title: Utilization of a human intestinal epithelial cell culture system (Caco-2) for evaluating cytoprotective agents.
abstract: Human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) were cultured as confluent monolayers on polycarbonate membranes in Transwells for investigating their applicability in evaluating the cytoprotective activity of sucralfate. The control experiments established a reproducible chemical method (using 0.5 mM indomethacin in Hanks' balanced salt solution) for inducing damage to the Caco-2 cell monolayers. Damage was determined by measuring changes in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Twenty-day-old Caco-2 cell monolayers were significantly and reproducibly damaged (compared to buffer alone) (P < 0.001) by application of 0.5 mM indomethacin to the apical side for 1 hr. While sucralfate, at a 0.5, 2, or 5 mg/mL concentration in the buffer, was shown not to reverse (treat) the damage caused by indomethacin in this cellular model, it was able to protect (prevent) the cells from indomethacin-induced damage (P < 0.001). We observed that indomethacin-induced damage to the Caco-2 cell monolayers greatly affected the paracellular pathway since the percentage transport of [3H]methoxyinulin was significantly elevated. In contrast, protection of the Caco-2 cells with 5 mg/mL sucralfate in the presence of the damaging agent resulted in transport of the paracellular marker similar to that in the control (HBSS-treated) cell monolayers. This direct cytoprotective effect was thus independent of vascular factors at neutral pH and was observed to be dose dependent (0.5 to 5 mg/mL) when sucralfate was applied to the cells in the presence of the damaging agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chikhale
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Borchardt
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000633:toxicity; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013392:Sucralfate; D007213:Indomethacin