Impact of deoxynivalenol and kaempferol on expression of tight junction proteins at different stages of Caco-2 cell proliferation and differentiation

The barrier function of intestinal tract is essential to gut health, and the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins in human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells, mimicking the intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, was investigated after treatment by the mycotoxin of deoxynivalenol (DON) and phenolic compound of kaempferol (KAM). The results showed that DON (5 μM) significantly reduced the expression of claudin-4 while kaempferol (100 μM) increased the expression of claudin-3 during Caco-2 cell proliferation. After being cultured for 11 days, the DON treatment, unexpectedly, augmented the expression of claudin-4 with an increased TEER. For differentiated Caco-2 cells after a 21 day culture, both the TEER and claudin-4 levels were significantly reduced by DON while KAM pretreatment alleviated the damage caused by DON accompanying an increase of TEER, claudin-3, and ZO-1. Thus, kaempferol and DON differentially affected the expression of tight junction proteins at different stages of Caco-2 cell proliferation and differentiation, and an increase of the integrity of TJ after KAM pretreatment indicates KAM has the potential to protect the integrity of the barrier function of the intestinal epithelium for improved health.