Establishment and characterization of a colonic epithelial cell line MCE301 from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene

We produced an immortalized colonic epithelial cell line, MCE301, using fetal mice transgenic for the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. MCE301 cells showed epithelial-like morphology and maintained tight connections with neighboring cells. The cells grew at a permissive temperature (33 degreesC), but the growth of the cells was significantly prevented at the nonpermissive temperature (39 degreesC). The cells expressed large T-antigen at 33 degreesC but not at 39 degreesC. MCE301 cells were not transformed, as judged by the absence of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar gel and lack of tumor formation in nude mice. Electron microscopic studies showed that the cells formed microvilli-like structures on the cell surface and junctional complexes such as tight junctions and desmosomes between the cells. The cells expressed cytosketal (acidic cytokeratins and actin), basement membrane (laminin and collagen type IV) and junctional complex proteins (ZO-1 and desmoplakin I + II), as judged by specific antibodies. Fetal bovine serum, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and insulin significantly increased the fell growth at 33 degreesC. Moreover, MCE301 cells expressed colonic mucin Muc2 mRNA as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, indicating that the cells originate from mucus-secreting cells. Alkaline phosphatase, a brush border-associated enzyme, was detected in the cells. Sodium butyrate (2 mM), an inducer of cellular differentiation, markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase activity. Thus, the present mouse colonic epithelial cell line MCE301 possessing these unique characteristics should provide a useful in vitro model of colonic epithelium.