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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Functional Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Neutrophil Transepithelial Migration in Mice using a Standardized Intestinal Loop Model
Published on: February 11, 2021
Connecting metabolism to intestinal barrier function: The role of leptin
Gwenola Le Dréan1, Jean-Pierre Segain1
1Université de Nantes; Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (IMAD); Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine du Grand Ouest (CRNH) ; Nantes, France ; CHU Hôtel-Dieu, Place Alexis Ricordeau ; Nantes, France.
Abstract:
Structure and function of the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) are dependent upon the integrity of junctional protein structures sealing the apical surface between epithelial cells. Tight junctions (TJ) and the surrounding apical F-actin cytoskeleton are involved in the regulation of paracellular permeability. The regulation of actin cytoskeleton organization by RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway plays an important role in TJ assembly and function. There is mounting evidence that the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin exerts pleiotropic effects on the intestinal epithelium including nutrient absorption, epithelial growth, inflammation and injury. Leptin activates multiple cell signaling pathways in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) that can explain these pleiotropic effects. However, these pathways are also involved in the primary role of leptin that is the regulation of energy and glucose metabolism homeostasis. In this commentary, we examine how the interplay between leptin signaling pathways that regulate cell metabolism could impact upon IEB function.
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