Expression of human oviductin in an immortalized human oviductal cell line.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether OE-E6/E7, an immortalized human oviductal epithelial cell line, expresses oviductin messenger RNA (mRNA) and its translated protein.


METHODS
Transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the morphology of OE-E6/E7 cells followed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of oviductin mRNA and sequencing of the nested-PCR product. Confocal microscopy was used, using a polyclonal antibody against human oviductin and Con A as a marker for mannose residues, to reveal the colocalization of human oviduct-specific glycoprotein with the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments.


METHODS
University-based anatomy and cell biology department.


METHODS
Women undergoing laparoscopy for tubal ligation or hysterectomy due to uterine fibroma.


METHODS
An immortalized OE-E6/E7 cell line was previously established using human oviductal epithelial cells. Electron microscopy, RT-PCR, sequencing, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were performed.


METHODS
The presence of human oviductin mRNA and protein in OE-E6/E7 cells.


RESULTS
OE-E6/E7 cells retain morphological features characteristic of secretory cells and express human oviductin mRNA and its translated protein.


CONCLUSIONS
OE-E6/E7 cells were characterized for the first time by electron microscopy and shown to exhibit histological features typical of secretory cells. Reverse-transcription PCR with sequencing and confocal microscopy showed, respectively, that human oviductin mRNA and protein are expressed in OE-E6/E7 cells. Our results suggest that OE-E6/E7 could be a useful tool for future studies of the function of human oviductin.
Ling
Ling
L
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Lee
Yin-Lau
YL
Lee
Kai-Fai
KF
Tsao
Sai-Wah
SW
Yeung
William S B
WS
Kan
Frederick W K
FW
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C074599:oviductin