Data on cystic fibrosis reported by researchers at University of North Carolina, Cystic Fibrosis Center
February 9th, 2009
2009 FEB 9 -- A report, 'Novel human bronchial epithelial cell lines for cystic fibrosis research,' is newly published data in American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. "Immortalization of human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells often entails loss of differentiation. Bmi-1 is a protooncogene that maintains stem cells, and its expression creates cell lines that recapitulate normal cell structure and function," scientists writing in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology report.
"We introduced Bmi-1 and the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) into three non-cystic fibrosis (CF) and three DeltaF508 homozygous CF primary bronchial cell preparations. This treatment extended cell life span, although not as profoundly as viral oncogenes, and at passages 14 and 15, the new cell lines had a diploid karyotype. Ussing chamber analysis revealed variable transepithelial resistances, ranging from 200 to 1,200 Omega.cm(2). In the non-CF cell lines, short-circuit currents were stimulated by forskolin and inhibited by CFTR(inh)-172 at levels mostly comparable to early passage primary cells. CF cell lines exhibited no forskolin-stimulated current and minimal CFTR(inh)-172 response. Amiloride-inhibitable and UTP-stimulated currents were present, but at lower and higher amplitudes than in primary cells, respectively. The cells exhibited a pseudostratified morphology, with prominent apical membrane polarization, few apoptotic bodies, numerous mucous secretory cells, and occasional ciliated cells. CF and non-CF cell lines produced similar levels of IL-8 at baseline and equally increased IL-8 secretion in response to IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and the Toll-like receptor 2 agonist Pam3Cys," wrote M.L. Fulcher and colleagues, University of North Carolina, Cystic Fibrosis Center.
The researchers concluded: "Although they have lower growth potential and more fastidious growth requirements than viral oncogene transformed cells, Bmi-1/hTERT airway epithelial cell lines will be useful for several avenues of investigation and will help fill gaps currently hindering CF research and therapeutic development."
Fulcher and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology (Novel human bronchial epithelial cell lines for cystic fibrosis research. American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 2009;296(1):L82-91).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.L. Fulcher, University of North Carolina Cystic Fibrosis Center, CB 7248, Rm 4011 Thurston-Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA..
The publisher of the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology can be contacted at: American Physiological Society, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Keywords: United States, Chapel Hill, Cystic Fibrosis, Enzymology, Genetics, Hepatology, Physiology, Pulmonology, Stem Cell Research, Telomerase, Viral, Virus.
This article was prepared by Proteomics Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Proteomics Weekly via NewsRx.com.
