Caco2 cell culture as an intestinal epithelium model to study hexose transport

The distribution of SGLT1 and GLUT2 hexose transporters, fibrillar actin, and tight junction proteins, as well as glucose absorption, have been considered in Caco2 cell cultures incubated in solutions with different hexose concentrations. Fibrillar actin is concentrated on microvilli closely to a tight junction. The actin distribution does not depend on glucose concentration. There is no SGLT1 association with brush border actin, and the transporter localization does not depend on hexose concentration. GLUT2 is localized in the basal part of Caco2 cells loaded with a low hexose concentration (2.5 mM). The transporter is colocalized with microvilli actin in the apical part of the cells loaded with a high hexose concentration (25 mM). The tight junction proteins occludin and claudin 1, 3, and 4 do not depend on glucose concentration. Claudin 2 protein was not revealed in Caco2 cells. Caco2 cell culture is a suitable model for studying hexose transport in small intestine epithelium.