Table 2.
Techniques for measurement of human intestinal permeability
| Barrier Function |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Tests Which Layer? | In vivo | In vitro | Neuroimmune Function | TJ Morphology |
| Cell monolayers (e.g., Caco-2/HT29) | Epithelium | − | + | − | − |
| Primary cell monolayers derived from organoids (human and animal model) | Epithelium | − | + | − | − |
| Ussing chambers + human mucosa | Epithelium | − | + | − | − |
| Human fecal or biopsy supernatant applied to animal mucosa | Epithelium | + | − | +/− | +/− |
| Zonula occludens-1 IHC | Epithelium | − | − | − | + |
| mRNA expression of TJ proteins | Epithelium | − | − | − | − |
| Urine excretion of oral probes | All barrier | + | − | − | − |
| Serum bacterial lipopolysaccharide and other biomarkers | All barrier | + | − | − | − |
| Duodenal mucosal impedance | Epithelium | + | − | − | − |
| Confocal endomicroscopy | Epithelium | + | − | + | − |
IHC, immunohistochemistry; TJ, tight junction; +, the method demonstrates the function; −, the method is unable to demonstrate the function; +/−, borderline ability. [Adapted from Camilleri et al. (23).]