Caco-2: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:29, 16 February 2025

Caco-2 Cells[edit]

Caco-2 cells are a line of human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells that are used extensively in pharmaceutical research and biological research. These cells are derived from a human colon carcinoma and are used as a model of the intestinal epithelial barrier.

Characteristics[edit]

Caco-2 cells are known for their ability to differentiate spontaneously into a monolayer of polarized cells that resemble the enterocytes lining the small intestine. This property makes them particularly useful for studying the absorption and transport of drugs and nutrients across the intestinal barrier.

Morphology[edit]

When cultured under appropriate conditions, Caco-2 cells form a confluent monolayer with tight junctions, microvilli, and other features characteristic of intestinal epithelial cells. The image on the right shows Caco-2 cells after 21 days in culture, highlighting their differentiated state.

Applications[edit]

Caco-2 cells are widely used in drug discovery and development to predict the oral bioavailability of pharmaceutical compounds. They serve as an in vitro model to assess the permeability of compounds across the intestinal epithelium.

Drug Transport Studies[edit]

In drug transport studies, Caco-2 cells are used to evaluate the efflux and influx of drugs, providing insights into the mechanisms of drug absorption and the role of transport proteins such as P-glycoprotein.

Nutrient Absorption[edit]

Caco-2 cells are also employed to study the absorption of nutrients and dietary supplements, helping to understand the bioavailability of various vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional compounds.

Culturing Caco-2 Cells[edit]

Culturing Caco-2 cells requires specific conditions to ensure proper differentiation and function. The cells are typically grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum, glutamine, and other essential nutrients.

Differentiation[edit]

Differentiation of Caco-2 cells into a monolayer that mimics the intestinal epithelium usually takes about 21 days. During this period, the cells develop tight junctions and microvilli, which are crucial for their function as a model of the intestinal barrier.

Limitations[edit]

While Caco-2 cells are a valuable tool in research, they have limitations. They do not fully replicate the complexity of the human intestinal epithelium, lacking certain cell types such as goblet cells and immune cells. Additionally, the expression of transporters and enzymes can differ from that in vivo.

Related Pages[edit]

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-'''Caco-2''' is a [[cell line]] that was originally established from a [[human]] [[colorectal carcinoma]]. It is a popular model used in [[pharmaceutical]] research for the study of [[intestinal]] [[drug absorption]], as it exhibits many of the properties of mature enterocytes, including the expression of [[microvilli]] and the ability to differentiate into a number of different cell types.
+== Caco-2 Cells ==
-== History ==
+[[File:CaCo-2_cells_after_21_days_in_culture.tif|thumb|right|Caco-2 cells after 21 days in culture]]
-The Caco-2 cell line was first established in the late 1970s by the [[cancer]] researcher Jorgen Fogh, who derived it from a primary [[colorectal cancer]] in a 72-year-old male patient. Since then, it has been widely used in [[biomedical research]], particularly in the field of [[pharmacology]].
+'''Caco-2 cells''' are a line of [[human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells]] that are used extensively in [[pharmaceutical research]] and [[biological research]]. These cells are derived from a [[human colon carcinoma]] and are used as a model of the [[intestinal epithelial barrier]].
 == Characteristics ==
-Caco-2 cells are [[epithelial]] in nature and exhibit many of the characteristics of mature [[enterocytes]], the cells that line the [[small intestine]]. They form tight junctions with each other, creating a barrier that mimics the [[intestinal epithelium]]. They also express [[microvilli]], small projections on the cell surface that increase its surface area and enhance its ability to absorb nutrients and drugs.
+Caco-2 cells are known for their ability to differentiate spontaneously into a monolayer of [[polarized cells]] that resemble the [[enterocytes]] lining the [[small intestine]]. This property makes them particularly useful for studying the [[absorption]] and [[transport]] of [[drugs]] and [[nutrients]] across the intestinal barrier.
-== Use in Research ==
+=== Morphology ===
-Caco-2 cells are widely used in [[pharmaceutical]] research as a model of the [[human]] [[intestinal]] [[epithelium]]. They are particularly useful for studying [[drug absorption]], as they can be used to predict the extent to which a drug will be absorbed in the [[gastrointestinal tract]]. They are also used to study [[drug transport]] mechanisms and the effects of various [[drug interactions]].
+When cultured under appropriate conditions, Caco-2 cells form a confluent monolayer with tight junctions, microvilli, and other features characteristic of intestinal epithelial cells. The image on the right shows Caco-2 cells after 21 days in culture, highlighting their differentiated state.
+== Applications ==
+Caco-2 cells are widely used in [[drug discovery]] and [[development]] to predict the [[oral bioavailability]] of [[pharmaceutical compounds]]. They serve as an in vitro model to assess the [[permeability]] of compounds across the intestinal epithelium.
+=== Drug Transport Studies ===
+In drug transport studies, Caco-2 cells are used to evaluate the [[efflux]] and [[influx]] of drugs, providing insights into the [[mechanisms]] of drug absorption and the role of [[transport proteins]] such as [[P-glycoprotein]].
+=== Nutrient Absorption ===
+Caco-2 cells are also employed to study the absorption of [[nutrients]] and [[dietary supplements]], helping to understand the [[bioavailability]] of various [[vitamins]], [[minerals]], and other [[nutritional compounds]].
+== Culturing Caco-2 Cells ==
+Culturing Caco-2 cells requires specific conditions to ensure proper differentiation and function. The cells are typically grown in [[Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium]] (DMEM) supplemented with [[fetal bovine serum]], [[glutamine]], and other essential nutrients.
+=== Differentiation ===
+Differentiation of Caco-2 cells into a monolayer that mimics the intestinal epithelium usually takes about 21 days. During this period, the cells develop tight junctions and microvilli, which are crucial for their function as a model of the intestinal barrier.
 == Limitations ==
-While Caco-2 cells are a valuable tool in [[pharmaceutical]] research, they do have some limitations. For example, they do not perfectly mimic the [[human]] [[intestinal]] [[epithelium]], and there are some differences in drug absorption between Caco-2 cells and the human intestine. Additionally, they are derived from a [[colorectal cancer]], and therefore may not accurately represent normal, healthy enterocytes.
+While Caco-2 cells are a valuable tool in research, they have limitations. They do not fully replicate the complexity of the human intestinal epithelium, lacking certain cell types such as [[goblet cells]] and [[immune cells]]. Additionally, the expression of transporters and enzymes can differ from that in vivo.
-== See Also ==
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Intestinal epithelium]]
+* [[Drug absorption]]
 * [[Cell culture]]
-* [[Drug absorption]]
+* [[Colorectal cancer]]
-* [[Enterocytes]]
-* [[Pharmaceutical research]]
-== References ==
+{{Cell culture}}
+{{Pharmacology}}
-<references />
 [[Category:Cell lines]]
-[[Category:Pharmaceutical research]]
+[[Category:Pharmacology]]
-[[Category:Biomedical research]]
+[[Category:Biotechnology]]
-[[Category:Colorectal cancer]]
-{{pharmacology-stub}}