A drug absorption model based on the mucus layer producing human intestinal goblet cell line HT29-H.

A new drug absorption model based on monolayers of the human intestinal goblet cell line HT29-H grown on permeable filters has been characterized. HT29-H cells have been shown (a) to form monolayers of mature goblet cells under standard cell culture conditions, (b) to secrete mucin molecules, (c) to produce a mucus layer that covers the apical cell surface, and (d) that this mucus layer is a significant barrier to the absorption of the lipophilic drug testosterone. This is the first demonstration of an intact human mucus layer with functional barrier properties produced in cell culture. The results indicate that monolayers of HT29-H cells provide a valuable complement to mucus-free drug absorption models based on absorptive cell lines such as Caco-2 cells.