title: Reversible conversion of epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes in SV40 large T antigen-immortalized rat liver cell lines.
abstract: EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) is a key process in the development of liver fibrosis. This process is also essential for liver morphogenesis in embryonic development. To study the cellular and molecular basis of EMT, we established two phenotypically different SV40 large T antigen-immortalized cell lines from rat hepatocytes. The first cell line, which had an epithelial morphology and was established in DMEM (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium)/Ham's F-12 (DF)-based medium (RL/DF cells), expressed CK18 (cytokeratin 18), a marker of parenchymal hepatocytes. The other, a mesenchymal-like cell line established in DMEM-based medium (RL/DMEM cells), expressed αSMA (α-smooth muscle actin), a marker of hepatic myofibroblasts. Epithelial RL/DF cells underwent phenotypic changes, such as increased expression of αSMA, when the culture medium was switched to DMEM-based medium. In contrast, mesenchymal RL/DMEM cells were induced to express the epithelial marker CK18 with a concomitant decrease in αSMA expression when the culture medium was replaced with DF-based medium. These cell lines may provide novel in vitro models for the study of the conversion between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes during EMT in liver fibrosis and morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Transgenic Animal Research Center, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ohwashi 12, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3058634, Japan.
authors.forename: Takato
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takenouchi
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamanaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitani
keywords: BEC, biliary epithelial cell; CK18, cytokeratin 18; CK19, cytokeratin 19; DF, DMEM/Ham’s F-12; DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; ECM, extracellular matrix; EGF, epidermal growth factor; EMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transition; FBS, fetal bovine serum; HBSS, Hanks balanced salt solution; HSC, hepatic stellate cell; SV40LT, SV40 large T antigen; TGF, transforming growth factor; VE-cadherin, vascular endothelial cadherin; ZO-1, zonula occludens 1; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; immortalization; liver cell line; αSMA, α-smooth muscle actin