Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Understanding and Treatment Strategies with the NEC-on-a-Chip Model
Published on: July 28, 2023
Intestinal tight junctions are severely altered in NEC preterm neonates
Amir Bein1, Smadar Eventov-Friedman2, Dan Arbell3
1The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, School of Nutritional Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Rehovot, Israel.
Background & Aims:
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe inflammatory disorder of the intestine endangering the health and survival of preterm infants. It is well established that the gut barrier is severely damaged in NEC patients, nonetheless an in depth investigation of modifications at the transcriptional and translational levels of tight junction genes and proteins during NEC are still missing. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the expression of tight junctions and other associated proteins during NEC and determine their correlation to the disease severity.
Methods:
We examined intestinal specimens from six NEC patients and compared them with six control specimens from patients that underwent surgeries for reasons other than NEC. The expression of genes was analyzed by real time PCR and protein expression by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
The tight junction genes ZO-1, occludin, cingulin and claudin-4 were significantly down regulated in NEC. Furthermore TLR4, BAX and SIRT1 genes were found to be significantly down regulated while HIF-1A showed a trend of up regulation in NEC patients. These changes were found to correlate with the severity of the disease. Additionally we demonstrated in an ex-vivo model that hypoxic conditions initiated a destructive process of the epithelial barrier. We also showed that the expression of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were significantly down regulated in NEC specimens.
Conclusions:
The expression of tight junction proteins and their encoding genes are significantly altered in NEC. We surmise that SIRT1 and HIF-1A may play a role in controlling these effects.
Related Concept Videos
Tight Junctions
Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes...
Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
P-N junction
Altered States of Awareness
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
Alterations in Blood Pressure
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart...

