Cell-based models to test the effects of milk-derived bioactives

Abstract

The life science industries have a strong interest in screening for novel bioactives in complex mixtures like milk and dairy products. Food bioactives are not only important for public health in general, but also have potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of a number of diseases. To identify these novel bioactives, establishment of robust screening assays is essential. The use of in vitro cell-based models for screening and testing have the advantage that several concentrations of mixtures or specific compounds can be assayed at the same time in cells from specific tissues. Primary cell cultures from target organs or established cell lines can be used to identify the most sensitive cells. In addition, a large number of transfected cell lines with very specific sensitivities have been developed. Different endpoints inherent to basal or more sophisticated cellular functions can be investigated, such as cell viability, apoptosis, migration, intracellular signalling, regulation of gene expression, morphology and metabolic alterations. The gastrointestinal tract is an obvious target for bioactive molecules delivered through milk and dairy products, because it lies at the interface between dietary components in the lumen and the internal processes of the host. Identification of bioactive factors that affects proliferation or migration of epithelial cells may have potential applications in promoting gastrointestinal health in both humans and animals. The mammary gland is another target organ of considerable interest since it has been estimated that up to 50% of all newly diagnosed breast cancers may be related to dietary factors. A large number of gastrointestinal and mammary epithelial cell lines are commercially available, but in order to study some cellular functions, primary cultures of freshly isolated cells are often preferred, as established cell lines do not always express specialised properties in culture.

Spray Dried, Pasteurised Bovine Colostrum Protects Against Gut Dysfunction and Inflammation in Preterm Pigs

“…A scratch wound assay was performed to quantify cell migration as described earlier (27) and POW or POWPAS (10%, v/v) as previously described (28). The migration distance from the original wound border was determined by photomicrographs immediately after wounding and 5-6 h after.…”

Postnatal amniotic fluid intake reduces gut inflammatory responses and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates

“…Cell studies were aimed to characterize the general immunomodulating effects of porcine AF by using three well-established intestinal cell systems previously used to detect effects of dietary and bacterial components on isolated intestinal cells (10,34,41). As such, the results are limited to the immunomodulatory actions of AF in these isolated in vitro epithelial cells and may provide ideas for AF effects at the cellular level, although results cannot be used to predict the full in vivo effects of AF on the immature pig intestine.…”

“…For the cell migration assay in IEC-6 cells, a scratch wound assay was performed as described earlier (34). Cells were seeded in 12-well plates (200,000 cells/well), and monolayers were scratched with a 200-l pipette tip after 1 day to create a standardized cell-free area.…”

State of the Art in Feedstuff Analysis: A Technique-Oriented Perspective

“…Two-compartment models also provide the possibility of applying epithelial cells in combination with other cell types, such as immune cells such as macrophages or dendritic cells that attach on the bottom of the culture wells. 162 Cencičand Langerholc 159 have published an extensive review of the functional three-dimensional models of the intestinal ecosystem, emphasizing the potential for application to the study of the interactions between intestinal cells/nutrients/pathogens/pre and probiotics. The growing popularity of the use of probiotics in the diet and the lack of international consensus methodology for evaluating their effectiveness and safety have highlighted the need for guidelines, criteria, and methodologies for the evaluation of probiotics (FAO-WHO, 2002, ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esn/food/ wgreport2.pdf).…”