Substance-P protects intestinal epithelium against dextran sulfate sodium-induced toxicity in vitro

Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) has been used to destroy intestinal epithelium structure and impair barrier function to mimic clinic intestine damages, which causes the intestinal inflammation and furthermore, tissue destruction. In this study, we have attempted to damage intestinal epithelium by treating DSS to Caco-2, human intestinal epithelial cell line, and elucidated the recovery effect of SP in vitro . DSS altered cellular morphology with the loss of TJ and reduced cell viability. Notably, DSS arrested cell cycle to decrease proliferating cell pool. However, SP treatment could preserve cellular morphology and TJ expression level similar to the normal even under DSS-induced toxicity. SP was also able to enhance cell survival, accompanied by the accelerated cell proliferation. Collectively, our study revealed SP can block the intestine damage due to toxicity of DSS. Our results provide the possibility of SP as a potential therapeutic for intestinal damage.