Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Methods to Study Epithelial Transport Protein Function and Expression in Native Intestine and Caco-2 Cells Grown in 3D
Published on: March 16, 2017
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum supernatants upregulate the serotonin transporter expression in
Ya-Nan Cao1, Li-Juan Feng1, Bang-Mao Wang1
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Background/Aims:
Probiotics play a role in relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the underlying mechanism is yet unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the supernatants of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum on the expression of serotonin transporter (SERT) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein.
Materials And Methods:
HT-29 and Caco-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of L. acidophilus and B. longum supernatants for 12 h and 24 h, respectively. SERT mRNA and proteins levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and Western-blotting.
Results:
The mRNA levels of SERT in HT-29 and Caco-2 cells treated with different concentrations of L. acidophilus or B. longum supernatants for 12 h and 24 h, each, were higher than that in the control groups. In addition, the expression of the protein in both cells was also upregulated, which was approximately similar to that of the corresponding mRNA.
Conclusions:
L. acidophilus and B. longum supernatants can upregulate SERT mRNA and protein levels in intestinal epithelial cells.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
Facilitated Transport
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Primary Active Transport
Secondary Active Transport
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

