There have been significant advances in research involving the isolation and culture of epithelial cells in the past decade, and many new techniques have been developed. Monolayer cultures can be used to evaluate the nature and behavior of cells, while the use of epithelial cells in model systems has allowed a deeper understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms and interactions. The aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to many techniques for epithelial cell culture, combining in one volume the more commonly used protocols along with many that are more speci- ized. Epithelial Cell Culture Protocols should help those who are new to this field and want to learn the basic culture techniques, as well as those needing to use more wide ranging and specific protocols. It should be a useful resource on its own, and also complement the other volumes that have been written about cell culture in the Methods in Molecular Biology series. Epithelial Cell Culture Protocols covers a wide variety of protocols, mostly aimed at the researcher, but also a few aimed at clinicians. The est- lishment and maintenance of primary cultures derived from many different tissues and different species is covered. Particular emphasis has been placed on protocols needed to further analyze and assess epithelial cells, for example, by looking at apoptosis and integrins and by measuring membrane capa- tance and confluence. Using different co-culture techniques, it is possible also to develop models to investigate many different systems in vitro.

Back Cover Copy This second edition volume expands on the previous edition with in-depth discussions on the rapid advancements in epithelial cell biology, and the cutting-edge research and techniques used by researchers in the field. The chapters in this book cover topics such as detailed methodologies applicable to epithelial cells derived from primates, pigs, bovines, and laboratory animals; the manipulation and differentiation of epithelial cells; and epithelial cell models in the gastroenteric system in human medicine and nutrition. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Epithelial Cell Culture: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a valuable resource for researchers in the scientific community, educators, and students who are interested in unraveling the complexities of epithelial cell biology, cultivating curiosity, and inspiring the next generation of groundbreaking research.

"...a wonderful compendium of current in vitro approaches that will be a useful resource to those just starting to work with an epithelial cell system as well as those that have been working with them for years and years." --Pharmaceutical Research This completely revised and expanded new edition provides detailed descriptions of fundamental and practical aspects relating to the in vitro cultivation of disparate types of epithelia. In recent years, the use of epithelial cell culture in cell biology and tissue engineering has increased dramatically. This revision reflects those advances by including new chapters on the culture of animal and human hepatocytes, kidney epithelium, and bladder epithelium. Each chapter provides an introductory review of the principles and advantages of the particular method, followed by detailed protocols, practical tips, alternate methods, and a useful list of materials and suppliers.

A thoroughly revised and updated collection readily reproducible techniques for culturing human cells. This new edition includes a wide range of human cell types relevant to human disease and new chapters on fibroblasts, Schwann cells, gastric and colonic epithelial cells, and parathyroid cells. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular MedicineTM series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Fascinating biology occurs at epithelial interfaces, whether between organism and environment or within body compartments, and many diseases inflicting huge personal and societal burdens result from dysfunction of epithelial systems, e.g., carcinomas. Epithelial cell cultures have been an integral and crucial part of the biomedical research enterprise, adding unique capabilities and enabling mechanistic approaches. In the past decade there have been many research advances, such as directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, robotic high throughput screening, whole genome siRNA and shRNA libraries, massively parallel sequencing at low cost, identification of somatic stem cells in key organs, to name a few. Epithelial Cell Culture Protocols, Second Edition provides a cross section of up-to-date culture protocols for the most heavily studied cell systems and featured supporting technologies. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Epithelial Cell Culture Protocols, Second Edition will serve outstanding investigators with the best possible information for the advancement of biomedical science.

Human cell culture is not a new topic, but the development of new molecular techniques and reagents which can be used to investigate cell function and the responsible intracellular mechanisms make it a continuing requirement. This third edition of Human Cell Culture Protocols expands upon the previous editions with current, detailed protocols for the isolation and culture of a range of primary cells from human tissues. With new chapters on pancreatic cells needed for basic studies on the pathogenesis of diabetes and for their application for islet transplantation, the book also delves into protocols for hepatocytes, skin cells, lung cells, parathyroid cells, gastric cells, renal cells, adipocytes, ovarian cells, bone cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells, regulatory T cells, blood mononuclear cells, as well as new techniques being applied to human cell culture, particularly the use of biocompatible scaffolds to grow cells, the in vitro use of laser microdissection to isolate cells from culture, and automated cell culture. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Human Cell Culture Protocols, Third Edition makes it possible for a worker with basic cell culture training, whether in the fields of cell biology, gene therapy, and cell transplantation, to prepare cell cultures of the specific cell type necessary to forward their vital research.

Now completely revised and updated from the original, much-acclaimed and bestselling first edition, Basic Cell Culture Protocols, 2nd ed. offers today's most comprehensive collection of easy-to-follow, cutting-edge protocols for the culture of a wide range of animal cells. Its authoritative contributors provide explicit, step-by-step instructions, along with extensive notes and tips that allow both experts and beginners to successfully achieve their desired results. Topics range from basic culture methodology to strategies for culturing previously uncultured cell types and hard-to-culture differentiated cells. Methods are also provided for the analysis of living cells by FACS, video microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Like the first edition, this book should be in every cell culture laboratory and be of use to all who use cell cultures in research.

Well-versed experimenters and clinical researchers share their best methods for establishing and maintaining epithelial cell cultures, for analyzing and studying their characteristics, and for using them to set up models of critical biological systems. The emphasis is on the analysis and assessment of epithelial cells, for example by looking at apoptosis and integrins, or by measuring membrane capacitance and confluence. Also described in step-by-step detail are co-culture techniques valuable in developing models for investigating many different in vitro systems, including the blood-brain barrier, drug uptake, and the interaction of epithelial cells with bacteria. Epithelial Cell Culture Protocols offers a step-by-step guide toward a deeper understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms, as well as a set of robust techniques for specifically evaluating the nature and behavior of epithelial cells.

“Infogest” (Improving Health Properties of Food by Sharing our Knowledge on the Digestive Process) is an EU COST action/network in the domain of Food and Agriculture that will last for 4 years from April 4, 2011. Infogest aims at building an open international network of institutes undertaking multidisciplinary basic research on food digestion gathering scientists from different origins (food scientists, gut physiologists, nutritionists...). The network gathers 70 partners from academia, corresponding to a total of 29 countries. The three main scientific goals are: Identify the beneficial food components released in the gut during digestion; Support the effect of beneficial food components on human health; Promote harmonization of currently used digestion models Infogest meetings highlighted the need for a publication that would provide researchers with an insight into the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of respective in vitro and ex vivo assays to evaluate the effects of foods and food bioactives on health. Such assays are particularly important in situations where a large number of foods/bioactives need to be screened rapidly and in a cost effective manner in order to ultimately identify lead foods/bioactives that can be the subject of in vivo assays. The book is an asset to researchers wishing to study the health benefits of their foods and food bioactives of interest and highlights which in vitro/ex vivo assays are of greatest relevance to their goals, what sort of outputs/data can be generated and, as noted above, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the various assays. It is also an important resource for undergraduate students in the ‘food and health’ arena.

Cell culture has progessed to the point where cells can be grown into tissue-like structures in vitro, but these tissues often bear little resemblance to the same tissue in a living organism. This book describes methods of culturing epithelial cells so as to mimic accurately their behaviourin vivo, and the resulting model systems can be used in a wide range of research areas: pharmaceutics, pharmacology, toxicology, and cell biology. Written by an international panel of researchers, the book details the methods used to reconstruct epithelia in vitro, the procedures used tocharacterise these model systems, and the research applications for which these cultures are becoming so important.