Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
06:43
Functional Assessment of Intestinal Tight Junction Barrier and Ion Permeability in Native Tissue by Ussing Chamber Technique
Published on: May 26, 2021
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theLiTE™: A Screening Platform to Identify Compounds that Reinforce Tight Junctions
Teresa Lopes Gomes1, Virgínia de Oliveira-Marques1, Richard John Hampson1,2
1Thelial Technologies SA, Parque Tecnológico de Cantanhede, Cantanhede, Portugal.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|January 24, 2022
Summary
Researchers screened 2,400 compounds to identify those that reinforce epithelial barriers by modulating Par-6 expression. Quercetin was identified as a promising compound for therapeutic development, with a food supplement now in clinical trials for GERD.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Epithelial biology
- Drug discovery
Background:
- Tight junctions (TJ) are crucial for epithelial barrier integrity and tissue homeostasis.
- Dysfunctional epithelial barriers are implicated in numerous pathological conditions.
- Par-6 negatively regulates TJ assembly, presenting a therapeutic target.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify compounds that enhance epithelial barrier function.
- To develop a screening platform for identifying modulators of Par-6 expression.
- To validate potential therapeutic compounds for barrier reinforcement.
Main Methods:
- Development of the theLiTE™ screening platform using Drosophila melanogaster follicular epithelial cells.
- Screening of 2,400 compounds for modulation of Par-6 expression.
- Assessment of epithelial barrier function using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and dye efflux assays.
Main Results:
- Identified 10 hit compounds out of 2,400 tested.
- Validated the theLiTE™ platform's efficacy.
- Shortlisted myricetin and quercetin for further development, with quercetin showing significant promise.
Conclusions:
- Quercetin demonstrates significant potential for restoring epithelial barrier function.
- The theLiTE™ platform is effective for identifying compounds that modulate TJ assembly.
- A quercetin-based food supplement is undergoing clinical evaluation for GERD.
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