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Using Caco-2 Cells to Study Lipid Transport by the Intestine
Published on: August 20, 2015
Esterification of xanthophylls by human intestinal Caco-2 cells
Tatsuya Sugawara1, Kyoko Yamashita, Akira Asai
1Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. sugawara@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|October 28, 2008
Summary
Dietary peridinin, a compound from dinoflagellates, undergoes enzymatic esterification in human intestinal cells, forming peridininol and fatty acid esters. This process, observed for the first time in mammals, may influence its biological activity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Peridinin, a unique dinoflagellate pigment, demonstrates anti-cancer properties by inducing apoptosis in colon cancer cells.
- Shellfish like clams and oysters accumulate peridinin from their diet of dinoflagellates, raising questions about its fate and activity in mammals.
- Limited knowledge exists regarding the absorption, metabolism, and biological functions of dietary peridinin in mammalian systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enzymatic esterification of xanthophylls, with a focus on peridinin, in differentiated Caco-2 human intestinal cells.
- To understand the metabolic fate of peridinin within the mammalian intestinal environment.
- To explore the potential for esterification of other xanthophylls in intestinal cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized differentiated Caco-2 human intestinal cell cultures.
- Treated cells with 5 μmol/L peridinin solubilized using mixed micelles.
- Analyzed cell homogenates for enzymatic activity, including deacetylation and esterification of peridinin and its derivatives.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that differentiated Caco-2 cells convert peridinin into peridininol and its fatty acid esters.
- Confirmed enzymatic deacetylation of peridinin and esterification of peridininol within cell homogenates.
- Observed esterification of other xanthophylls (fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin) at lower rates compared to peridinin, suggesting polarity-dependent esterification.
Conclusions:
- Established the enzymatic esterification of peridinin and other xanthophylls in mammalian intestinal cells for the first time.
- The findings suggest that the polarity of xanthophylls influences their esterification process in intestinal cells.
- This metabolic transformation may play a crucial role in the bioavailability and biological activity of dietary peridinin in mammals.
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