Effects of An E-cadherin-Derived Peptide on the Gene Expression of Caco-2 Cells

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the effects of exposure to an HAV peptide (Ac-SHAVSS-NH2) on the protein and gene expression in Caco-2 cells, a model for the intestinal mucosa. METHODS: Caco-2 cells were incubated with either 100 or 500 microM of the hexapeptide then evaluated over a 48-h time period. RESULTS: Cell detachment from the monolayer was seen only after 48 h of exposure to the peptide, with the greatest effects occurring with a peptide concentration of 500 microM. Total protein expression of E-cadherin showed a decrease of nearly 20% at the 24-h time point for each concentration examined, whereas no significant changes were detected at the other time points studied. Short term exposure to a 500 microM solution of Ac-SHAVSS-NH2 caused few changes in gene expression as determined by Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays; however, longer exposure periods produced numerous changes in the treated cells. The variations in mRNA expression indicate that this HAV peptide has an effect in the E-cadherin signaling pathways. The greatest increases in mRNA expression were found in genes regulating excretion or degradation of the peptide. CONCLUSIONS: This work suggests that this HAV peptide produces effects that reach beyond modulation of adhesion.     

Characterization of the Regional Intestinal Kinetics of Drug Efflux in Rat and Human Intestine and in Caco-2 Cells

Purpose. The aim of the present study was to investigate the transport kinetics of intestinal secretory processes in the jejunum, ileum and colon of rats and humans and in Caco-2 cells, in vitro. Methods. Etoposide, vinblastine sulphate and verapamil hydrochloride were chosen as model substrates since they have been reported to undergo efflux in various other tissues. The concentration dependence, inhibition, directionality, temperature dependence, proton/sodium dependence, and ATP dependence of efflux were studied using side-by-side diffusion chambers and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs). Intestinal tissue from rats and humans and Caco-2 cells (passage no. 26) were used. Directional steady state effective permeabilities were calculated from drug appearance in the apical (AP) or basolateral (BL) chambers. Kinetic studies were carried out by investigating substrate efflux at concentrations ranging from 0.2 M to 1000 M. Since substrate efflux may be a result of more than one transporter, the hybrid efflux Km (Michaelis-constant), Pc (carrier-mediated permeability), and Pm (passive permeability) were determined as a function of intestinal region. Inhibitor studies were performed using quinidine (0.2 mM), a mixed inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein (MRP), and Leukotriene C₄(100 nM), an inhibitor of MRP and the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT). Temperature dependent efflux was determined by investigating the BL to AP transport at temperatures ranging from 3°C to 37°C. Energies of activation (Ea) were determined from an Arrhenius analysis. Sodium, proton, and ATP dependence were determined using BBMVs. Immunoquantitation of Pgp, MRP and Lung Resistance Protein (LRP) in Caco-2 cells were carried out using Western blot analysis. Results. Active efflux of all substrates was observed in all regions of rat and human intestine and in Caco-2 cells. Directionality was observed with BL to AP transport exceeding AP to BL transport. The BL to AP/AP to BL permeability ratio, the efflux ratio, ranged from 1.4 to 19.8. Heal efflux was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in other regions. Kinetic studies revealed that hybrid efflux Km values ranged from 4 to 350 M. In some cases, efflux was not saturable due to the solubility limits of the compounds utilized in this study. In presence of inhibitors, efflux ratios approached 1. BL to AP transport was temperature dependent in rat ileum for all substrates. Ea of intestinal efflux was found to be 11.6, 8.3, and 15.8 kcal/mole for etoposide, vinblastine and verapamil, respectively, suggesting an active, energy-dependent efflux mechanism. Substrate efflux was not sodium or proton dependent but was dependent on ATP. Using Western blot analysis the presence of Pgp, MRP, and LRP was demonstrated in Caco-2 cells and the amount of each transport protein varied as a function of passage number. Conclusions. Using multiple putative efflux substrates, the current results demonstrate that intestinal efflux was regionally dependent, mediated by multiple efflux transporters, the Kms were in the micro-molar range, and involved an energy dependent mechanism(s).     

Substrate Specificity and Mechanism of the Intestinal Clonidine Uptake by Caco-2 Cells

Purpose This study was performed to characterize the substrate specificity and mechanism of the intestinal clonidine transport. Methods Uptake of [³H]clonidine into Caco-2 cells was investigated. Interaction with drugs was studied in competition assays. Results Uptake of [³H]clonidine was linear for up to 2 min, Na⁺-independent, and insensitive to changes in membrane potential, but strongly H⁺-dependent. The uptake rate of clonidine was saturable with kinetic parameters of 0.5 ± 0.1 mM (K_t) and 16.6 ± 1.8 nmol/2 min per mg of protein (V_max) at an outside pH of 7.5. Many drugs such as clonidine, guanabenz, methamphetamine, imipramine, clomipramine, nortriptyline, quinine, xylazine, ephedrine, and diphenhydramine strongly inhibited the [³H]clonidine uptake with K_i values between 0.15 and 1 mM. Conclusions Clonidine is transported by a carrier-mediated process. Substrate specificity and mechanism are very similar to the transport described in blood–brain barrier endothelial cells. The transport characteristics do not correspond to carriers for organic cations of the SLC22 family or the choline transporters CHT1 and CLT1. The system might be identical to the H⁺/tertiary amine antiporter. It interacts with a large number of both hydrophilic and lipophilic cationic drugs, and also, interestingly, with opiates.     

Permeability of the Cyanotoxin Microcystin-RR across a Caco-2 Cells Monolayer

Microcystins (MCs) are toxins produced by several cyanobacterial species found worldwide. While MCs have a common structure, the variation of two amino acids in their structure affects their toxicity. As toxicodynamics are very similar between the MC variants, their differential toxicity could rather be explained by toxicokinetic parameters. Microcystin-RR (MC-RR) is the second most abundant congener and induces toxicity through oral exposure. As intestinal permeability is a key parameter of oral toxicokinetics, the apparent permeability of MC-RR across a differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer was investigated. We observed a rapid and large decrease of MC-RR levels in the donor compartment. However, irrespective of the loaded concentration and exposure time, the permeabilities were very low from apical to basolateral compartments (from 4 to 15 × 10⁻⁸ cm·s⁻¹) and from basolateral to apical compartments (from 2 to 37 × 10⁻⁸ cm·s⁻¹). Our results suggested that MC-RR would be poorly absorbed orally. As similar low permeability was reported for the most abundant congener microcystin-LR, and this variant presented a greater acute oral toxicity than MC-RR, we concluded that the intestinal permeability was probably not involved in the differential toxicity between them, in contrast to the hepatic uptake and metabolism.     

Transepithelial Transport of Diphenhydramine Across Monolayers of the Human Intestinal Epithelial Cell Line Caco-2

Purpose. The transepithelial transport characteristics of theantihistamine, diphenhydramine, were studied in human intestinal Caco-2 cellmonolayers to elucidate the mechanisms of its intestinal absorption. Methods. The transepithelial transport and the cellular accumulationof diphenhydramine were measured using Caco-2 cell monolayersgrown in Transwell chambers. Results. The transepithelial transport of diphenhydramine from theapical to basolateral side was saturable, and the flux and cellularaccumulation of diphenhydramine were dependent on the apicalextracellular pH (pH 7.4 > 6.5 > 5.5). Transport and accumulation ofdiphenhydramine from the apical side were inhibited by anotherantihistamine, chlorpheniramine, while typical substrates for the renal organiccation transport system such as tetraethylammonium, cimetidine andguanidine had no effect. The transepithelial transport and cellularaccumulation of diphenhydramine from the basolateral side were alsopH-dependent and inhibited by chlorpheniramine. In addition, intracellulardiphenhydramine preloaded was preferentially effluxed to the apicalside, suggesting the involvement of the secretory pathway indiphenhydramine transport. Furthermore, diphenhydramine uptake from boththe apical and basolateral sides was stimulated by preloadingmonolayers with chlorpheniramine (trans-stimulation effect). Conclusions. Transepithelial transport of diphenhydramine acrossCaco-2 cells is mediated by pH-dependent, specific transport systemsthat exist in both the apical and basolateral membranes.     

The expression of efflux and uptake transporters are regulated by statins in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells

Aim： Statin disposition and response are greatly determined by the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes and efflux/uptake transporters. There is little information on the regulation of these proteins in human cells after statin therapy. In this study, the effects of atorvastatin and simvastatin on mRNA expression of efflux （ABCB1, ABCG2 and ABCC2） and uptake （SLCO1B1, SLCO2B1 and SLC22A1） drug transporters in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were investigated.
Methods： Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure mRNA levels after exposure of HepG2 and Caco-2 cells to statins. Results： Differences in mRNA basal levels of the transporters were as follows： ABCC2〉ABCG2〉ABCB1〉SLCO1B1〉〉〉SLC22A1〉SLCO2B1 for HepG2 ceils, and SLCO2B1〉〉ABCC2〉ABCB1〉ABCG2〉〉〉SLC22A1 for Caco-2 cells. While for HepG2 cells, ABCC2, ABOG2 and SLCO2B1 mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated at 1, 10 and 20 pmol/L after 12 or 24 h treatment, in Caco-2 cells, only the efflux transporter ABCB1 was significantly down-regulated by two-fold following a 12 h treatment with atorvastatin. Interestingly, whereas treatment with simvastatin had no effect on mRNA levels of the transporters in HepG2 cells, in Caco-2 cells the statin significantly down-regulated ABCB1, ABCC2, SLC22A1, and SLCO2B1 mRNA levels after 12 or 24 h treatment.
Conclusion： These findings reveal that statins exhibits differential effects on mRNA expression of drug transporters, and this effect depends on the cell type. Furthermore, alterations in the expression levels of drug transporters in the liver and/or intestine may con- tribute to the variability in oral disposition of statins.     

Interactions of Phosphodiester and Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides with Intestinal Epithelial Caco-2 Cells

Purpose. Oral bioavailability for antisense oligonucleotides has recently been reported but the mechanistic details are not known. The proposed oral delivery of nucleic acids will, therefore, require an understanding of the membrane binding interactions, cell uptake and transport of oligonucleotides across the human gastro-intestinal epithelium. In this initial study, we report on the cell-surface interactions of oligonucleotides with human intestinal cells. Methods. We have used the Caco-2 cell line as an in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium to investigate the membrane binding interactions of 20-mer phosphodiester (PO) and phosphorothioate (PS) oligonucleotides. Results. The cellular association of both an internally [³H]-labelled and a 5end [³²P]-labelled PS oligonucleotide (3.0% at 0.4 µM extracellular concentration) was similar and was an order of magnitude greater than that of the 5end [³²P]-labelled PO oligonucleotide (0.2%) after 15 minutes incubation in these intestinal cells. The cellular association of PS was highly saturable with association being reduced to 0.9% at 5 µM whereas that of PO was less susceptible to competition (0.2% at 5 µM, 0.1% at 200 µM). Differential temperature-dependence was demonstrated; PS interactions were temperature-independent whereas the cellular association of PO decreased by 75% from 37°C to 17°C. Cell association of oligonucleotides was length and pH-dependent. A decrease in pH from 7.2 to 5.0 resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in cell-association for both backbone types. This enhanced association was not due to changes in lipophilicity as the octanol:aqueous buffer distribution coefficients remained constant over this pH range. The ability of NaCl washes to remove surface-bound PS oligonucleotides in a concentration-dependent manner suggests their binding may involve ionic interactions at the cell surface. Cell-surface washing with the proteolytic enzyme, Pronase^®, removed approximately 50% of the cell-associated oligonucleotide for both backbone types. Conclusions. Binding to surface proteins seems a major pathway for binding and internalization for both oligonucleotide chemistries and appear consistent with receptor (binding protein)-mediated endocytosis. Whether this binding protein-mediated entry of oligonucleotides can result in efficient transepithelial transport, however, requires further study.     

Effect of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 on efflux transport of rebamipide in Caco-2 cells

1.?Effect of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, on efflux transport of rebamipide, an antiulcer drug, was investigated in Caco-2 cells.

2.?Rebamipide had a greater basal-to-apical than apical-to-basal transport rate. Efflux transport of rebamipide was inhibited by cyclosporine A, a P-gp inhibitor, and probenecid, which is a general MRP inhibitor, but not by Ko143, a BCRP inhibitor.

3.?By the addition of IL-6, mannitol transport was slightly increased in a concentration-dependent manner in both directions of absorption and efflux. The addition of IL-6 did not change efflux transport of rebamipide even though efflux transport of digoxin, a typical substrate of P-gp, was significantly decreased by the addition of IL-6, indicating decrease of the function of P-gp.

4.?Therefore, it was suggested that increase of MRP(s)-mediated transport compensates for the decrease of P-gp mediated transport of rebamipide. These findings suggested that rebamipide absorption is unlikely to be changed in IBD patients.     

克拉霉素对Caco-2细胞转运他克莫司的影响及机制研究

目的 探讨克拉霉素对Caco-2细胞转运他克莫司的影响及机制。方法 用化学发光免疫分析法测定他克莫司药物浓度；建立Caco-2细胞单层模型，计算表观渗透系数，比较不同浓度他克莫司在Caco-2细胞单层中转运及不同浓度克拉霉素抑制他克莫司的转运。结果 他克莫司浓度为20，40和80 μg·mL^-1时吸收渗透系数P_appAP-BL分别为（2.47±0.09）×10^-6，（3.91±0.17）×10^-6和（4.49±0.16）×10^-6 cm·s^-1；分泌渗透系数P_appBL-AP分别为（6.05±0.21）×10^-6，（9.86±0.70）×10^-6和（11.75±0.28）×10^-6 cm·s^-1；外流比（apparent permeability ratio，PDR）分别为2.45±0.03，2.52±0.12和2.62±0.11；加入不同浓度的克拉霉素（15，30，60 μg·mL^-1）后，分泌渗透系数显著降低，而吸收系数影响不大，PDR随着克拉霉素浓度增加显著降低。结论 Caco-2细胞外排转运体可能参与了他克莫司的转运，克拉霉素合用他克莫司可显著影响他克莫司的吸收。     

Intestinal Drug Absorption and Metabolism in Cell Cultures: Caco-2 and Beyond

Pharmaceutical Research -     

Transporter and ion channel gene expression after caco-2 cell differentiation using 2 different microarray technologies

mRNA expression profiles had previously been measured in Caco-2 cells (human colonic carcinoma cells) using either custom-designed spotted oligonucleotide arrays or Affymetrix GeneChip oligonucleotide arrays. The Caco-2 cells used were from different clones and were examined under slightly different culture conditions commonly encountered when Caco-2 cells are used as a model tissue for studying intestinal transport and metabolism in different laboratories. In this study, we compared gene expression profiles of Caco-2 cells generated with different arrays to assess the validity of conclusions derived from the 2 independent studies, with a focus on changes in transporter and ion channel mRNA expression levels on Caco-2 cell differentiation. Significant changes in expression levels upon differentiation were observed with 78 genes, with probes common to both arrays. Of these, 18 genes were upregulated and 36 genes were downregulated. The 2 arrays yielded discrepant results for 24 genes, showing significant changes upon differentiation. The results from the 2 arrays correlated well for genes expressed above average levels (r = 0.75, P < 0.01, n = 25) and poorly for genes expressed at low levels (r = 0.08, P > 0.05, n = 25). Overall correlation across the 2 platforms was r = 0.45 (P < 0.01) for the 78 genes, with similar results from both arrays. Despite differences in experimental conditions and array technology, similar results were obtained for most genes.     

Impact of Extracellular Protein Binding on Passive and Active Drug Transport Across Caco-2 Cells

Aim The objective of the study is to evaluate the mechanism behind alterations in passive and active transport of drugs in the presence of basolaterally applied extracellular protein using the Caco-2 cell model. Methods The permeation across Caco-2 monolayers of two groups of compounds, transported either solely by passive diffusion or partly also by active transport in the secretory direction, was studied at two donor concentrations in the absence or presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA, 0–4%). Each group contained compounds with high or low protein binding (PB) capabilities and high or low absorption in humans (fraction absorbed, f_a). The unbound fraction (f_u) of each compound was determined by ultrafiltration. Results The transport rate of the passively permeating compounds was the same in both apical-to-basolateral (absorptive) and basolateral-to-apical (secretory) directions in the absence of BSA. Basolaterally applied BSA increased the transport rate in the absorptive direction and decreased it in the secretory direction for all compounds, in direct proportion to the extent of PB. The efflux ratios for the actively transported compounds were reduced in the presence of BSA. Conclusions Basolaterally applied BSA, which mimics in vivo PB, alters both passive and active drug transport in the Caco-2 cell model. Using C_u in the calculations of transport rate allowed elucidation of the different mechanisms behind these alterations. Our data also suggest that active secretory transport for highly protein-bound compounds might have less effect in vivo than predicted from traditional Caco-2 cell models (without BSA).     

Dual Effects Exerted in Vitro by Micromolar Concentrations of Deoxynivalenol on Undifferentiated Caco-2 Cells

Contamination of crops used for food and feed production with Fusarium mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), raise important health and economic issues all along the food chain. Acute exposure to high DON concentrations can alter the intestinal barrier, while chronic exposure to lower doses may exert more subtle effects on signal transduction pathways, leading to disturbances in cellular homeostasis. Using real-time cellular impedance measurements, we studied the effects exerted in vitro by low concentrations of DON (0.37–1.50 μM), relevant for mycotoxin-contaminated food, on the proliferation of undifferentiated Caco-2 cells presenting a tumorigenic phenotype. A 1.5 μM concentration of DON maintained cell adherence of non-proliferating Caco-2 cells, whilst arresting the growth of actively proliferating cells compared with control Caco-2 cells in vitro. At 0.37 μM, DON enhanced Caco-2 cell metabolism, thereby triggering a moderate increase in cell proliferation. The results of the current study suggested that low concentrations of DON commonly detected in food may either limit or sustain the proliferation of colon cancer cells, depending on their proliferation status and on DON concentration. Soluble factors released by Lactobacillus strains can partially counteract the inhibitory action of DON on actively proliferating colon cancer cells. The study also emphasized that real-time cellular impedance measurements were a valuable tool for investigating the dynamics of cellular responses to xenobiotics.     

Overexpression of Human Intestinal Oligopeptide Transporter in Mammalian Cells via Adenoviral Transduction

Purpose. Our goals are to establish an in vitro screening system and to evaluate a new approach in improving oral absorption of peptides and peptide-like drugs by overexpression of the human intestinal oligo-peptide transporter (hPepTl). This study characterizes the expression of hPepTl in human intestinal Caco-2 cells, rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-18), and human cervix epithelial cells (Hela) after adenoviral transduction. Methods. A recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus carrying the hPepTl gene was made and used as a vector for the expression of hPepTl. The increase in the uptake permeability of cephalexin and Gly-Sar was determined. The effects of time, dose, apical pH, and substrate specificity were evaluated. Results. A significant increase in the uptake permeability of Gly-Sar and cephalexin was found in all three cell lines after viral transduction. The increase of Gly-Sar permeability in Hela, IEC-18, and Caco-2 cells was 85-, 46-, and 15-fold respectively. Immunoblotting using an antibody against hPepTl detected high levels of a 85-98-kDa protein in all three infected cell lines. Substrate permeability was dependent on time of infection, inward pH gradients, and multiplicity of infection (MOI). Decreased infectivity and lower hPepTl expression were observed in differentiated Caco-2 cells. The uptake was inhibited by dipeptides and -lactam antibiotics but not amino acids. Conclusions. Adenoviral infected Hela cells displayed a pronounced level of hPepTl expression with a low background and high specificity to dipeptides. These features make this system a useful tool for screening of potential substrates. The success of overexpression of hPepTl in Caco-2 and IEC-18 cells may lead to a novel approach in improving oral absorption of peptides and peptidomimetic drugs.     

Increased Transport of Resveratrol Across Monolayers of the Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells is Mediated by Inhibition and Saturation of Metabolites

Purpose The study's aim was to investigate the dose-dependent effect of sulfation and glucuronidation on intestinal absorption of resveratrol, a dietary constituent found in grapes and various medical plants.Materials and Methods The intestinal epithelial membrane transport kinetics and metabolism of resveratrol (10–200 μM) was studied using Caco-2 monolayers cultured in Transwells.Results Along with resveratrol it was possible to identify three metabolites, namely, resveratrol-4′-O-glucuronide (M1), resveratrol 3-O-gucuronide (M2), and resveratrol-3-O-sulfate (M3) by LC/MS and NMR. Efflux of the glucuronides M1 and M2 followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics significantly favouring basolateral efflux. The predominant metabolite was the monosulfate M3, however, its formation was strongly inhibited at higher resveratrol concentrations. As biotransformation was either inhibited or saturated, total amount of resveratrol transported across the Caco-2 monolayers increased as much as 3.5-fold at 200 μM resveratrol. This value might be even higher when taking into account the high intracellular concentration of resveratrol, which accounted for up to 61% of the applied dose.Conclusions Our data demonstrate a concentration-dependent biotransformation of resveratrol in Caco-2 cells, which may also apply to human enterocytes affecting oral bioavailability.     

Net Secretion of Furosemide Is Subject to Indomethacin Inhibition,as Observed in Caco-2 Monolayers and Excised Rat Jejunum

Purpose. To determine if intestinal secretion occurs for the poorly bioavailable diuretic, furosemide. Methods. Jejunal segments of male Sprague-Dawley rats were mounted on diffusion chambers, and the permeation of furosemide was measured across the excised tissue in both directions. Studies were repeated using cultured epithelia from adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2) grown on filter inserts mounted in 6-well plates. Temperature-dependence and chemical inhibition by indomethacin was also tested using the cell culture model. Results. Net secretion from rat intestine of over 3-fold was observed for 20 µM furosemide. Net secretion of furosemide by Caco-2 cells was over 300% greater than for intestinal segments (10-fold vs. 3-fold). For both models, a decrease in furosemide transport in the direction of secretion was observed in the presence of indomethacin (100 µM), although only results using the Caco-2 cells showed an increase in the absorptive transport. Furosemide secretion from Caco-2 cells decreased with decrease in temperature from 37°C to 4°C, suggesting a carrier-mediated process. Conclusions. Furosemide appears to be secreted in the small intestine. These preliminary results indicate that furosemide bioavailability may be limited by an intestinal transporter.     

Quantification and Imaging of Mannitol Transport Through Caco-2 Cell Monolayers Using a Positron-Emitting Tracer

Pharmaceutical Research -     

Stereoselective and Carrier-Mediated Transport of Monocarboxylic Acids Across Caco-2 Cells

Purpose. To characterize the transport mechanism of monocarboxylic acids across intestinal epithelial cells by examining the stereoselectivity of the transcellular transport of several chiral monocarboxylic acids. Methods. The transport of monocarboxylic acids was examined using monolayers of human adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2 cells. Results. The permeability of L-[¹⁴C]lactic acid at a tracer concentration (1 µM) exhibited pH- and concentration-dependencies and was significantly greater than that of the D-isomer. The permeabilities of both L-/ D-[¹⁴C]lactic acids involve saturable and nonsaturable processes; the saturable process showed a higher affinity and a lower capacity for L-lactic acid compared with the D-isomer, while no difference between the isomers was seen for the nonsaturable process. The transport of L-lactic acid was inhibited by chiral monocarboxylic acids such as (R)/(S)-mandelic acids and (R)/(S)-ibuprofen in a stereoselective manner. Mutually competitive inhibition was observed between L-lactic acid and (S)-mandelic acid. Conclusions. Some chiral monocarboxylic acids are transported across the intestinal epithelial cells in a stereoselective manner by the specific carrier-mediated transport mechanism.     

Cellular Uptake Mechanism of Amino Acid Ester Prodrugs in Caco-2/hPEPT1 Cells Overexpressing a Human Peptide Transporter

Purpose. This study characterized the cellular uptake mechanism and hydrolysis of the amino acid ester prodrugs of nucleoside antiviral drugs in the transiently transfected Caco-2 cells overexpressing a human intestinal peptide transporter, hPEPTl (Caco-2/hPEPTl cells). Methods. Amino acid ester prodrugs of acyclovir and AZT were synthesized and their apical membrane permeability and hydrolysis were evaluated in Caco-2/hPEPTl cells. The cellular uptake mechanism of prodrugs was investigated through the competitive inhibition study in Caco-2/hPEPTl cells. Results. L-Valyl ester of acyclovir (L-Val-ACV) was approximately ten fold more permeable across the apical membrane than acyclovir and four times more permeable than D-valyl ester of acyclovir (D-Val-ACV). Correspondingly, L-valyl ester of AZT (L- Val-AZT) exhibited three fold higher cellular uptake than AZT. Therefore, amino acid ester prodrugs significantly increased the cellular uptake of the parent drugs and exhibited the D,L-stereoselectivity. Furthermore, prodrugs were rapidly hydrolyzed to the parent drugs by the intracellular hydrolysis, following the apical membrane transport. In the inhibition studies, cephalexin and small dipeptides strongly inhibited the cellular uptake of L-Val-ACV while L-valine had no effect, indicating that the peptide transporter is primarily responsible for the apical membrane transport of L-Val-ACV. In addition, the cellular uptake of L-Val-ACV was five times higher in Caco-2/hPEPT 1 cells than the uptake in the untransfected Caco-2 cells, implying the cellular uptake of L-Val-ACV was related to the enhancement of the peptide transport activity in Caco-2/hPEPTl cells. Conclusions. Caco-2/hPEPTl system is an efficient in vitro model for the uptake study of peptidyl derivatives. Amino acid ester prodrugs significantly improved the cellular uptake of the parent drugs via peptide transport mechanism and were rapidly converted to the active parent drugs by the intracellular hydrolysis.