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.
