PURPOSE: Cultured corneal epithelial cell is detrimental because of its short life span and its heterogeneity. We have tried to establish an immortalized epithelial cell line. METHODS: Primary cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells were infected with a recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector and were cloned three times. RESULTS: The immortalized cell continued to grow by more than 400 generations through 100 passages. SV40-associated large T antigen was demonstrable on the nuclear membrane of these immortalized cells by immunofluorescence technique. This cell line exhibited a similar cobblestone-like appearance as normal corneal epithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed a line of evidence for stratification, including desmosome formation and microvilli development at the superficial cell layer. As the culture grew, these cells began to express cornea-specific 64 kD cytokeratins. In contrast to cultured normal corneal epithelial cells, this cell line had a good proliferative ability after a long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. CONCLUSIONS: Because this particular cell line shares properties consistent with normal corneal epithelial cells and is easy to handle in vitro, it may serve as a useful tool in corneal epithelial research.
PURPOSE: Cultured corneal epithelial cell is detrimental because of its short life span and its heterogeneity. We have tried to establish an immortalized epithelial cell line. METHODS: Primary cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells were infected with a recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector and were cloned three times. RESULTS: The immortalized cell continued to grow by more than 400 generations through 100 passages. SV40-associated large T antigen was demonstrable on the nuclear membrane of these immortalized cells by immunofluorescence technique. This cell line exhibited a similar cobblestone-like appearance as normal corneal epithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed a line of evidence for stratification, including desmosome formation and microvilli development at the superficial cell layer. As the culture grew, these cells began to express cornea-specific 64 kD cytokeratins. In contrast to cultured normal corneal epithelial cells, this cell line had a good proliferative ability after a long-term storage in liquid nitrogen. CONCLUSIONS: Because this particular cell line shares properties consistent with normal corneal epithelial cells and is easy to handle in vitro, it may serve as a useful tool in corneal epithelial research.
Authors: José E Capó-Aponte; Zheng Wang; Victor N Bildin; Kathryn S Pokorny; Peter S Reinach Journal: Exp Eye Res Date: 2006-11-30 Impact factor: 3.467
Authors: Sudha Ananth; Senthil Karunakaran; Pamela M Martin; Chandrasekharam N Nagineni; John J Hooks; Sylvia B Smith; Puttur D Prasad; Vadivel Ganapathy Journal: Pharm Res Date: 2008-09-10 Impact factor: 4.200