title: Barrier characteristics of epithelial cultures modelling the airway and intestinal mucosa: a comparison.
abstract: The barrier characteristics of polarized layers of Calu-3 and Caco-2 cell lines, as commonly used in vitro models of intestinal and airway mucosa, respectively, were investigated by assessing the translocation of model macromolecules and nanoparticles. The barrier capacity of the cell layers towards the movement of macromolecules and nanoparticulates differed considerably between the cell lines. Permeability studies revealed the existence of a notably larger solute molecular weight limit for paracellular diffusion in Caco-2 monolayers compared to Calu-3 cells. Removal of mucus in Calu-3 cells resulted in cell layers exhibiting a larger macromolecular permeability, in addition to improved nanoparticle translocation. Microscopic examination of the tight junctions, as cellular features that play a major role in preventing transepithelial movement of macromolecules, revealed that the appearance of cell-cell boundaries was notably different in the two cell lines, which could explain the differences in macromolecular permeability. The data overall showed that epithelial layers of airway Calu-3 and intestinal Caco-2 cell cultures in vitro exhibit a different level of restrictiveness and this is due to the cell morphology and the presence of mucus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering, School of Pharmacy, Boots Science Building, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Driton.Vllasaliu@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Driton
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vllasaliu
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Snow
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stolnik
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances