Heterogeneity in the human intestinal cell line Caco-2 leads to differences in transepithelial transport

• Published in: European journal of pharmaceutical sciences Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 215 - 230
• Main Authors: Walter, Elke, Kissel, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 01.08.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Caco-2; Characterization; Differentiation; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Transepithelial drug; Transport; Characterization; Differentiation; Transport; Caco-2; Transepithelial drug; Cell culture; Heterogeneity; Models; Permeability; Reliability; Transepithelial transport
• ISSN: 0928-0987; 1879-0720
• DOI: 10.1016/0928-0987(95)00010-B

When the Caco-2 cell line is used as a model for transepithelial transport pathways, striking differences in transepithelial electrical resistance and in permeability of hydrophilic marker substances were reported. In this study, Caco-2 cell lines from different laboratories have been tested for permeability characteristics using hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. To elucidate the vast differences in permeability, the following properties were monitored: growth characteristics, morphological homogeneity, metabolic activity, viability, and actin. Using lectin binding experiments and alkaline phosphatase staining, the degree of differentiation in Caco-2 clones was estimated. Our results are in agreement with observations made by others, demonstrating heterogeneity of the Caco-2 cell line. Caco-2 monolayers consist of several subpopulations. The variation in permeability characteristics of the Caco-2 cell line may be a result of a selection process promoted by the respective culture conditions yielding a varying composition of subpopulations.