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Fatty acid uptake by Caco-2 human intestinal cells
P J Trotter1, S Y Ho, J Storch
1Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Journal of Lipid Research
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Human intestinal cells show a saturable uptake mechanism for long chain fatty acids, but not short chain ones. This process may involve an unidentified plasma membrane protein.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Intestinal fatty acid absorption is crucial for nutrient utilization.
- Understanding the transport mechanisms of different fatty acids is key to metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the kinetics and mechanism of intestinal long chain fatty acid uptake.
- To differentiate uptake mechanisms for long chain versus short chain fatty acids in human enterocytes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Caco-2 human enterocytic cell line.
- Determined initial uptake rates for palmitate, oleate, and octanoate.
- Assessed uptake at apical and basolateral membranes using Transwell filters.
- Performed Western blot analysis for protein expression.
Main Results:
- Long chain fatty acid uptake was saturable (apparent Km 0.3 microM) and competitively inhibitable.
- Short chain fatty acid uptake was linear and not saturable.
- Saturable uptake occurred at both apical and basolateral surfaces.
- Fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) was detected but did not inhibit uptake.
Conclusions:
- Human intestinal epithelial cells exhibit a saturable transport system for long chain fatty acids.
- Short chain fatty acids appear to be transported via a linear, non-saturable mechanism.
- The saturable transport of long chain fatty acids may involve an unknown plasma membrane protein.