Protective effect and mechanism of fucoidan on intestinal mucosal barrier function in NOD mice
Ting Sun, Hui Liang, Meilan Xue, Ying Liu, Anjing Gong, Yushan Jiang, Yimin Qin, Jia Yang, Danyang Meng
Abstract
This study was to evaluate the protective effect of fucoidan on the intestinal mucosal barrier in non-obese diabetic mice (NOD). Twenty NOD mice were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group and the fucoidan intervention group which were fed with fucoidan at a concentration of 600 mg/kg BW (body weight) per day for five weeks. Mice treated with fucoidan had a significant improvement in glycemic control, and the proportions of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells and the levels of endotoxin, DAO and D-LA were reduced. Fucoidan treatment improved intestinal barrier function by increasing ZO-1, claudin-1 and Occludin protein expression. Moreover, the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2, NF-кB p65 and p38 MAPK were decreased. Our result suggested that pre-treatment with fucoidan could attenuate the inflammatory response and maintain intestinal barrier function in NOD mice. Fucoidan-based functional food may be potential for the prevention of T1DM (type 1 diabetes mellitus).