Transport Across Caco-2 Cell Monolayer and Sensitivity to Hydrolysis of Two Anxiolytic Peptides from αs1-Casein, α-Casozepine, and αs1-Casein-(f91-97): Effect of Bile Salts

alpha-Casozepine and f91-97, peptides from alpha(s1)-casein, display anxiolytic activity in rats and may have to cross the intestinal epithelium to exert this central effect. We evaluated their resistance to hydrolysis by the peptidases of Caco-2 cells and their ability to cross the cell monolayer. To mimic physiological conditions, two preparations of bile salts were used in noncytotoxic concentrations: porcine bile extract and an equimolar mixture of taurocholate, cholate, and deoxycholate. The presence and composition of bile salts appeared to modulate the peptidase activities of the Caco-2 cells involved (i) in the hydrolysis of alpha-casozepine, leading to much higher formation of fragments 191 99, f91-98, and f91-97, and (ii) in the hydrolysis of f91-97, leading to lower degradation of this peptide. Transport of alpha-casozepine across Caco-2 monolayer increased significantly, in the presence of bile extract, and of fragment f91-97, in the presence of bile salts.