Resveratrol supplementation attenuates excessive inflammation and helps restoring impaired restitution in an intestinal epithelial cell culture model

INTRODUCTION: Sustained release of inflammatory mediators, excessive inflammatory response and impaired intestinal epithelial restitution are well-known mechanisms in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This study focused on the effect of resveratrol on these pathways.
METHODS: The rat crypt intestinal cell line (IEC-6) culture, application of lipopolysaccharide or a cytokine mixture and a scratch migration assay model was used. Nitric oxide synthase-2 (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its phosphorylated form (pFAK) levels were assessed.
RESULTS: IEC-6 cells covered 88% of the denuded area in control, 54% in LPS, and 35% in cytomix groups at the 24th hour. The treatment with resveratrol at doses of 0.5, 1 and 5 µM/L before LPS resulted in the repair of 84%, 87% and 76% of the denuded areas, respectively. Likewise, with the cytomix it was 86%, 82%, and 78%. Resveratrol at the dose of 5 µM/L prevented the increase in iNOS levels. All three doses of resveratrol were effective in preventing the increase in COX levels. FAK or pFAK expression remained unchanged in all groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Resveratrol, being known for the antioxidant features, suppresses excessive inflammatory response and help preservation of mucosal integrity by conservation of epithelial restitution.