Abstract
Purpose: :
Simian virus 40 (SV40) immortalized human corneal epithelial (HCE-T) cells have been widely used as an in vitro model for human corneal epithelial cells. To better understand the nature of this cell line, genomic aberration and cellular heterogeneity was assessed.
Methods: :
For quantitative measurement of genomic aberration, array CGH analysis was performed. For identification of cellular heterogeneity, cell morphology, growth kinetics, trans-epithelial electrical resistance, and gene transfer efficiency were analyzed. Southern blotting analysis also performed to identify the genomic integration of SV40 large T antigen gene.
Results: :
Array CGH analysis clearly indicates that the HCE-T cells have skewed genomic content as compared to the normal healthy genome. Also, data from various cell-biological assays strongly indicate that the HCE-T cells are composed of not a small number of heterogeneous cell populations. All of the subcloned HCE-T cells had the identical restriction fragment encompassing the SV40 large T antigen.
Conclusions: :
These results indicate that the HCE-T cells have altered genomic content and are composed of heterogeneous cell populations.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • cornea: basic science