Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Protecting IEC-6 Cells from Acrylamide-Induced Tight Junction Damage by Ganoderma atrum Polysaccharide

Abstract

Scope: The previous in vivo studies show Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-F₂ ) has a protective effect against the acrylamide (AA)-induced intestinal oxidative damage in rats. Now, this study aims to explore the protective mechanism with IEC-6 cell model.

Methods and results: Based on RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq), the study screens MAPK signaling pathway as one of the most crucial pathways for pretreatment with PSG-F₂ against AA-induced damage in IEC-6 cells. In total, six key MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (p-P38/P38, p-ERK/ERK, and p-JNK/JNK), and three tight junction key proteins (Zonula Occludens protein-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin) are detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence, which verify the RNA-Seq data. Moreover, PD98059 interference inhibits critical proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway, thus uncovering the precise molecular mechanisms of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway involve in the protective effects of PSG-F₂ against AA-induced intestinal barrier damage.

Conclusion: These findings confirm that PSG-F₂ can be used as a daily dietary supplement to protect the intestinal cells from damage caused by thermal processing hazards AA.

Keywords: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide; MAPK signaling pathway; RNA sequencing; acrylamide; tight junction.