Total polysaccharides of the Sijunzi decoction attenuate tumor necrosis factor-α-induced damage to the barrier function of a Caco-2 cell monolayer via the nuclear factor-κB-myosin light chain kinase-myosin light chain pathway

Figure 2 Total polysaccharides of the Sijunzi decoction promoted the proliferation of tumor necrosis factor-α-damaged Caco-2 cells. A: Caco-2 cells were treated with various concentrations of TPSJ (25-500 μg/mL) or control DMEM for 24 h. The effect of TPSJ on cell viability was measured using the MTT assay; B: TNF-α-damaged Caco-2 cells were incubated with 150 μg/mL TPSJ or control DMEM for 24 h. The induction of apoptosis was determined using an Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining assay; C: Quantification of the numbers of apoptotic and necrotic cells. Data are shown as the means ± standard errors of the means of at least three independent experiments (^eP < 0.001 vs control Caco-2 cells; ^cP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.001 vs TNF-α-damaged Caco-2 cells). TPSJ: Total polysaccharides of the Sijunzi decoction; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; DMEM: Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; MTT: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.