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Human Cell Culture Protocols pp 157–173Cite as

Isolation, Characterization, and Culture of Normal Human Intestinal Crypt and Villus Cells

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 806))

Abstract

The intestinal epithelium is a highly dynamic tissue undergoing constant and rapid renewal. It consists of a functional villus compartment responsible for terminal digestion and nutrient absorption and a progenitor cell compartment located in the crypts that produce new cells. The mechanisms regulating cell proliferation in the crypt, their migration, and differentiation are still incompletely understood. Until recently, normal human intestinal cell models allowing the study of these mechanisms have been lacking. In our laboratory, using fetal human intestines obtained at mid-gestation, we have generated the first normal human intestinal epithelial crypt-like (HIEC) cell line and villus-like primary cultures of differentiated enterocytes (PCDE). In this chapter, we provide a detailed description of the methodologies used to generate and characterize these normal intestinal crypt and villus cell models.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank E. Herring for revision of the manuscript. This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants MOP-57727 and MOP-97836 to J.F.B. J.F.B. is the recipient of the Canadian Research Chair in Intestinal Physiopathology. J.F.B. and D.M. are members of the FRSQ-funded Centre de Recherche Clinique Etienne-LeBel of the CHUS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIHR Team on Digestive Epithelium, Département d’anatomie et de biologie cellulaire, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Jean-François Beaulieu & Daniel Ménard

Authors
  1. Jean-François Beaulieu
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  2. Daniel Ménard
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Correspondence to Jean-François Beaulieu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom

    Ragai R. Mitry

  2. School of Medicine, Inst. Liver Studies, King's College London, Bessemer Rd., London, SE5 9RS, United Kingdom

    Robin D. Hughes

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Beaulieu, JF., Ménard, D. (2012). Isolation, Characterization, and Culture of Normal Human Intestinal Crypt and Villus Cells. In: Mitry, R., Hughes, R. (eds) Human Cell Culture Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 806. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-367-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-367-7_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-366-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-367-7

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