Cellular Models in Natural Toxins Investigations: Intestinal and Kidney Cell Lines

Abstract

Cell cultures are increasingly used in toxicology. Cell lines, also of human origin are available, which have been widely studied for their capability of expressing in vitro the specialized functions of the tissues of origin.

When intestinal and renal cell lines are cultured on inserts, it is possible to study the effects of toxicants on epithelial barriers with regard to cell injury, transport and apical or basolateral cellular exposure.

This review describes natural toxins studies performed with the human intestinal adenocarcinoma cell lines Caco-2, HT-29, T84 and with the renal cell lines MDCK (canine) and LLC-PK1 (porcine).

These studies represent an interesting and fairly new approach in the field of natural toxins dealing with in vitro target-organ experimental models.