Efficacy of pectins with different degrees of methyl-esterification and of blockiness in preventing gut epithelial cell barrier disruption and the impact on sodium-glucose co-transporter expression under low and high glucose conditions

Pectins support intestinal barrier function and have anti-diabetic effects, and can differ in the degree of methyl-esterification (DM) and the distribution of non-esterified galacturonic acid residues (DB). The mechanisms and effects of pectin type at different glucose levels are unknown. Pectins with different DM/DB on T84 cells were tested in the presence and absence of the barrier disruptor A23187 at 5 mM and 20 mM glucose. DM19 and DM43 pectins with high DB do rescue the intestinal barrier from disruption. Their effects were as strong as those of the barrier-rescuing anti-diabetic drug metformin, but effects with metformin were restricted to high glucose levels while pectins had effects at both low and high glucose levels. At high glucose levels, DM43HB pectin, which enhanced trans-epithelial electrical resistance, also increased the expressions of claudin1, occludin, and ZO-1. Low and high DM pectins decrease the apical expression of the sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT-1) and thereby influence glucose transport, explaining the anti-diabetogenic effect of pectin. Higher DB pectins had the strongest effect. Their impact on SGLT-1 was stronger than that of metformin. Pectin's rescuing effect on barrier disruption and its impact on glucose transportation and anti-diabetogenic effects depend on both the DB and the DM of pectins.