journal of Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-09
Volume
139
Issue
9
Pages
1619-1625
ISSN
0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2155770880
Cited by
2,130
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 292 · 2025: 211 · 2024: 209 · 2023: 226 · 2022: 239 · 2021: 231 · 2020: 183 · 2019: 129 · 2018: 113 · 2017: 83 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 27
FWCI
6.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (NIH R03)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
butyrate, short-chain fatty acids, intestinal barrier, tight junction assembly, AMPK, Caco-2 cell monolayers, transepithelial electrical resistance, inulin permeability, tight junction proteins, energy sensing, compound C
MeSH terms
Butyrates, Epithelium, Humans, Intestinal Mucosa, Inulin, Membrane Proteins, Permeability, Phosphorylation, Up-Regulation, Electric Impedance, Caco-2 Cells, Tight Junctions, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases

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