SGLT1-Mediated Transport in Caco-2 Cells Is Highly Dependent on Cell Bank Origin

The human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell line is a well-established in vitro model for studying transport phenomena for prediction of intestinal nutrient and drug absorption. However, substances depending on transporters such predictions are complicated due to variable transporter expression and limited knowledge about transporter function during multiple cell passaging and cell thawings. In the case of sodium glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1), a key transporter of oral absorption of d-glucose, one reason for compromised prediction could be inadequate expression of SGLT1 in Caco-2 cells and thereby limited sensitivity in the determination of SGLT1-mediated permeability (PSGLT1). Here, the objective is to characterize and compare SGLT1-mediated uptake in Caco-2 cells obtained from different cell banks. SGLT1-mediated uptake of the standard SGLT1 substrate, methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside, in Caco-2 cells was shown to be highly dependent on cell bank origin. The most robust and reliable SGLT1 functionality was identified in Caco-2 cells from Deutsche Sammlung für Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen (DSMZ), whereas cells from the American Type Culture Collection and European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures have lower SGLT1 transport activity. Transepithelial PSGLT1 across Caco-2 cells from DSMZ showed that PSGLT1 likely accounts for approximately 97% of absorptive methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside Papp(a-b). In conclusion, Caco-2 cells from DSMZ provide a robust in vitro model for studying SGLT1-mediated uptake and transport-over multiple cell passages and independent cell stock thawings.