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Permeability of peptides and proteins in human cultured alveolar A549 cell monolayer
1Pharma Research and Development Division, Hoechst Japan Limited, Saitama, Japan.
Purpose:
The transport of peptides or proteins across the alveolar cell monolayer was studied in vitro in order to elucidate their transport pathway.
Methods:
The permeability of 14 peptides or proteins and 6 dextrans with MW 1,000-150,000 was measured in cultured human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell monolayers at 37 degrees C or 4 degrees C. The stability of the tested peptides and proteins was also evaluated.
Results:
The permeability coefficients of these macromolecules across the A549 cell monolayer at 37 degrees C ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-7) (cm/sec), and exhibited a good inverse correlation with molecular weight. All macromolecules were stable throughout the transport experiment, and degradation by proteases was minimal. Permeability at 4 degrees C did not differ from that at 37 degrees C. Clear selectivity for direction of transport was not observed.
Conclusions:
These results suggested that the tested peptides and proteins appeared to penetrate the A549 cell monolayer via a paracellular route by passive diffusion.