Pereira, JoanaAvatade, NikhilLoureiro, CláudiaMatos, PauloAmaral, MargaridaJordan, Peter2016-10-032017-05-012016-11Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016 Nov;73(21):3971-89. doi: 10.1007/s00018-016-2258-2. Epub 2016 May 41420-682Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/4012Cellular models are important tools in various research areas related to colorectal biology and associated diseases. Herein, we review the most widely used cell lines and the different techniques to grow them, either as cell monolayer, polarized two-dimensional epithelia on membrane filters, or as three-dimensional spheres in scaffoldfree or matrix-supported culture conditions. Moreover, recent developments, such as gut-on-chip devices or the ex vivo growth of biopsy-derived organoids, are also discussed. We provide an overview on the potential applications but also on the limitations for each of these techniques, while evaluating their contribution to provide more reliable cellular models for research, diagnostic testing, or pharmacological validation related to colon physiology and pathophysiology.engVias de Transdução de Sinal e Patologias AssociadasColorectal CancerInflammatory Bwel DiseaseCystic FibrosisOrganoids3D cultureModel Systemsjournal article10.1007/s00018-016-2258-2