Establishment and characterization of immortal hepatocytes derived from various transgenic mouse lines.
The potential of three genetic changes introduced into mice by the transgenic or knockout technology aimed at immortalizing hepatocytes in vitro and concomitantly preserving their differentiated hepatic functions was analyzed. Six hepatocyte lines were isolated from neonatal and adult transgenic mice expressing either IgEGF (a secretable variant of hEGF) or SV40 T antigen in the liver and from neonatal and adult p53 knockout (KO) mice and have been subcultured >150 times in serum-free, arginine-deficient medium. Only in SV40 T antigen transgenic lines profiles of mRNAs encoding serum proteins, transcription factors, and liver-specific enzymes were similar to those found in livers and primary hepatocytes. Accordingly, these cells displayed basal and inducible expression of CYP proteins as well as testosterone metabolizing activities. Thus, either knockout of the p53 gene or expression of SV40 T antigen or of IgEGF imparts immortality to hepatocytes in vitro, but only SV40 T antigen expression is compatible with the concomitant long-term preservation of differentiated liver functions.
Klocke
Rainer
R
Department of Cell Biology, Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Aerosol Research, Hannover, Germany. rainer.klocke@ingenium-ag.com
Gómez-Lechón
M José
MJ
Ehrhardt
Anja
A
Mendoza-Figueroa
Tomas
T
Donato
M Teresa
MT
López-Revilla
Rubén
R
Castell
José V
JV
Paul
Dieter
D
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System