Evaluation of the absorption of a compound through the intestinal barrier

Introduction

The ability of a molecule to cross the intestinal barrier is one of the properties studied in the ADME-Tox study of a compound.

The Caco-2 cell line (derived from a human colorectal carcinoma) is the model used in vitro to assess the absorption of a compound through the intestinal barrier.

Principle

When grown on semi-permeable membranes, Caco-2 cells differentiate to form a highly functionalized epithelial barrier with remarkable morphological and biochemical similarity to the intestinal epithelium.
Caco-2 cells are grown on a membrane placed between two compartments.
The compounds are added to the apical side of the cell monolayer. Their progressive apparition is measured on the basolateral side. The permeability in this direction (apical to basolateral) represents the intestinal absorption.
Permeability can also be determined in the basolateral to apical direction.
A higher apical to basolateral permeability than basolateral to apical permeability is indicative of transport via a transporter.
Transport via the P-gp protein is suggested when basolateral to apical permeability is greater than apical to basolateral.

Protocol

Format24-well format
Cell model

Caco-2 (ATCC HTB-37) differentiated

Reference moleculesAntipyrin, Digoxin
Test concentration 10 µM - 3 points
Incubation

2H à 37°C under 5% CO

AnalysisLC-MS/MS  (ADME-Tox department)

Notes :

  • Allow a minimum of 20 µL at 10 mM of compounds to be tested

Efflux ratio of reference compounds on Caco-2 cells

The apparent permeability Papp (cm/s) of the tested compounds is calculated for both directions
(apical to basolateral Papp A>B and basolateral to apical Papp B>A).
The efflux ratio is deduced from the formula : R = Papp B>A / Papp A>B.