Colonic Epithelial Cells (CEC)

Colorectal cancer is a common gastrointestinal malignant tumor happened in the colon. It is a multi factor and multi genes participation, through multiple stages before the final formation of the extremely complex biological phenomena. Colonic mucosal surface cells form a major mechanical barrier that separates the internal environment from the external environment.

Colonic epithelial cell (CEC) is a single layer of columnar epithelium, containing more goblet cells. Colonic epithelial cells can be processed and presented in vitro T cells,they also can be stimulated in vivo expression of II type HLA and cell adhesion molecules. They are able to respond to a series of cytokines that can alter gene expression and growth characteristics. In addition, normal colonic epithelial cells can express integrin alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6, beta 1 and beta 4. To study the function of colonic epithelial cells is very important to understand the prevention and treatment of colon related diseases and colon cancer.