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Updated: May 23, 2026

In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches to Determine Intestinal Epithelial Cell Permeability
Published on: October 19, 2018
Differential effects of flavonoids on barrier integrity in human intestinal Caco-2 cells
Sakino Noda1, Soichi Tanabe, Takuya Suzuki
1Department of Biofunctional Science and Technology, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan.
Abstract:
Flavonoids, present in fruits, vegetables, and teas, provide beneficial effects for our health. We investigated the effect of a number of flavonoids on tight junction (TJ) barrier integrity in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER; a TJ integrity marker) across cell monolayers was measured in cells incubated with flavonoids for 24 h. Chrysin decreased the TER, indicating a decrease in TJ integrity. Daidzein, hesperetin, naringenin, and morin increased the TER, indicating increased TJ integrity. Luteolin and genistein increased or normalized the TER after a transient decrease. Immunoblot analysis revealed that these changes in TER were caused by modification of the cytoskeletal association and expression of TJ proteins, zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2, occludin, junctional adhesion molecule-1, and/or claudins. Our results suggest that various flavonoids participate in the regulation of intestinal TJ barrier integrity and that this regulation may partially contribute to the flavonoid-mediated biological effects on our health.
