title: Characterization of immortalized rabbit lacrimal gland epithelial cells.
abstract: To establish an immortalized lacrimal gland epithelial cell line, the orbital lacrimal glands of normal New Zealand White rabbits were multiply injected with an immortalizing amphotropic retroviral vector (LXSN16E6E7) containing the E6 and E7 genes of human papillomavirus type 16. Lacrimal glands were removed after 2 d and acinar epithelial cells were isolated and cultured on Matrigel-coated 60 mm2 plates containing DMEM-F12 supplemented with 5% Nu-serum V. Transformed cells were selected in G418 sulfate for 7 d and passaged. Morphology of the immortalized cells was similar to that described for normal acinar cells both in vivo and in vitro, with rough endoplasmic reticulum and secretory granules. These characteristics remained unchanged and the cells continued to exhibit typical polygonal epithelioid structure. The cells have been maintained in culture for 14 mo. and have gone through 58 passages without loss of proliferation or epithelial cell characteristics. Immunohistochemistry and Western blots showed positive reactivity to secretory component, transferrin, and transferrin receptor, which are typical proteins found in the lacrimal gland. Functional analysis by stimulation with a cholinergic agonist, carbachol (100 microM), resulted in a significant release of protein. This is the first report of an immortalized rabbit lacrimal epithelial cell. These cells will provide a valuable tool for the molecular analysis of lacrimal gland epithelial cell functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans 70112, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beuerman
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Halbert
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000166:cytology*; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011817:Rabbits; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012190:Retroviridae
chemical_list: C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16