Protective effects of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on barrier function injury of porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

Abstract

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natural organic sulfur component, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, IPEC-J2 cells model were used to investigate the effect of MSM on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced porcine intestinal epithelium barrier damage. The results of cell cycle showed that the cells in the G2/M phase were decreased significantly with the supplementation of 300 mM MSM (P < 0.05). The ELISA assay measured that MSM could significantly inhibited expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, MSM could significantly increase the value of cell monolayer transepithelial electrical resistance, while reduced the FITC-dextran flux permeability and lactate dehydrogenase activity in IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.01). Additionally, 300 mM MSM significantly increased both mRNA and protein expression of Occludin, Claudin1 and ZO-1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MSM prevented the downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by LPS, indicating that MSM might enhance tight junction function through mechanisms of activation of EGFR mediated protein synthesis in IPEC-J2 cells. Thereby, our findings suggested that MSM has protective effects on inflammation and epithelial barrier injury in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells, which indicating that MSM might be used as a potential therapeutic agent in the pig industry.