This work was supported by the Seed Grant Award from California Northstate University College of Pharmacy (to AMN). The authors would like to thank California Northstate University College of Pharmacy for covering the publication cost of this article, and George Talbott for his help in editing this manuscript.

1. Maintenance of the Caco-2 Cells
<ol>
	<li>Using regular tissue culture dishes
	<ol>
		<li>Thaw the Caco-2 cells from a frozen vial by placing the vial in a 37 &#176;C water bath, and immediately add them to a 10 cm tissue culture dish containing 10 ml&#160;of pre-warmed growth media (15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)).
		<ol>
			<li>When the Caco-2 cells have reached 50-70% confluence, split them 1:6 by incubating the cells with 3 ml&#160;of 0.05% Trypsin / 0.53 mM ethylen...

<ol>
	<li>Drover, V. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CD36+deficiency+impairs+intestinal+lipid+secretion+and+clearance+of+chylomicrons+from+the+blood.">CD36 deficiency impairs intestinal lipid secretion and clearance of chylomicrons from the blood.</a> J Clin Invest. 115 (5), 1290-1297 (2005).</li><li>Nauli, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CD36+is+important+for+chylomicron+formation+and+secretion+and+may+mediate+cholesterol+uptake+in+the+proximal+intestine.">CD36 is important for chylomicron formation and secretion and may mediate cholesterol uptake in the proximal intestine.</a> Gastroenterology. 131 (4), 1197-1207 (2006).</li><li>Nauli, A. M., Zheng, S., Yang, Q., Li, R., Jandacek, R., Tso, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intestinal+alkaline+phosphatase+release+is+not+associated+with+chylomicron+formation.">Intestinal alkaline phosphatase release is not associated with chylomicron formation.</a> Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 284 (4), G583-G587 (2003).</li><li>Lo, C. -. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Why+does+the+gut+choose+apolipoprotein+B48+but+not+B100+for+chylomicron+formation.">Why does the gut choose apolipoprotein B48 but not B100 for chylomicron formation.</a> Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 294 (1), G344-G352 (2008).</li><li>Jandacek, R. J., Heubi, J. E., Tso, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel,+noninvasive+method+for+the+measurement+of+intestinal+fat+absorption.">A novel, noninvasive method for the measurement of intestinal fat absorption.</a> Gastroenterology. 127 (1), 139-144 (2004).</li><li>Nauli, A. M., Nauli, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intestinal+transport+as+a+potential+determinant+of+drug+bioavailability.">Intestinal transport as a potential determinant of drug bioavailability.</a> Curr Clin Pharmacol. 8 (3), 247-255 (2013).</li><li>Tso, P., Nauli, A., Lo, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enterocyte+fatty+acid+uptake+and+intestinal+fatty+acid-binding+protein.">Enterocyte fatty acid uptake and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein.</a> Biochem Soc Trans. 32 (Pt 1), 75-78 (2004).</li><li>Nauli, A. M., Sun, Y., Whittimore, J. D., Atyia, S., Krishnaswamy, G., Nauli, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chylomicrons+produced+by+Caco-2+cells+contained+ApoB-48+with+diameter+of+80-200+nm.">Chylomicrons produced by Caco-2 cells contained ApoB-48 with diameter of 80-200 nm.</a> Physiol Rep. 2 (6), (2014).</li><li>Rubinson, D. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+lentivirus-based+system+to+functionally+silence+genes+in+primary+mammalian+cells,+stem+cells+and+transgenic+mice+by+RNA+interference.">A lentivirus-based system to functionally silence genes in primary mammalian cells, stem cells and transgenic mice by RNA interference.</a> Nat Genet. 33 (3), 401-406 (2003).</li><li>Li, M., Husic, N., Lin, Y., Snider, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Production+of+lentiviral+vectors+for+transducing+cells+from+the+central+nervous+system.">Production of lentiviral vectors for transducing cells from the central nervous system.</a> J Vis Exp. (63), e4031 (2012).</li><li>Pottekat, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insulin+biosynthetic+interaction+network+component,+TMEM24,+facilitates+insulin+reserve+pool+release.">Insulin biosynthetic interaction network component, TMEM24, facilitates insulin reserve pool release.</a> Cell Rep. 4 (5), 921-930 (2013).</li><li>Van Greevenbroek, M. M., van Meer, G., Erkelens, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+saturated,+mono-,+and+polyunsaturated+fatty+acids+on+the+secretion+of+apo+B+containing+lipoproteins+by+Caco-2+cells.">Effects of saturated, mono-, and polyunsaturated fatty acids on the secretion of apo B containing lipoproteins by Caco-2 cells.</a> Atherosclerosis. 21 (1), 139-150 (1996).</li><li>Levy, E., Yotov, W., Seidman, E. G., Garofalo, C., Delvin, E., M&#233;nard, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Caco-2+cells+and+human+fetal+colon:+a+comparative+analysis+of+their+lipid+transport.">Caco-2 cells and human fetal colon: a comparative analysis of their lipid transport.</a> Biochim Biophys Acta. 1439 (3), 353-362 (1999).</li><li>Luchoomun, J., Hussain, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assembly+and+secretion+of+chylomicrons+by+differentiated+Caco-2+cells.+Nascent+triglycerides+and+preformed+phospholipids+are+preferentially+used+for+lipoprotein+assembly.">Assembly and secretion of chylomicrons by differentiated Caco-2 cells. Nascent triglycerides and preformed phospholipids are preferentially used for lipoprotein assembly.</a> J Biol Chem. 274 (28), 19565-19572 (1999).</li></ol>

The author has nothing to disclose.

In this paper, the two systems that can be used to maintain Caco-2 cells are described, namely, the regular tissue culture dish and the permeable membrane. The benefits of using the permeable membrane system include the separation of the apical and the basolateral compartments, and the ability to incubate the lipid mixture and collect the lipoprotein secretion simultaneously. However, the permeable membrane inserts are expensive, and their polycarbonate membrane does not allow for good cell visibility. One of the advanta...

Studies of intestinal absorption of dietary fat, and lipid-soluble drugs and vitamins can be conducted in vivo by using a lymph fistula model 1&#8211;4. However, the surgical techniques involved are not only challenging, but also costly. Although in vivo approaches based on fecal analysis may be utilized, they are used mainly to determine the percent uptake by the gastrointestinal tract 2,5. The in vitro model described in this paper is more cost effective, and the techniques involved are arguably less challenging. Genetic modification studies are also more economical and less time-consuming when they are conducted using this in vitro model.
Since lipid-soluble materials that are taken up by enterocytes are packaged into lipoproteins 6,7, the effectiveness of this in vitro model to produce lipoproteins is crucial. The two main intestinal lipoproteins are chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). Chylomicrons, defined as lipoproteins with 80 nm or more in diameter, are produced strictly by the small intestine when lipids are abundantly present in the gastrointestinal lumen. Since they are the largest lipoproteins, chylomicrons are conceivably the most efficient lipid transporters. This in vitro model, which is capable of producing chylomicrons 8, can be used to study dietary fat absorption, lipid-soluble vitamin absorption by the gut, and oral lipophilic drug bioavailability. The presence of lipid-soluble molecules, vitamins, or drugs in the lipoprotein fraction is an indicator of their absorption by the small intestine. As previously discussed, this model can be used to improve oral lipophilic drug bioavailability 6.
This paper describes how Caco-2 cells should be maintained in permeable membrane or regular tissue culture dishes, how the lipid mixture for stimulating lipoprotein production should be prepared, how the lentivirus expression system can be employed to achieve effective overexpression, and how the isolated lipoproteins should be analyzed.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>16750-112</td>
			<td>Pre-warm the growth media in individual tissue culture dish before adding cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>3600511</td>
			<td>We do not heat inactivate our serum</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>45000-660</td>
			<td>Cells can be washed with PBS prior to trypsin treatment&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Permeable membrane system</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>7200173</td>
			<td>10-cm dish, 3-mm pore size, polycarbonate membrane</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 cm dish</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>08-772-E</td>
			<td>Tissue culture dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 cm dish</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>08-772-24</td>
			<td>Tissue culture dish</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24 well plate</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>12565163</td>
			<td>Tissue culture plate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipid-based transfection reagent</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>PRE2691</td>
			<td>Can be substituted with other transfection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reduced serum media</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11058021</td>
			<td>For transfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pLL3.7 eGFP</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>11795</td>
			<td><a href="https://www.addgene.org/11795/">https://www.addgene.org/11795/</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bottle-top filter</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>9761120</td>
			<td>0.45 mm pore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polybrene</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>NC9840454</td>
			<td>10 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oleic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>01383-5G</td>
			<td>Prevent freeze-thaw cycle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lecithin&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>IC10214625</td>
			<td>Egg lecithin&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium taurocholate</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>NC9620276</td>
			<td>Product discontinued; alternative catalog number: 50-121-7956</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Protease inhibitor cocktail tablet (EDTA-free)</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>5892791001</td>
			<td>Used mainly for samples that need TEM analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polycarbonate ultracentrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>NC9696153</td>
			<td>Reusing it multiple times will collapse the tube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lid for ultracentrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>NC9796914</td>
			<td>A tool is required to remove the tube/lid from rotor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>50-949-261</td>
			<td>Disposable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe filter</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>09-719C</td>
			<td>Pore size = 0.2 mm; nylon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphotungstic acid</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>AC208310250</td>
			<td>For preparing 2% phosphotungstic acid, pH 6.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezer</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>50-238-62</td>
			<td>Extra fine and strong tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formvar/carbon grid</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>50-260-34</td>
			<td>Formvar/carbon film square grid 400 Copper</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

using caco-2 cells to study lipid transport by the intestine

Studies of dietary fat absorption are generally conducted by using an animal model equipped with a lymph cannula. Although this animal model is widely accepted as the in vivo model of dietary fat absorption, the surgical techniques involved are challenging and expensive. Genetic manipulation of the animal model is also costly and time consuming. The alternative in vitro model is arguably more affordable, timesaving, and less challenging. Importantly, the in vitro model allows investigators to examine the enterocytes as an isolated system, reducing the complexity inherent in the whole organism model. This paper describes how human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2) can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs and vitamins. It explains the proper maintenance of Caco-2 cells and the preparation of their lipid mixture; and it further discusses the valuable option of using the permeable membrane system. Since differentiated Caco-2 cells are polarized, the main advantage of using the permeable membrane system is that it separates the apical from the basolateral compartment. Consequently, the lipid mixture can be added to the apical compartment while the lipoproteins can be collected from the basolateral compartment. In addition, the effectiveness of the lentivirus expression system in upregulating gene expression in Caco-2 cells is discussed. Lastly, this paper describes how to confirm the successful isolation of intestinal lipoproteins by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Figure 1 displays normal 13-days post-confluent Caco-2 cells. The appearance of dome-shaped structures and intracellular lipid droplets are characteristic of differentiated Caco-2 cells. When the Caco-2 cells are not dispersed equally during seeding, they will clump and overgrow in certain areas of the dish; and there will be a few areas in the dish without any cells. Swirling and placing the dish on a slanted surface should be avoided. It is also important to note that post-confluent Caco-2 cells are mo...

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Using Caco-2 Cells to Study Lipid Transport by the Intestine

Caco-2 cells can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs/vitamins. The permeable membrane system separates the apical from the basolateral compartment, while the lentivirus expression system offers an effective gene overexpression method. The isolation of lipoproteins is confirmed by TEM.

Studies of dietary fat absorption are generally conducted by using an animal model equipped with a lymph cannula. Although this animal model is widely ...

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18.5K visualizações.  California Northstate University. Caco-2 cells can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs/vitamins. The permeable membrane system separates the apical from the basolateral compartment, while the lentivirus expression system offers an effective gene overexpression method. The isolation of lipoproteins is confirmed by TEM.