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Research Project: KNOWLEDGE OF SOIL-PLANT-HUMAN FOOD SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE IRON AND ZINC BIOAVAILABILITY IN PLANT FOODS

Location: Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research

Title: Characterization of a gastrointestinal tract microscale cell culture analog used to predict drug toxicity

Authors
item Mahler, Gretchen -
item Esch, Mandy -
item Glahn, Raymond
item Shuler, Michael -

Submitted to: Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 17, 2009
Publication Date: September 2, 2009
Citation: Mahler, G., Esch, M.B., Glahn, R.P., Shuler, M.L. 2009. Characterization of a gastrointestinal tract microscale cell culture analog used to predict drug toxicity. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 104(1):193-205.

Interpretive Summary: The lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest surface exposed to the external environment in the human body. One of the main functions of the small intestine is absorption, and intestinal absorption is a route used by essential nutrients, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals to enter the systemic circulation. Understanding the effects of digestion on a drug or chemical, how compounds interact with and are absorbed through the small intestinal epithelium, and how these compounds affect the rest of the body is critical for toxicological evaluation. Our goal is to create physiologically realistic in vitro models of the human GI tract that provide rapid, inexpensive, and accurate predictions of the body’s response to orally delivered drugs and chemicals. Our group has developed an in vitro microscale cell culture analog ('CCA) of the gastrointestinal tract that includes digestion, a mucus layer, and physiologically realistic cell populations. The GI tract 'CCA, coupled with a multi-chamber silicon 'CCA representing the systemic circulation, is described and challenged with acetaminophen. Proof of concept experiments showed that acetaminophen passes through and is metabolized by the in vitro intestinal epithelium and is further metabolized by liver cells, resulting in liver cell toxicity in a dose dependent manner. The 'CCA response is also consistent with in vivo measurements in mice. The system should be broadly useful for studies on orally delivered drugs or ingestion of chemicals with potential toxicity.

Technical Abstract: The lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest surface exposed to the external environment in the human body. One of the main functions of the small intestine is absorption, and intestinal absorption is a route used by essential nutrients, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals to enter the systemic circulation. Understanding the effects of digestion on a drug or chemical, how compounds interact with and are absorbed through the small intestinal epithelium, and how these compounds affect the rest of the body is critical for toxicological evaluation. Our goal is to create physiologically realistic in vitro models of the human GI tract that provide rapid, inexpensive, and accurate predictions of the body’s response to orally delivered drugs and chemicals. Our group has developed an in vitro microscale cell culture analog ('CCA) of the gastrointestinal tract that includes digestion, a mucus layer, and physiologically realistic cell populations. The GI tract 'CCA, coupled with a multi-chamber silicon 'CCA representing the systemic circulation, is described and challenged with acetaminophen. Proof of concept experiments showed that acetaminophen passes through and is metabolized by the in vitro intestinal epithelium and is further metabolized by liver cells, resulting in liver cell toxicity in a dose dependent manner. The 'CCA response is also consistent with in vivo measurements in mice. The system should be broadly useful for studies on orally delivered drugs or ingestion of chemicals with potential toxicity.

   

 
Project Team
Glahn, Raymond
Kochian, Leon
Pineros, Miguel
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Human Nutrition (107)
 
Related Projects
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   IMPROVING THE IRON BIOAVAILABILITY FROM STAPLE FOOD CROPS, FOOD PRODUCTS, AND FOOD INGREDIENTS
   In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Iron Bioavailability of Biofortified Transgenic Sorghum
 
 
Last Modified: 06/19/2013
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