Protective efficacy of antidiarrheal agents in a permeability model of Escherichia coli-infected CacoGoblet® cells

Aim: To compare the protective efficacy of gelatine tannate/probiotic with other antidiarrheal agents in Escherichia coli-inoculated CacoGoblet (R) cells. Methods: Four test compounds - gelatine tannate plus inactivated probiotic, diosmectite, probiotic mixture and Saccharomyces boulardii - were added to E. coli-infected CacoGoblet cells. After 1 and 24 h, transepithelial electrical resistance was measured and a lucifer yellow assay performed. Results: Gelatine tannate/probiotic markedly increased transepithelial electrical resistance by 123.1% (at 1 h) and 149.5% (at 24 h), and produced paracellular flux values of 0.41% (1 h) and 1.34% (24 h), which were considerably less than the E. coli-invasion value (2.41%). Conclusion: The protective efficacy of gelatine tannate/probiotic against E. coli-induced reduction of membrane integrity manifests early and is maintained for 24 h.