AUTHOR=Zhou Yuan , Xue Mei , Jiang Yunfei , Zhang Miaomiao , Wang Changming , Wang Xuyang , Yu Guang , Tang Zongxiang 

TITLE=Beneficial Effects of Quercetin on Microcystin-LR Induced Tight Junction Defects

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.733993

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.733993

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Quercetin has numerous functions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The beneficial effect of quercetin against microcystin-LR (MC-LR)-induced testicular tight junctions (TJs) defects <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic> were investigated. Significant reductions in transepithelial electrical resistance, occludin, and zonula occludens-1(ZO-1) levels were detected in the MC-LR-treated TM4 cells, and quercetin attenuated these effects. Interestingly, quercetin suppressed MC-LR-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT). It effectively inhibited the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells stimulated by MC-LR. In addition, ROS inhibitors blocked the TJ damage that is dependent on the AKT signaling pathway induced by MC-LR. In conclusion, our results suggest that alleviates MC-LR-impaired TJs by suppressing the ROS-regulated activation of the AKT pathway.</p>