Influence of fatty acids and bovine serum albumin on the growth of human hepatoma and immortalized human kidney epithelial cells

Summary The protective influence of bovine serum albumin against growth inhibition caused by fatty acids was studied in human hepatoma (HepG2) and immortalized human kidney epithelial (IHKE) cells. In general, growth inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids (0.15 mmol/liter) increased with increasing number of double bonds. For HepG2 cells crude albumin (1g/100 ml) did not greatly modify growth inhibition by arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acid. With oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, crude and defatted albumin stimulated cell growth. In contrast, for IHKE cells both albumins counteracted growth inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids to approximately the same extent. When HepG2 cells were cultured in the presence of saturated fatty acids (0.3 mmol/liter), C2, C6, and C8 had no or little inhibitory effect. C10 and C12 inhibited cell growth appreciably, whereas C14, and especially C16, had poor inhibitory effects. Crude albumin counteracted growth inhibition by all these fatty acids. In contrast, defatted albumin had little or no effect (except against C10 and C12), and even increased the growth inhibition by C14 and C16. With unsaturated fatty acids there seemed to be an inverse relationship between cell growth and the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in media. Vitamin E abolished growth inhibition (and the increase in TBARS concentration) by unsaturated fatty acids. The complex interaction between fatty acids and albumins calls for great caution when interpreting data on growth effects.     

不同来源肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应的对比

目的:通过对比不同来源的人肝癌细胞系HepG2和原代大鼠肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应,指导两种肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中的实际应用。方法:用游离脂肪酸(油酸/棕榈酸,2:1)诱导HepG2细胞、原代大鼠肝细胞脂肪变性,并用100μmol·L-1苯扎贝特干预,检测细胞内甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、活性氧(ROS)含量,细胞内脂滴数目、并检测细胞上清液中丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性。结果:FFA刺激使HepG2细胞和原代大鼠肝细胞脂质沉积(TG、脂滴)和氧化应激(ROS、MDA、SOD)水平上升。苯扎贝特对HepG2细胞1 mmol·L-1FFA造模组和原代大鼠肝细胞0.5 mmol·L-1FFA造模组脂质沉积和氧化应激水平改善显著;而HepG2细胞0.5 mmol·L-1FFA造模组和原代大鼠肝细胞1 mmol·L-1FFA造模组脂质沉积和氧化应激水平在苯扎贝特干预后变化不明显。结论:在相同FFA造模浓度,原代大鼠肝细胞病理特征变化更为明显;苯扎贝特对两种肝细胞在脂质沉积和氧化应激水平的作用也不完全相同。因而HepG2细胞和原代大鼠肝细胞在体外降脂药物评价中药效反应是不完全相同的。     

Anthocyanins inhibit peroxyl radical-induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cells

The antioxidant activity of anthocyanins has been well characterized in vitro; many cases has been postulated to provide an important exogenous mediator of oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anthocyanin protection against peroxyl radical (AAPH)-induced oxidative damage and associated cytotoxicity in Caco-2 colon cancer cells. Crude blackberry extracts were purified by gel filtration column to yield purified anthocyanin extracts that were composed of 371 mg/g total anthocyanin, 90.1% cyanidin-3-glucoside, and 4.9 mmol Trolox equivalent/g (ORAC) value. There were no other detectable phenolic compounds in the purified anthocyanin extract. The anthocyanin extract suppressed AAPH-initiated Caco-2 intracellular oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.5 ± 0.3 μg/ml. Anthocyanins were not toxic to Caco-2 cells, but provided significant (P < 0.05) protection against AAPH-induced cytotoxicity, when assessed using the CellTiter-Glo assay. AAPH-induced cytoxicity in Caco-2 cells was attributed to a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the G1 phase and increased proportion of cells in the sub G1 phase, indicating apoptosis. Prior exposure of Caco-2 cells to anthocyanins suppressed (P < 0.05) the AAPH-induced apoptosis by decreasing the proportion of cells in the sub-G1 phase, normalized the proportion of cells in other cell cycle phases. Our results show that the antioxidant activity of anthocyanins principally attributed to cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and common to blackberry, are effective at inhibiting peroxyl radical induced apoptosis in cultured Caco-2 cells.     

Artepillin C isoprenomics: design and synthesis of artepillin C isoprene analogues as lipid peroxidation inhibitor having low mitochondrial toxicity

We designed and synthesized isoprene analogues of artepillin C, a major component of Brazilian propolis, and investigated the inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation of rat liver mitochondria (RLM) and RLM toxicity based on isoprenomics. We succeeded in the synthesis of artepillin C isoprene analogues using regioselective prenylation within the range from 22% to 53% total yield. Reactivity of artepillin C and its isoprene analogues with ABTS (2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)) radical cations showed only a slight difference among the molecules. The isoprene side-chain elongation analogues of artepillin C showed almost the same inhibitory activity against RLM lipid peroxidation as artepillin C. Artepillin C and its isoprene analogues had very weak RLM uncoupling activity. Moreover, artepillin C and its isoprene analogues exhibited a lower inhibitory activity against adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthesis by about two orders of magnitude than the effective inhibitory activity against RLM lipid peroxidation. From these results we conclude that artepillin C isoprene analogues could be potent lipid peroxidation inhibitors having low mitochondrial toxicity. We also conclude that elongation of the isoprene side chain of artepillin C to increase lipophilicity had little influence on the inhibitory activity toward RLM lipid peroxidation.     

天然辣椒素酯的酶促合成与生物活性

研究了天然辣椒素经化学．酶法转化为天然辣椒素酯类物质的方法。在30℃,香草醇、脂肪酸酯分别为50、75mmol／L的100mL脱水丙酮溶液,以1g固定化的脂肪酶Novozyme435为催化剂,摇床转速为200r／min条件下反应24h,目标化合物产率可达63％。经硅胶柱色谱分离纯化后,所得产物经质谱确证其含有天然辣椒素酯（capsiate）、二氢辣椒素酯（dihydrocapsiate）、降二氢辣椒素酯（nordihydrocapsiate）、高二氢辣椒素酯（homodi-hydrocapsiate）等。制备HPLC分离后得到辣椒素酯和二氢辣椒素酯,以^1HNMR及MS确定结构。活性测试表明辣椒素酯类物质具有激活PPARγ的生物活性及体外抑制乳腺癌细胞（MCF-7）和肝癌细胞（HepG2）的活性。     

Transepithelial transport of artepillin C in intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers

The absorption characteristics of artepillin C (AC), an active ingredient of Brazilian propolis, were examined by measuring permeation across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The permeation rate in the basolateral-to-apical direction, J(bl-->ap), in the presence of proton gradient was 0.14 nmol/min/mg protein, whereas J(bl-->ap) in the absence of proton gradient was 1.14 nmol/min/mg protein. The latter value is nearly the same as the permeation rate in the apical-to-basolateral direction, J(ap-->bl), both in the presence and absence of proton gradient. In the presence of proton gradient, J(ap-->bl) was almost constant, irrespective of NaN(3) or benzoic acid. However, J(bl-->ap) dramatically increased upon the addition of NaN(3) or benzoic acid specifically to the apical side. In both the presence and absence of proton gradient, J(ap-->bl) also appeared to be constant irrespective of the paracellular permeability of Caco-2 cells. After AC was loaded apically in the presence of proton gradient, the intracellular AC increased with time. This accumulation was inhibited by apically loaded NaN(3). These indicate that AC transport occurs mainly via transcellular passive diffusion, although a considerable amount of AC was taken up intracellularly by monocarboxylic acid transporter (MCT) on the apical side and not transported out across the basolateral membrane, suggesting that different subtypes of MCT are involved.     

Proposing a Caco-2/HepG2 cell model for in vitro iron absorption studies

The Caco-2 cell line is well established as an in vitro model for iron absorption. However, the model does not reflect the regulation of iron absorption by hepcidin produced in the liver. We aimed to develop the Caco-2 model by introducing human liver cells (HepG2) to Caco-2 cells. The Caco-2 and HepG2 epithelia were separated by a liquid compartment, which allowed for epithelial interaction. Ferritin levels in cocultured Caco-2 controls were 21.7±10.3 ng/mg protein compared to 7.7±5.8 ng/mg protein in monocultured Caco-2 cells. The iron transport across Caco-2 layers was increased when liver cells were present (8.1%±1.5% compared to 3.5%±2.5% at 120 μM Fe). Caco-2 cells were exposed to 0, 80 and 120 μM Fe and responded with increased hepcidin production at 120 μM Fe (3.6±0.3 ng/ml compared to 2.7±0.3 ng/ml). The expression of iron exporter ferroportin in Caco-2 cells was decreased at the hepcidin concentration of 3.6 ng/ml and undetectable at external addition of hepcidin (10 ng/ml). The apical transporter DMT1 was also undetectable at 10 ng/ml but was unchanged at the lower concentrations. In addition, we observed that sourdough bread, in comparison to heat-treated bread, increased the bioavailability of iron despite similar iron content (53% increase in ferritin formation, 97% increase in hepcidin release). This effect was not observed in monocultured Caco-2 cells. The Caco-2/HepG2 model provides an alternative approach to in vitro iron absorption studies in which the hepatic regulation of iron transport must be considered.     

Phytochemical and Antiproliferative Activity of Proso Millet

The phytochemical content, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative properties of three diverse varieties of proso millet are reported. The free phenolic content ranged from 27.48 (Gumi 20) to 151.14 (Mi2504-6) mg gallic acid equiv/100 g DW. The bound phenolic content ranged from 55.95 (Gumi20) to 305.81 (Mi2504-6) mg gallic acid equiv/100 g DW. The percentage contribution of bound phenolic to the total phenolic content of genotype samples analyzed ranged between 62.08% and 67.05%. Ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid are the predominant phenolic acid found in bound fraction. Caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid were also detected. Syringic acid was detected only in the free fraction. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the hydrophilic peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) assay. The PSC antioxidant activity of the free fraction ranged from 57.68 (Mi2504-6) to 147.32 (Gumi20) µmol of vitamin C equiv/100 g DW. The PSC antioxidant activity of the bound fraction ranged from 95.38 (Mizao 52) to 136.48 (Gumi 20) µmol of vitamin C equiv/100 g DW. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) of the extract was assessed using the HepG2 model. CAA value ranged from 2.51 to 6.10 µmol equiv quercetin/100 g DW. Antiproliferative activities were also studied in vitro against MDA human breast cancer and HepG2 human liver cancer cells. Results exhibited a differential and possible selective antiproliferative property of the proso millet. These results may be used to direct the consumption of proso millet with improved health properties.     

Artepillin C Derived from Propolis Induces Neurite Outgrowth in PC12m3 Cells via ERK and p38 MAPK Pathways

We investigated whether artepillin C, a major component of Brazilian propolis, acts as a neurotrophic-like factor in rat PC12m3 cells, in which nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth is impaired. When cultures of PC12m3 cells were treated with artepillin C at a concentration of 20 μM, the frequency of neurite outgrowth induced by artepillin C was approximately 7-fold greater than that induced by NGF alone. Artepillin C induced-neurite outgrowth of PC12m3 cells was inhibited by the ERK inhibitor U0126 and by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Although artepillin C-induced p38 MAPK activity was detected in PC12m3 cells, phosphorylation of ERK induced by artepillin C was not observed. On the other hand, artepillin C caused rapid activation of ERK and the time course of the activation was similar to that induced by NGF treatment in PC12 parental cells. However, NGF-induced neurite outgrowth was inhibited by artepillin C treatment. Interestingly, inhibition of ERK by U0126 completely prevented artepillin C-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation of PC12m3 cells. These findings suggest that artepillin C-induced activation of p38 MAPK through the ERK signaling pathway is responsible for the neurite outgrowth of PC12m3 cells.     

乳酸堆积和二氯乙酸钠对肝癌细胞凋亡及bax、bcl-2 表达 和caspase-3 活性的影响

目的：探讨乳酸堆积和二氯乙酸钠(DCA)对肝癌细胞(HepG2)凋亡和bax、bcl-2 表达及caspase-3 活性的影响。方法：通过体 外培养HepG2,建立稳定的体外培养模型,配制成终浓度分别为0 mmol/L、1.0 mmol/L、2.0 mmol/L、4.0 mmol/L、8.0 mmol/L的乳 酸培养液以及在不同浓度乳酸组中加入终浓度为10-3mmol/L DCA 培养液与HepG2共同培养,其中以0 mmol/L 乳酸组为对照 组。采用MTT法检测乳酸对HepG2 的抑制率,流式细胞仪检测乳酸和DCA 对HepG2的凋亡百分率,用Real-time PCR法测定 bax 及bcl-2 mRNA的表达,用免疫荧光法检测caspase-3 的活性。结果：乳酸对HepG2 的IC50值为13.6 mol/L,与对照组比较,随 着乳酸浓度的增加,HepG2 凋亡率增加,bax mRNA 表达升高,bcl-2 mRNA 的表达降低,caspase-3活性增加,其中1.0 mmol/L 乳 酸组与对照组比较(P>0.05),2.0 mmol/L,4.0 mmol/L 和8.0 mmol/L乳酸组与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。加入DCA 后,HepG2 凋亡减少,2.0 mmol/L 乳酸+DCA 组、4.0 mmol/L乳酸+DCA 组、8.0 mmol/L乳酸+DCA 组与同浓度的乳酸组比较, bax mRNA 表达减少（P<0.05）,bcl-2 mRNA 表达增加（P<0.05）,caspase-3 活性减低（P<0.05）。结论：乳酸可诱导HepG2凋亡,且随 着乳酸浓度的增高,HepG2 的凋亡率增加,其机制可能是通过对bcl-2 及bax mRNA 表达的改变以及激活caspase-3 活性而实现, DCA可以降低HepG2 凋亡,对乳酸堆积造成的HepG2凋亡有抑制作用。     

乳酸堆积和二氯乙酸钠对肝癌细胞凋亡及bax、bcl-2表达和caspase-3活性的影响

目的：探讨乳酸堆积和二氯乙酸钠（OCA）对肝癌细胞（HepG2）凋亡和bax、bcl-2表达及caspase-3活性的影响。方法：通过体外培养HepG2,建立稳定的体外培养模型,配制成终浓度分别为0mmol／L、1．0mmol／L、2．0mmol／L、4．0mmol／L、8．0mmol／L的乳酸培养液以及在不同浓度乳酸组中加入终浓度为10^-3mmol／LDCA培养液与HepG2共同培养,其中以0mmol／L乳酸组为对照组。采用MTT法检测乳酸对HepG2的抑制率,流式细胞仪检测乳酸和DCA对HepG2的凋亡百分率,用Real-time PCR法测定bax及bcl-2mRNA的表达,用免疫荧光法检测caspase-3的活性。结果：乳酸对HepG2的IC50值为13．6mol／L,与对照组比较,随着乳酸浓度的增加,HepG2凋亡率增加,baxmRNA表达升高,bcl-2mRNA的表达降低,caspase-3活性增加,其中1．0mmol／L乳酸组与对照组比较（P〉0．05）,2．0mmol／L,4．0mmol／L和8．0mmol／L乳酸组与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。加入DCA后．HepG2凋亡减少,2．0mmol／L乳酸＋DCA组、4．0mmol／L乳酸＋DCA组、8．0mmol／L乳酸＋DCA组与同浓度的乳酸组比较,baxmRNA表达减少（P〈0．05）,bcl-2mRNA表达增加（P〈0．05）,caspase-3活性减低（P〈0．05）。结论：乳酸可诱导HepG2凋亡,且随着乳酸浓度的增高,HepG2的凋亡率增加,其机制可能是通过对bcl-2及baxmRNA表达的改变以及激活caspase-3活性而实现,DCA可以降低HepG2凋亡,对乳酸堆积造成的HepG2凋亡有抑制作用。     

Biotin uptake by human intestinal and liver epithelial cells: role of the SMVT system

It has been well established that human intestinal and liver epithelial cells transport biotin via an Na+-dependent carrier-mediated mechanism. The sodium-dependent multivitamin transport (SMVT), a biotin transporter, is expressed in both cell types. However, the relative contribution of SMVT toward total carrier-mediated uptake of physiological (nanomolar) concentrations of biotin by these cells is not clear. Addressing this issue is important, especially in light of the recent identification of a second human high-affinity biotin uptake mechanism that operates at the nanomolar range. Hence, we employed a physiological approach of characterizing biotin uptake by human-derived intestinal Caco-2 and HepG2 cells at the nanomolar concentration range. We also employed a molecular biology approach of selectively silencing the endogenous SMVT of these cells with specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), then examining carrier-mediated biotin uptake. The results showed that in both Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, the initial rate of biotin uptake as a function of concentration over the range of 0.1 to 50 nM to be linear. Furthermore, we found that the addition of 100 nM unlabeled biotin, desthiobiotin, or pantothenic acid to the incubation medium had no effect on the uptake of 2.6 nM [3H]biotin. Pretreatment of Caco-2 and HepG2 cells with SMVT specific siRNAs substantially reduced SMVT mRNA and protein levels. In addition, carrier-mediated [3H]biotin (2.6 nM) uptake by Caco-2 and HepG2 cells was severely (P 0.01) inhibited by the siRNAs pretreatment. These results demonstrate that the recently described human high-affinity biotin uptake system is not functional in intestinal and liver epithelial cells. In addition, the results provide strong evidence that SMVT is the major (if not the only) biotin uptake system that operates in these cells.     

Insulin decreases the secretion of apoB-100 from hepatic HepG2 cells but does not decrease the secretion of apoB-48 from intestinal CaCo-2 cells

We compared the acute effect of insulin on the human colonic intestinal epithelial cell line CaCo-2 and the transformed human hepatic cell line HepG2. Over 24 h, 100 nM and 10 µM insulin significantly inhibited the secretion of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 from HepG2 cells to 63 and 49% of control, respectively. Insulin had no effect on the secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 cells. There was no effect of insulin on the cholesterol ester or free cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 or CaCo-2 cells. HepG2 and CaCo-2 cells bound insulin with high affinity, leading to similar stimulation of insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase activation. Protein kinase C or mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in the presence or absence of insulin was not correlated with apoB-48 production in CaCo-2 cells. Therefore, insulin acutely decreases the secretion of apoB-100 in hepatic HepG2 cells, but does not acutely modulate the production or secretion of apoB-48 from CaCo-2 intestinal cells.     

Sugars Increase Non-Heme Iron Bioavailability in Human Epithelial Intestinal and Liver Cells

Previous studies have suggested that sugars enhance iron bioavailability, possibly through either chelation or altering the oxidation state of the metal, however, results have been inconclusive. Sugar intake in the last 20 years has increased dramatically, and iron status disorders are significant public health problems worldwide; therefore understanding the nutritional implications of iron-sugar interactions is particularly relevant. In this study we measured the effects of sugars on non-heme iron bioavailability in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and HepG2 hepatoma cells using ferritin formation as a surrogate marker for iron uptake. The effect of sugars on iron oxidation state was examined by measuring ferrous iron formation in different sugar-iron solutions with a ferrozine-based assay. Fructose significantly increased iron-induced ferritin formation in both Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. In addition, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS-55) increased Caco-2 cell iron-induced ferritin; these effects were negated by the addition of either tannic acid or phytic acid. Fructose combined with FeCl₃ increased ferrozine-chelatable ferrous iron levels by approximately 300%. In conclusion, fructose increases iron bioavailability in human intestinal Caco-2 and HepG2 cells. Given the large amount of simple and rapidly digestible sugars in the modern diet their effects on iron bioavailability may have important patho-physiological consequences. Further studies are warranted to characterize these interactions.     

Modulation of uptake of organic cationic drugs in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells by an ecto-alkaline phosphatase activity

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) refers to a group of nonspecific phosphomonoesterases located primarily in cell plasma membrane. It has been described in different cell lines that ecto-ALP is directly or indirectly involved in the modulation of organic cation transport. We aimed to investigate, in Caco-2 cells, a putative modulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) apical uptake by an ecto-ALP activity. Ecto-ALP activity and (3)H-MPP(+) uptake were evaluated in intact Caco-2 cells (human colon adenocarcinoma cell line), in the absence and presence of a series of drugs. The activity of membrane-bound ecto-ALP expressed on the apical surface of Caco-2 cells was studied at physiological pH using p-nitrophenylphosphate as substrate. The results showed that Caco-2 cells express ALP activity, characterized by an ecto-oriented active site functional at physiological pH. Genistein (250 micro M), 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 mM), verapamil (100 micro M), and ascorbic acid (1 mM) significantly increased ecto-ALP activity and decreased (3)H-MPP(+) apical transport in this cell line. Orthovanadate (100 micro M) showed no effect on (3)H-MPP(+) transport and on ecto-ALP activity. On the other hand, okadaic acid (310 nM) and all trans-retinoic acid (1 micro M) significantly increased (3)H-MPP(+) uptake and inhibited ecto-ALP activity. There is a negative correlation between the effect of drugs upon ecto-ALP activity and (3)H-MPP(+) apical transport (r = -0.9; P = 0.0014). We suggest that apical uptake of organic cations in Caco-2 cells is affected by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanisms, and that ecto-ALP activity may be involved in this process.     

Assessment system for dioxin absorption in the small intestine and prevention of its absorption by food factors

It has been reported that 90% of the amount of dioxin in the whole body is absorbed orally with food. However, a concise and simple system to assess dioxin absorption in the small intestine has not yet been established. The present study reports a new in vitro assessment system for this purpose. A stable dioxin-responsive cell line was established by introducing a plasmid that incorporates a xenobiotic-responsive element upstream of the luciferase gene into human hepatic HepG2 genomic DNA. Dioxin was added to the apical side of differentiated human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell monolayers that had been cultured on a semipermeable membrane, and the basal medium was recovered after an appropriate incubation time. To the recovered medium was added dioxin-responsive HepG2, and a luciferase assay was performed. The established stable cell line clearly showed dose-and time-dependent response to dioxin. When a food factor such as chlorophyll, which has been reported to increase dioxin excretion in in vivo studies, was added with dioxin, a significant decrease in dioxin permeability to the Caco-2 monolayer was observed. This assessment system would be useful to search for those food factors that could prevent dioxin absorption in the small intestine.     

in Vitro Effect of Deoxynivalenol on the Differentiation of Human Colonic Cell Lines Caco-2 and t84

The effects of low concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) on structural and functional characteristics of human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines Caco-2 and T84 were examined. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the apical surfaces of Caco-2 cells revealed reduction or abnormal formation of brush borders in the presence of 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml of DON. Monolayer integrity of Caco-2 and T84 cells was studied using cells which were cultured on permeable membranes. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of Caco-2 cells was significantly reduced at 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml of DON, significant increase in lucifer yellow (LY) permeability was also observed in these cells at 100 ng/ml of DON. The TEER of T84 cells was significantly reduced at 100 and 200 ng/ml of DON. LY permeability significantly increased at 200 ng/ml of DON in T84 cells. Enzyme activities in Caco-2 cells were also examined. Alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced from the 6th to 15th day of culture in the presense of 100 or 200 ng/ml of DON, whereas sucrase- isomaltase activity was significantly decreased by adding 50 or 100 ng/ml of DON for 15 or 20 days. Protein content was attenuated only by treatment with 200 ng/ml of DON thoughout the experimental period. The results indicate that DON interferes with structural and functional characteristics of differentiation in enterocytes at low doses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.