Determination of Autophagy in the Caco-2 Spontaneously Differentiating Model of Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Tunçer S., Banerjee S.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), vol.1854, pp.55-70, 2019 (Journal Indexed in SCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1854
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/7651_2017_66
  • Title of Journal : Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
  • Page Numbers: pp.55-70
  • Keywords: Autophagy, Caco-2, Colon, Spontaneous differentiation, CYTOSOLIC LC3 RATIO, INDEX, FLUX, LINE

Abstract

The Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell line is widely used as a model for intestinal differentiation and barrier function. These cells, upon reaching confluency, spontaneously differentiate into enterocyte-like cells, synthesize intestinal enzymes, and form domes. Caco-2 cells also undergo autophagy in the course of differentiation. The criteria to establish the induction of autophagy in cells are already well established. Here, we describe the protocol for the spontaneous differentiation of Caco-2 cells and the detection of autophagy using Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence.