Transcriptome analysis of signaling pathways involved in the formation of intestinal villi in Caco-2 cells

Caco-2 cells are traditionally used to construct in vitro models of the intestinal barrier. One of the characteristics of the mature intestine is the presence of villi, outgrowths of connective tissue covered with epithelial cells. Recently it has been shown that during prolonged cultivation Caco-2 cells form structures resembling intestinal villi. Here, using transcriptome analysis, we showed that BMP and PDGF signaling involved in the formation of villi in vivo significantly altered during the differentiation of Caco-2 cells and, thus, can participate in the formation of similar structures in vitro. In particular, a significant decrease in the expression of the BMP4, BMP7, and BMP8A genes in differentiated cells compared to undifferentiated ones was found. Periodic fluctuations in transepithelial resistance during the differentiation of Caco-2 cells have been discovered for the first time. The period of observed fluctuations indicates that they can arise in the result of cell proliferation during the formation of villi. According to the period of observed fluctuations, one can suppose that they arise in the result of cell proliferation during the formation of villi.