Poly-L-arginine-Induced Internalization of Tight Junction Proteins Increases the Paracellular Permeability of the Caco-2 Cell Monolayer to Hydrophilic Macromolecules

We investigated whether poly-L-arginine (PLA) enhances the paracellular permeability of the Caco-2 monolayer to hydrophilic macromolecules and clarified the disposition of tight junction (TJ) proteins. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (FD-4) permeation were determined after treatment with PLA. TJ proteins were visualized using immunofluorescence microscopy after PLA exposure and depletion, and their expression levels were determined. The barrier function of TJs was also evaluated by measuring the alterations in the TEER and in the localization of TJ proteins. PLA induced an increase in hydrophilic macromolecule, FD-4, permeation through Caco-2 cell monolayers and a decrease in the TEER in a concentration-dependent manner, without any significant impact on the cell viability. This increased paracellular permeability induced by PLA was found to be internalized of claudin-4, ZO-1, tricellulin and mainly occludin from cell?cell junction to the subcellular space. ZO-1 appeared to play an important role in the reconstitution of TJ strand structures following PLA depletion. These results indicate that the PLA led to the internalization of TJ proteins to the subcellular space, subsequently increasing the permeability of the Caco-2 cell monolayer to FD-4 via a paracellular route.Errata: Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin Vol. 37 (2014) No. 1 p. 184. Released on J-STAGE 20140101. Author name : Shinji Ohshima → Shinji Oshima. / http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.Errat

山口県における医療関係者の老人保健施設にたいする意識調査

The survey of the understanding about Health Services Facility for the Elderly was performed among medical staffs (doctors and nurses) in Yamaguchi Prefecture in order to expand its effective use. The results were as follows: 1) They knew Health Services Facility for the Elderly, but the understanding about its role in the medicine was not enough. 2) Medical staffs who were working in the field of senior medicine and psychosomatic medicine had comparatively enough understanding to Health Services Facility for the Elderly. 3) Medical staffs who were working in the general hospital had only a little understanding to Health Services Facility for the Elderly. 4) The ratios of medical staffs who were willing to use Health Services Facility for the Elderly were only 20-30%. It was suggested that the education to medical staffs was necessary to performe the effective and practical use of Health Services Facility for the Elderly