Novel Approach to Measure Transepithelial Electrical Resistance in Intestinal Cells

The technique electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) can be used to detect and monitor the behavior of intestinal cells. The methodology presented was designed to achieve results within a short time frame, and it was tailored to use a colonic cancer cell line. Differentiation of intestinal cancer cells has previously been reported to be regulated by retinoic acid (RA). Here, colonic cancer cells were cultured in the ECIS array before being treated with RA, and any changes in response to RA were monitored after treatment. The ECIS recorded changes in impedance in response to the treatment and vehicle. This methodology poses as a novel way to record the behavior of colonic cells and opens new avenues for in vitro research.