The changes in the neuronal PC12 and the intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells during the coculture. The functional analysis using an in vitro coculturesystem

The interaction between intestinal epithelial cells and peripheral neuronal cells were examined using an in vitro coculture system. Two cell lines, Ca co-2 and PC12, were used for this experiment as an intestinal epithelial an d enteric neuronal cell model, respectively. By coculturing with fully diff erentiated Caco-2 cells, the neurite outgrowth was induced in PC12 cells. T his neurite outgrowth in PC12 was blocked by anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) polyclonal antibodies, suggesting that the neurite outgrowth in PC12 durin g the coculture with Caco-2 cells was due to NGF secreted from Caco-2 cells . On the other hand, coculturing with fully differentiated PC12 cells induc ed the decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance in Caco-2 cell mon olayers. The permeability of lucifer yellow also significantly increased, s uggesting that the barrier function and paracellular permeability of Caco-2 monolayers were altered by coculturing with PC12 cells. The present study suggests that this in vitro coculture system is a good model for the functi onal analysis of interaction among intestinal epithelial cells with differe nt cell types.