Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Using Caco-2 Cells to Study Lipid Transport by the Intestine
Published on: August 20, 2015
Micellar lipid composition profoundly affects LXR-dependent cholesterol transport across CaCo2 cells
Michele Petruzzelli1, Albert K Groen, Karel J van Erpecum
1Department of Experimental Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Intraluminal phospholipids affect micellar solubilization and absorption of cholesterol. We here study cholesterol transport from taurocholate-phospholipid-cholesterol micelles to CaCo2 cells, and associated effects on ABC-A1 mediated cholesterol efflux. Micellar incorporation of egg-yolk-phosphatidylcholine markedly increased apical retention of the sterol with decreased expression of ABC-A1, an effect that is prevented by synthetic liver X receptor (LXR) or retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists. On the other hand, incorporation of lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) increased ABC-A1-HDL-dependent basolateral cholesterol efflux, an effect that is abated when LXR is silenced. Thus, the modulation of cholesterol metabolism via intraluminal phospholipids is related to the activity of the oxysterol nuclear receptor LXR.
Related Concept Videos
Assembly of the Lipid Bilayer in the ER
A large chunk of any biological membrane is composed of phospholipids. These lipids have a heterogeneous distribution across different subcellular organelles and even between...
Lipid Absorption
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Receptor-mediated Endocytosis
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...

