title: Morphological study of the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line with three-dimensional cell culture.
abstract: Cholangiocarcinoma is an intractable carcinoma originating from the bile duct epithelium. To gain an understanding of the cell biology of cholangiocarcinoma, in vitro cell culture is valuable. However, well‑characterized cell lines are limited. In the present study, the morphology of the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line was analyzed by three‑dimensional culture. Dispersed TK cells were injected into a gelatin mesh scaffold and cultivated for 3‑20 days. The morphology of the TK cells was investigated by phase‑contrast microscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TK cells were observed to proliferate three-dimensionally in the scaffold. The cells exhibited a globoid structure and attached to the scaffold. The SEM observation demonstrated typical microvilli and plicae on the surface of the structure. Light microscopy and TEM confirmed intercellular and cell‑to‑scaffold attachment in the three‑dimensional mesh. The culture also exhibited the formation of a duct-like structure covered by structured microvilli. In conclusion, three‑dimensional culture of TK cells demonstrated the morphological characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma in vitro. Production of high levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA)19‑9, CA50 and carcinoembryonic antigen was previously confirmed in the TK cell line. As a characteristic morphology was demonstrated in the present study, the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line may be useful as an experimental model for further study of cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.affiliation: Institute of DNA Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Minori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Center for Medical Sciences, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobutake
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Institute of DNA Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0862, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manome
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D021961:Cell Membrane Structures / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048430:Cell Shape; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds