FRUCTOSE UTILIZATION BY THE HUMAN INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL-CELL LINE, CACO-2

The potential use of Caco-2 cells as a model for the study of fructose metabolism and transport in the intestine was evaluated, since this human cell line exhibits many of the anatomical and biochemical characteristics of mature enterocytes. Pre- and postconfluent cultures converted [C-14]fructose to CO2, lipid, and glycogen. Apparent utilization of [C-14]fructose was less than that of [C-14]glucose. This difference was due in part to the more rapid uptake of glucose from medium as compared with fructose. Addition of glucose, galactose, and mannose to medium markedly decreased the metabolism, while slightly inhibiting the uptake, of [C-14]fructose. These data demonstrate that fructose can serve as a carbon and energy source for Caco-2 cells, and that common dietary monosaccharides affect the efficiency of fructose metabolism.