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Updated: Sep 29, 2026
In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Determine Intestinal Epithelial Cell Permeability
Published on: October 19, 2018
Differential effects of T-cell activation on gastric and small bowel permeability in alcohol-consuming mice
Ziad Alnadjim1, Zeid Kayali, Wael Haddad
1Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology , Feingerg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Background:
A number of variables influence the effect(s) of alcohol on distinct segments of the intestine. In these studies, we examined the effect of T-cell activation on gastric and small bowel permeability in alcohol-fed mice.
Methods:
Gastric permeability was assessed using sucrose absorption, whereas small bowel permeability was followed using the ratio of lactulose to mannitol absorption and inulin absorption. T cells were activated by injecting antigen OVA(323-339) into DO11.10 T-cell receptor transgenic mice.
Results:
T-cell activation increased gastric and small bowel permeability through a pathway mediated by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor. In mice that were fed a liquid diet that contained 30% ethanol-derived calories for 2 weeks, T-cell activation increased gastric permeability to levels greater than that observed in solid diet or pair-fed, liquid control diet. By comparison, changes in small bowel permeability induced by T-cell activation were abrogated in alcohol-fed mice. Analysis of intestinal cytokine mRNA levels (interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor) indicated that relevant mucosal T-cell function was preserved in alcohol-fed mice.
Conclusions:
Overall, these data suggest that alcohol potentiates the effects of T-cell activation on gastric permeability, at the same time blunting effects on small bowel permeability
