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Tumor cell lysate-pulsed human dendritic cells induce a T-cell response against pancreatic carcinoma cells: an in vitro model for the assessment of tumor vaccines.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells and play a pivotal role in T cell-mediated immunity. DCs have been shown to induce strong antitumor immune responses in vitro and in vivo, and their efficacy is being investigated in clinical trials. Compared with vaccination strategies directed against a single tumor antigen, tumor-cell lysate as the source of antigen offers the potential advantage of inducing a broad T-cell response against multiple known, as well as unknown, tumor-associated antigens expressed by the individual tumor. We used pancreatic carcinoma cell lines to develop an in vitro model for monitoring T-cell responses induced by lysate-pulsed DCs. Monocyte-derived DCs of HLA-A2(+) donors were pulsed with lysate generated from the HLA-A2(+) pancreatic carcinoma cell line Panc-1. In some experiments, the immunogenic protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was added to the lysate. Subsequently, the antigen-loaded DCs were activated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and prostaglandin E(2). Autologous mononuclear cells were cocultured with DCs in the presence of low-dose interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-7 and were restimulated weekly with new DCs. High levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma could be detected in the supernatants, indicating a T-helper type 1-type immune response. This cytokine profile was associated with the expression of the activation marker CD69 on both T helper and CTLs and with an antigen-induced proliferative T-cell response. After 4 weeks, CTL-mediated cytotoxicity was assessed. Tumor cell lysis was specific for Panc-1 tumor cells and was MHC class I-restricted. Cytokine secretion, CD69 expression of T cells, and antigen-induced T-cell proliferation correlated with the cytotoxic activity and were more pronounced when KLH was added to the lysate. This is the first study to show that T cells specific for pancreatic carcinoma cells can be generated in vitro by lysate-pulsed DCs and that the T-cell response can be enhanced by KLH. This in vitro model can be applied to compare different strategies in the development of DC-based tumor vaccines.

Antigen Presentation↗

An in vitro model of pericardial tissue healing.

INTRODUCTION: A previous study in our laboratory showed that a flap of fresh autologous pericardium bisecting the aorta of sheep retracted and became fibrotic. Histologic analyses suggested that activated cells within the pericardium contributed to the retraction of the implant. Here we report the development of an in vitro model to investigate the effects of serum on cellular proliferation and cell-mediated tissue contraction. METHODS: Sections of living and ethanol-treated sheep pericardium were incubated with 0.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 50% serum in medium for up to 8 days and evaluated for cellular proliferation and tissue contraction. These serum-stimulated events were further evaluated in the presence of Mitomycin C, Cytochalasin B and D, Aphidicolin, AraC, and Cycloheximide. RESULTS: Cellular proliferation and cell-mediated tissue contraction were induced by serum in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of PCNA was suppressed in the presence of Cytochalasin B, Cytochalasin D, Aphidicolin, and AraC. Tissue contraction was prevented by Cycloheximide. Mitomycin C inhibited both proliferation and tissue contraction. Ethanol-treated tissue, which was absent of living cells, did not respond to stimulation with serum. CONCLUSIONS: An in vitro model was developed to study the responses of cells within pericardial tissues to stimulation by serum. In this model, serum induced cellular proliferation and tissue contraction. Different chemical inhibitors independently modulated these serum-stimulated events. Pre-existing cells within pericardial tissues might respond to stimulus through differential pathways. This model may help to develop methods to make autologous pericardium a clinically useful biomaterial.

Animals↗

The use of rat brain slices as an in vitro model for mechanistic evaluation of neurotoxicity-studies with acrylamide.

Biochemical mechanisms underlying acrylamide induced neurotoxicity were examined using an in vitro model consisting of sagittal slices of rat brain. Incubation of brain slices under oxygen in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing acrylamide produced a dose and time dependent inhibition of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase, N-acetyl glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase decreased in a similar manner, while no changes were observed in the activity of Na+K+ATPase, cytochrome c oxidase and lactate dehydrogenase. Incubation of slices with two structurally related compounds, acetamide (a non-neurotoxic amide) and methylene bis-acrylamide (a weak neurotoxin), indicated that acrylamide selectively inhibited GAPDH, enolase and N-acetyl glucosaminidase at low concentration; similar doses of acetamide and methylene bis-acrylamide did not have the same effect on brain slices. Incubation with acrylamide depleted glutathione levels in slices, and the addition of glutathione to the incubation medium prevented acrylamide induced inhibition of GAPDH and lysosomal enzymes. Time dependent inhibition of lysosomal enzymes was also observed in vivo, in the brain and sciatic nerve of rats following a single dose of acrylamide. These results demonstrate that both in vitro and in vivo, lysosomal enzymes are also inhibited following acrylamide exposure. The rat brain slice model exhibits both selectivity and sensitivity towards neurotoxicants and hence, may prove to be an useful in vitro model for the mechanistic evaluation of neurotoxicity.

Acrylamide↗

Antioxidant activities of flavidin in different in vitro model systems.

Flavidin was isolated from Orchidaceae species and purified by silica gel column chromatography. The structure was identified using physical and spectral ((1)H, (13)C NMR, and mass) data. Antioxidant potency of flavidin was investigated employing various established in vitro model systems viz., beta-carotene-linoleate, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), phosphomolybdenum method, and scavenging of hydrogen peroxide methods. Flavidin showed very good antioxidant activity (90.2%) and almost equivalent to that of BHA at 50ppm level by beta-carotene-linoleate method. Radical scavenging activity of flavidin was compared with BHA at 5, 10, 20, and 40ppm concentration and flavidin showed more radical scavenging activity than BHA at all the tested concentrations. Furthermore, flavidin showed very good antioxidant capacity by the formation of phosphomolybdenum complex method. Besides this, flavidin showed effective hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. The data obtained in the in vitro models clearly establish the antioxidant potency of flavidin. However, comprehensive studies need to be conducted to ascertain the in vivo safety of flavidin in experimental animal models. This is the first report on antioxidant activity of 9,10-dihydro-5H-phenanthro-(4,5 bcd)-pyrans/flavidin type of compounds.

Antioxidants↗

Cryopreserved human hepatocytes as alternative in vitro model for cytochrome p450 induction studies.

Induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) by drugs is one of major concerns for drug-drug interactions. Thus, the assessment of CYP induction by novel compounds is a vital component in the drug discovery and development processes. Primary human hepatocytes are the preferred in vitro model for predicting CYP induction in vivo. However, their use is hampered by the erratic supply of human tissue and donor-to-donor variability. Although cryopreserved hepatocytes have been recommended for short-term applications in suspension, their use in studies on induction of enzyme activity has been limited because of poor attachment and response to enzyme inducers. In this study, we report culture conditions that allowed the attachment of cryopreserved human hepatocytes and responsiveness to CYP inducers. We evaluated the inducibility of CYP1A1/2 and CYP3A4 enzymes in cryopreserved hepatocytes from three human donors. Cryopreserved human hepatocytes were cultured in serum-free medium for 4 d. They exhibited normal morphology and measurable viability as evaluated by the reduction of tetrazolium salts (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) by cellular dehydrogenases. Treatment with beta-naphthoflavone (10 microM) for 3 d increased ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (CYP1A1/2) by 6- to 11-fold over untreated cultures and increased CYP1A2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression by three- to eightfold. Similarly, treatment of cryopreserved human hepatocytes with rifampicin (25 microM) for 3 d increased testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity (CYP3A4) by five- to eightfold over untreated cultures and increased CYP3A4 mRNA expression by four- to eightfold. The results suggest that cryopreserved human hepatocytes can be a suitable in vitro model for evaluating xenobiotics as inducers of CYP1A1/2 and CYP3A4 enzymes.

Adult↗

An in vitro model for Toxoplasma infection in man. Interaction between CD4+ monoclonal T cells and macrophages results in killing of trophozoites.

The cell interactions that take place between Toxoplasma gondii trophozoites and the human immune system have been investigated by using an in vitro model of infection. PBMC were co-cultured with live, appropriately attenuated, trophozoites. When cells from immune (seropositive) donors were used, a proliferative response was observed. At the same time, the proliferating T cells proved capable of controlling the growth of live trophozoites. By contrast, cells from seronegative donors failed to mount a proliferative response and intracellular overgrowth of trophozoites with subsequent cell injury occurred. Actively proliferating T cells were expanded in continuous cell lines with IL-2 and periodical restimulation with Ag in the presence of autologous irradiated mononuclear cells. From some of the lines obtained, clones were also derived. Ten clones were selected for further studies. They proliferated in response to trophozoites but not to unrelated Ag. Their response required the presence of autologous monocytes-macrophages isolated from peripheral blood on Percoll density gradients. B cells that were obtained from the same donors and immortalized by EBV infection proved inefficient as APC. These data suggest that live trophozoites have to be processed by macrophages in order to be presented to T cells. Upon appropriate antigen stimulation, all of the clones produced IL-2 and IFN-gamma, a finding that was consistent with both their CD4+ surface phenotype and their helper capacity on B cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro. The supernatants of all of the stimulated clones released a factor that activated macrophages to kill intracellular trophozoites as well as an unrelated pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. This factor was identified as IFN-gamma because it was neutralized by specific anti-IFN-gamma antibodies. The present in vitro model of response to live protozoa may prove suitable to assess the role of both T lymphocytes and macrophages in intracellular parasite infections in man. Furthermore, this experimental system may be applied to detect specific lesions of cell mediated immunity in a number of immunodeficiency syndromes.

Adult↗

Intestinal ischemia and the gut-liver axis: an in vitro model.

BACKGROUND: Sustained intestinal ischemic injury often leads to shock and multiorgan failure, mediated in part by a cytokine cascade. Animal models have also identified a central role of Kupffer cells in amplification of cytokines following intestinal ischemia. To better understand this gut-liver axis, we developed an in vitro model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kupffer cells were isolated from rat livers by arabinogalactan gradient ultracentrifugation and adherence purification. Cells were grown in RPMI medium in 5% CO(2). Rat intestinal epithelial cells, IEC-6, were cultured under normoxic or anoxic (90% N(2), 10% CO(2)) conditions for 2, 12, and 24 h. Kupffer cells were then grown in the conditioned medium of the IEC-6 cultures. After 24 h, the medium was replaced with fresh medium. This final Kupffer cell supernatant was tested for tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 production by ELISA. Trypan blue exclusion was performed to assess cell viability. RESULTS: Intestinal and Kupffer cells remained viable during the experimental time. Production of both tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 by Kupffer cells increased with increasing ischemia time of the intestinal cells. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with animal studies of intestinal ischemia, this study found an increase in cytokine production by Kupffer cells following hypoxia of intestinal cells. This in vitro model offers a new tool to study the expression of cytokines, proteins, and messengers involved in the cascade of events that follow intestinal ischemia.

Animals↗

Building in vitro models of organs.

Tissue-engineering techniques are being used to build in vitro models of organs as substitutes for human donor organs for transplantation as well as in vitro toxicology testing (as alternatives to use of animals). Tissue engineering involves the fabrication of scaffolds from materials that are biologically compatible to serve as cellular supports and microhabitats in order to reconstitute a desired tissue or organ. Three organ systems that are currently the foci of tissue engineering efforts for both transplantation and in vitro toxicology testing purposes are discussed. These are models of the cornea, nerves (peripheral nerves specifically), and cardiovascular components. In each of these organ systems, a variety of techniques and materials are being used to achieve the same end results. In general, models that are designed with consideration of the developmental and cellular biology of the target tissues or organs have tended to result in morphologically and physiologically accurate models. Many of the models, with further development and refinement, have the potential to be useful as functional substitute tissues and organs for transplantation or for in vitro toxicology testing.

Animals↗

The porcine snout--an in vitro model for human lips?

The morphology and histology of test sites commonly used to study the penetration of lip products differ significantly from those of the human lip itself. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the porcine snout could serve as an equivalent in vitro model for human lips. The lips of human test subjects and biopsies of porcine snout tissue were compared using histological and microscopic techniques. Using a dermatological laser scanning microscope, the penetration of topically applied fluorescent sodium fluorescein was investigated in vivo on human lips and in vitro on the porcine snout. Biopsies from the in vitro experiments were studied using fluorescence microscopy. Some parts of the porcine snout show a similar morphology and histology as human lips. The stratum corneum (SC) and the epidermis of the porcine snout are thicker than those of human tissue. Both in vivo and in vitro, the topically applied fluorescent dye was detected only on the skin surface and within the uppermost SC layer. These results indicate that porcine snout can be used as an in vitro model for human lips in penetration studies. Both human and porcine tissues exhibit an efficient barrier against the penetration of topically applied substances.

Adult↗

In vitro model for studying the effects of hemodynamics on device induced thromboembolism in human blood.

Biomateria related thromboembolism is a complex phenomenon, affected by such variables as biomaterial surface chemistry, hemodynamics, and individual donor variations. Thus, isolation of the individual variables would greatly facilitate the understanding and inhibition of this phenomenon. A low volume in vitro model with this potential has been developed, with the initial focus on studying the influence of hemodynamics on thromboembolism (TE) in human blood. Patterned after a larger in vitro model for bovine blood used successfully in our laboratory, the smaller model directed fresh human blood in a single pass through 1/32 inch ID PVC tubing and a flow cell at 3 ml/min. The flow cell consisted of alternating abrupt expansions and contractions of cylindrical tubing that could be modified to study the effects of hemodynamic parameters on TE. Thrombus growth in the flow cell was monitored visually by transillumination microscopy. Emboli from the flow cell were detected continuously by a light-scattering microemboli detector (LSMD), and their strength was assessed by using the constant-pressure filtration (CPF) method. Preliminary studies confirmed the potential of this model. Thrombi were observed visually in the flow cell at sites of high vorticity and at flow separation and reattachment points and were also observed to embolize. Emboli were detected by the LSMD downstream of the flow cell in significantly greater numbers than upstream and were coincident with the embolization of thrombi observed visually. Emboli collected downstream of the flow cell occluded the CPF filters at 50 mm Hg, suggesting that they possessed sufficient strength to occlude microvessels. This model may be used to aid in developing a computer model of thromboembolism, which could subsequently be refined with clinical data.

Hemodynamics↗

An in vitro model for grafting of hematopoietic stem cells predicts bone marrow reconstitution of myeloablative mice.

Homing and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to bone marrow (BM) is a complex process that primarily depends on the cell-surface expression of adhesion molecules on stem and stromal cells. Here we report an in vitro model for homing of stem cells on pre-established stromal layer; the stroma-adhered cells were found to engraft, multiply, and differentiate in BM of age-matched mice. In vitro study revealed that initially the adhesion of BM cells on irradiated stroma was increased with time, and it attained a peak at 2 h of contacts. During that time, 44.1 +/- 6.5% (n = 8) cells were adhered, and this value was maintained up to 6 x 10(6) cells. The adhered cell fraction was enriched by 3.9-, 2.5-, and 1.7-fold Sca-1, colony forming cell (CFC), and cobblestone area forming cells (CAFC), respectively, as compared to the fresh BM cells. These adhered cells homed to BM with an engraftment efficiency of 11.8 +/- 2.5% (n = 6). The homed cells reconstituted BM of myeloablative mice by self-renewing and differentiating into myeloid cells. Overall, a simple in vitro model system has been described to study homing and grafting of HSCs that can be deployed to any possible experimental conditions to investigate the interactions between stromal and stem cells.

Animals↗

Activity of reverse transcriptase inhibitors in monocyte-derived dendritic cells: a possible in vitro model for postexposure prophylaxis of sexual HIV transmission.

Because prevention of heterosexual HIV transmission is not always possible, it is important to develop effective strategies of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Since in vivo comparison of drug potency is difficult, we developed an in vitro model with cells resembling primary targets during sexual transmission: monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MO-DCs), Langerhans cells (MO-LCs), and resting autologous CD4(+) T cells. Nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs and NNRTIs, respectively) were evaluated for their antiviral activity, when added immediately after infection or at a later time point. In parallel, their immune-suppressive effect was examined by measuring inhibition of mixed MO-DC/allogeneic CD4(+) T cell cultures. Most RTIs potently inhibited HIV replication, even if added 24 hr after infection (representing PEP). The sensitivity to antiretroviral drugs was similar in HIV-infected MO-DCs and MO-LCs, but decreased in cocultures with resting autologous CD4(+) T cells. The NNRTIs efavirenz and UC-781 as well as the NRTIs AZT, 3TC, and d4T showed a similar high potency in MO-DC plus autologous CD4(+) T cell cocultures as compared with CEM T cells, whereas their activity in phytohemagglutinin/interleukin 2 (PHA/IL-2)-activated CD4(+) T cells was lower. The dideoxynucleoside RTI abacavir as well as the phosphonates (R)-PMPA and PMEA were more active in infected MO-DCs as compared with either CEM T cells or PHA/IL-2 activated CD4(+) T cells. Infection in cocultures of MO-DCs and autologous CD4(+) T cells could be aborted in a proportion of the cultures, with high concentrations of PMEA and/or efavirenz, but not with AZT. Suppressive activity in mixed leukocyte cultures was observed only at very high concentrations of RTI. Our data suggest that cocultures of MO-DCs and autologous CD4(+) T cells can be used as a possible in vitro model to explore protocols for PEP after sexual HIV transmission.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Effects of gamma- and hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrins on the transport of doxorubicin across an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier.

Association between doxorubicin (DOX) and gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) or hydroxypropyl-gamma-CD (HP-gamma-CD) has been examined to increase the delivery of this antitumoral agent to the brain. The stoichiometry and the stability constant of gamma-CD or HP-gamma-CD and DOX complexes were determined in physiological medium by UV-visible spectroscopy. By using an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), endothelial permeability and toxicity toward the brain capillary endothelial cells of DOX, gamma-CD, and HP-gamma-CD were performed. For each CD, endothelial permeability was relatively low and a disruption of the BBB occurred at 20 microM, 20 mM, and 50 mM DOX, gamma-CD, and HP-gamma-CD, respectively. Increasing amounts of CDs were added to a fixed DOX concentration. Addition of gamma-CD or HP-gamma-CD, up to 15 and 35 mM, respectively, decreased the DOX delivery, probably due to the low complex penetration across the BBB and the decrease in free DOX concentration. Higher CD concentrations increased the DOX delivery to the brain, but this effect is due to a loss of BBB integrity. In contrast to what was observed on Caco-2 cell model with various drugs, CDs are not able to increase the delivery of DOX across our in vitro model of BBB.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

A study of an in vitro model for invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

An in vitro model for studying the invasion mechanism of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was developed using a specific culture matrix composed of collagen gel combined with human fibroblasts. Five SCC cell lines cultured on collagen-only gels showed stratified growth on the gels. However, all five cell lines showed invasive growth into the matrix when cultured on the fibroblast-incorporated collagen gels. Moreover, fibroblast-conditioned medium was shown to promote the invasion of HSC-3 cells into the collagen gels. These results suggest that fibroblasts play an important role in the invasion of oral SCC cells in vitro. Four cell lines, which were newly established in our laboratory, were tested in this assay system. These cell lines cultured on fibroblast-incorporated collagen gels expressed morphologic and biologic characteristics in vitro, similar to those in vivo.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

An in vitro model of anoxic-induced damage in mouse brain.

An in vitro model of anoxic-induced brain damage was developed to help elucidate the biochemical basis of cell damage due to reduced oxygen availability. Mouse forebrain slices were preincubated under various conditions (treatment incubation). The effects of this treatment incubation on [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) and 14CO2 production from [U-14C]glucose were subsequently assessed in an incubation under optimal conditions (test incubation). A variety of treatment incubation conditions decreased 14CO2 and 14C-ACh production in the test incubation in parallel (r = 0.932). For example, treatment incubations with no oxygen and high K+ reduced test incubation ACh (-63.2%) and CO2 (-67.3%) production. An anoxic-induced increase in calcium-45 uptake and the amelioration of anoxic induced changes by the calcium antagonist verapamil or by the omission of calcium from the treatment incubation suggest that altered calcium homeostasis was important in the production of the anoxic-induced deficits. These results provide in vitro evidence that anoxic induced increases in calcium may be pathophysiologically important and that reducing calcium entry postsynaptically may alleviate anoxic-induced changes. This model may prove useful in elucidating the molecular basis of these changes.

Acetylcholine↗

In vitro model of adhesion and invasion by Bacillus piliformis.

An in vitro model of Bacillus piliformis infection was developed to investigate the mechanisms of adhesion and internalization of this obligate intracellular bacterium. Adhesion and internalization events were examined by electron microscopic evaluation of infected Caco-2 cell monolayers. A few bacteria were identified in apical surface invaginations and in vacuoles subjacent to the apical surface, whereas the majority of bacteria were observed free within the cytoplasm, suggesting that B. piliformis entered epithelial cells via a phagocytic process and rapidly escaped the phagosome. To confirm that host cell phagocytosis was involved in entry of B. piliformis into mammalian cells, Intestine 407 cells were treated with the phagocytic inhibitor cytochalasin D, infected with B. piliformis, and evaluated for bacterial internalization by double-fluorescence labeling. The results showed decreased intracellular bacteria, suggesting that internalization was dependent on host cell microfilament function. To examine the role of B. piliformis in internalization, growth of live and Formalin-killed bacteria was compared. Dead bacteria were not internalized, suggesting that B. piliformis actively participates in internalization. B. piliformis appears to enter host cells by a bacterially directed phagocytic process. The in vitro system described should prove invaluable in further investigations of B. piliformis pathogenic mechanisms.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis modulates migration of macrophages: use of in vitro model of urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND: Morphine has been reported to alter immune function. Morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis has been shown to contribute to altered immune status in an opiate milieu. We studied the effect of morphine-induced macrophage apoptosis on the migration of macrophages. Because urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest infections to evoke an inflammatory response; i.e., migration of neutrophils and monocytes to the site of infection, we used an in vitro model of UTI to test our hypothesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out both in vivo and in vitro studies. Mice of the FVB/N strain were treated with morphine for short (three doses, 24 hours) and long (11 doses, 96 hours) durations, and their bone marrow cells were isolated. In addition, apoptotic macrophages were prepared by heat treatment. To simulate the in vitro model of UTI, E. coli-activated tubular cell (TC)-conditioned medium containing transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and macrophage-monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was used to test migration of macrophages across a filter in a modified Boyden chamber. In addition, migration of macrophages into the peritoneal cavity was evaluated in both control and morphine-treated states. The effect of morphine on apoptosis as well as migration was studied in murine macrophages and bone marrow cells. RESULTS: Morphine not only promoted apoptosis of bone marrow cells (20% apoptotic cells) but also inhibited their migration across the filter. Control cells showed minimal apoptosis but displayed greater migration. Similarly, heat-treated (apoptotic) cells showed minimal migration. In peritoneal macrophage studies, morphine treatment retarded migration. CONCLUSION: Morphine inhibits macrophage migration both in vivo and in vitro. This attenuated transmigration of macrophages seems to be secondary to the apoptotic effect of morphine.

Animals↗

Differentiated intestinal epithelial cell lines as in vitro models for predicting the intestinal absorption of drugs.

The oral absorption of a compound is a critical factor for the future of the compound as a drug. This absorption is mainly controlled by the passage across the intestinal epithelium. Thus, the prediction of the intestinal absorption by means of an in vitro model may represent a powerful tool for the early selection of molecules during the process of drug development. In the present study, the differentiated human intestinal epithelial cell line HT29-18-C1, was grown on permeable filters in dual chambers. These cells formed tight monolayers that were used to measure in vitro the transepithelial permeability coefficient (Pc) of various molecules. The results were compared with in vivo data of oral absorption. A threshold value of in vitro permeability of 2 x 10(-6) cm/s was found. Molecules having a permeability coefficient higher than this value were absorbed orally more than 80%, while drugs with Pc values lower than 2 x 10(-6) cm/s were poorly absorbed. By mathematical simulation, it was found that this Pc value, when extrapolated to the surface area and volume of the small intestine, corresponds to an absorption of 80% for a compound with a transit time through the small intestine of 5 h. This demonstrates the predictive utility of the threshold value of the permeability coefficient derived from the in vitro model of intestinal epithelium.

Cell Line↗