Inositol hexaphosphate alters mucin expression in the intestinal mucosa of mice

Abstract

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6 or phytic acid) is thought to be the active ingredient in legumes and cereals that provides anti‐cancer activity. Our goal is to understand the influence of IP6 on mucin expression (Muc1 and Muc2, specifically) in the mouse intestine. C57BL/6 mice were randomized into 3 groups of 6 mice. Mice were orally dosed with IP6 (0, 1, 2 g/kg BW) for 5 days and sacrificed on the sixth day. Sections of the small intestine were removed, fixed in methacarn, sectioned and stained with Alcian blue‐PAS to visualize mucins. Mucosa from the jejunum and colon were removed and total RNA prepared using Trizol®. cDNA was prepared using random hexamers and TaqMan minor groove binding probes were used for real time PCR amplification of message for Muc1 and Muc2. Expression of Muc1 in the jejunum was minimal whereas that of Muc2 increased 1.4‐fold at the higher IP6 dose rate. In the colon, expression of both Muc1 and Muc2 increased in mice dosed with IP6. Expression of Muc1 increased 1.6‐fold and 3.8‐fold in mice dosed with 1 and 2 g/kg IP6, respectively. Expression of Muc2 increased 2.0‐fold and 1.7‐fold in mice dosed with 1 and 2 g/kg IP6, respectively. Alcian blue‐PAS stained sections of the colon showed an increase in mucus. Thus, IP6 seems to increase the expression of Muc1 and Muc2 in the mucosa lining of the small intestine, particularly in the colon.Research was supported by East Tennessee State University and Mayo Clinic.