ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LIVER EPITHELIAL-CELL LINES FROM WILD-TYPE AND MUTANT TGN737RPW MICE

The Tg737 gene encodes a tetratricopeptide repeat containing protein t hat, when disrupted in TgN737Rpw mutant mice, results in pleiotropic p henotypes that include the proliferation of epithelial cells, In the k idney and liver this causes a phenotype that resembles autosomal reces sive polycystic kidney disease, In the liver, the affected epithelial cells morphologically, and immunologically resemble oval cells, were w e describe the isolation, culture, and characterization of epithelial cell lines derived from the fivers of wild-type, heterozygous, and hom ozygous TgN737Rpw mice, Essentially homogeneous cell cultures were est ablished and the expression of liver markers was examined by reverse t ranscriptase polymerase chain reaction and by immunohistochemistry. Al l of the cell lines reacted to the A6 antibody that was raised against mouse oval cells and expressed markers seen in oval cells, Cells tran splanted into the interscapular fat pads of isogenic mice formed well defined ductular structures, Furthermore, in transfection experiments, we have demonstrated the involvement of Tg737 in cellular proliferati on.