Fig. 5
Gene expression levels of Claudin-1, ZO-1 and ZO-2 mRNAs in BA and BA-Al NPs-treated Caco-2 cells. Caco-2 cells treated with DMEM medium were used as a blank control * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, *** = p < 0.001 (a); Representative western blot of Claudin-1, ZO-1 and ZO-2 proteins in BA and BA-Al NPs- treated Caco-2 cells (b); Quantification of Claudin-1, ZO-1 and ZO-2 proteins using Image J. * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, *** = p < 0.001 (c); Immunofluorescence staining of TJ protein ZO-1 in BA and BA-Al NPs-treated Caco-2 cells (d); Molecular docking analysis of interaction between BA and 2h3m (crystal structure of ZO-1 PDZ1) (e); Schematic illustration showing the mechanism and consequence of BA-Al NPs mediated TJs modulating between intestinal epithelial cells (f)