TY - JOUR
T1 - Phytoestrogens Weaken the Blood-Milk Barrier in Lactating Mammary Epithelial Cells by Affecting Tight Junctions and Cell Viability
AU - Tsugami, Yusaku
AU - Matsunaga, Kota
AU - Suzuki, Takahiro
AU - Nishimura, Takanori
AU - Kobayashi, Ken
N1 - Funding Information:
*Tel.: +81-11-706-2540, Fax: +81-11-706-2540, E-mail: kkobaya@anim.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. ORCID Ken Kobayashi: 0000-0002-2846-6887 Funding This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI, 2645044104). Notes The authors declare no competing financial interest.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Chemical Society.
PY - 2017/12/20
Y1 - 2017/12/20
N2 - During lactation, mammary epithelial cells (MECs) form the blood-milk barrier by less-permeable tight junctions (TJs) to prevent the leakage of milk components. Phytoestrogens affect the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of MECs. However, it remains unclear whether phytoestrogens are involved in the blood-milk barrier. Therefore, we investigated the influence of phytoestrogens (coumestrol, genistein, and daidzein) by using an in vitro mouse-MEC-culture model. The results showed that coumestrol and genistein changed the expression of TJ proteins (claudins-3 and -4 and occludin), weakened barrier function, and reduced β-casein production. Daidzein also weakened barrier function without inhibiting β-casein production. Additionally, coumestrol and genistein induced apoptosis in MECs. These results indicate that phytoestrogens weaken the blood-milk barrier by directly affecting TJs and the cellular viability of lactating MECs in different ways.
AB - During lactation, mammary epithelial cells (MECs) form the blood-milk barrier by less-permeable tight junctions (TJs) to prevent the leakage of milk components. Phytoestrogens affect the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of MECs. However, it remains unclear whether phytoestrogens are involved in the blood-milk barrier. Therefore, we investigated the influence of phytoestrogens (coumestrol, genistein, and daidzein) by using an in vitro mouse-MEC-culture model. The results showed that coumestrol and genistein changed the expression of TJ proteins (claudins-3 and -4 and occludin), weakened barrier function, and reduced β-casein production. Daidzein also weakened barrier function without inhibiting β-casein production. Additionally, coumestrol and genistein induced apoptosis in MECs. These results indicate that phytoestrogens weaken the blood-milk barrier by directly affecting TJs and the cellular viability of lactating MECs in different ways.
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U2 - 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04786
DO - 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04786
M3 - Article
C2 - 29189005
AN - SCOPUS:85038631744
SN - 0021-8561
VL - 65
SP - 11118
EP - 11124
JO - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
JF - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
IS - 50
ER -