Fig. 3

Cholesterol Uptake Assay with Caco-2 cells, applying Protocol #4. Caco-2 cells cultivated on filter inserts were treated for 48 h with bexarotene (RXR agonist, 1 μM), GW3965 (LXR agonist, 5 and 10 μM) or the vehicle control (DMSO 0.1%). Cells were then incubated with micelles containing [³H]-cholesterol and fresh treatment for 2 h on the apical side, while being incubated with 1% human plasma on the basolateral side. Cholesterol uptake was then determined by liquid scintillation counting. Protein concentration was measured and the results expressed as nmol cholesterol/mg protein before being normalized for interexperimental variance. Bar graphs represent mean ± SD from three independent experiments. ns not significant, **P < 0.01 versus solvent vehicle (determined by paired t-test or one-way ANOVA with Dunnett post-test)