Supplemental Zinc exerts a positive effect against the heat stress damage in intestinal epithelial cells: Assays in a Caco-2 model

Heat stress (HS) lead to intestinal epithelial damage through induction of cellular oxidative stress. Since Zn is an essential nutrient with antioxidant properties that is involved in maintaining the intestinal barrier function, this study aimed to examine the effects of Zn supplementation in the intestinal epithelium under HS. Caco-2 cells were pre-incubated with Zn (50 and 100 mu M) prior to control (37 degrees C) or HS conditions (41-42 degrees C) for 24 h. Zn pretreatment reduced the lactate dehydrogenase release, a parameter reflecting the cell membrane damage. Zn supplementation alleviated the ROS generation in cells exposed to HS and promoted the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, Zn (specially 50 mu M) partly attenuated the HS induced damage on monolayer integrity as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance and phenol red permeability. Therefore, Zn supplementation had beneficial effects on the intestinal damage evoked by high temperatures and may be a useful nutritional strategy against global warming.

Automated summary

Zinc supplementation was found to reduce cell membrane damage, alleviate oxidative stress, promote antioxidant enzyme activity, and protect intestinal barrier function under heat stress conditions, which may be a beneficial nutritional strategy against intestinal damage caused by high temperatures.