Vitamin C Attenuates Hemorrhagic Hypotension Induced Epithelial–Dendritic Cell Transformation in Rat Intestines by Maintaining GSK-3β Activity and E-Cadherin Expression

Objective To investigate the roles of epithelial-dendritic cell transformation (EDT) characterized by the expression of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) in the occurrence of tissue inflammation induced by hemorrhagic hypotension (HH), the protective effect of vitamin C (VitC), and the potential mechanisms. Methods We conducted an in vitro study using the rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6). After hypoxic culture with or without VitC for 2, 6, 24, and 48 h (n = 3 per group), the expression levels of DC-SIGN, E-cadherin, and Glycogen synthase kinase-3β-S9 (GSK-3β-S9) in IEC-6 cells, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations in the cell culture medium were measured. To investigate the potential mechanism, we inhibited E-cadherin expression by siRNA and GSK-3β activity by TDZD-8, respectively. The in vivo study was conducted by establishing SD rat HH model. We observed the expression levels and location of DC-SIGN in the intestines. We also showed histological damage, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations, and organ injury scores at 2, 6, and 24 h after HH (n = 6 per group), with or without VitC pretreatment. Results Hypoxia-induced DC-SIGN expression in IEC-6 cells in a time-dependent manner and the inflammatory factors were also increased. VitC inhibited all these phenomena. Hypoxia inhibited GSK-3β activity and E-cadherin expression. VitC could ease these inhibitions. The inhibitory effect of VitC on DC-SIGN was diminished when E-cadherin expression was inhibited in advance. TDZD-8 diminished the protective effect of VitC on E-cadherin and abolished inhibitory effect of VitC on DC-SIGN expression. HH-induced DC-SIGN expression in rat intestine epithelial cells and the histological damage scores and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were also increased. Conclusions HH induces EDT in rat intestine epithelial cells. VitC maintains GSK-3β activity, attenuates the suppression of E-cadherin caused by hypoxia, and ultimately decreases DC-SIGN expression.