Immortalized human bladder cell line exhibits amiloride-sensitive sodium absorption. Perrone, Ronald D., Conrado Johns, Shelley A. Grubman, Elisa Moy, Des W. Lee, Joseph Alroy, Grannum R. Sant, and Douglas M. Jefferson. Departments of Medicine, Pathology, Pediatrics and Urology, New England Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
APStracts 2:0130F, 1995.
We have produced a continuous cell line using retroviral transduction of SV40 large T antigen into epithelial cells grown from a cystoscopic bladder biopsy from a female patient with interstitial cystitis. Immortalized urothelial cells are grown in a hormonally -supplemented media in the presence of lethally-irradiated NIH-3T3 fibroblast coculture. They maintain their epithelial appearance and are positive for cytokeratins. SV40 large T antigen is localized to the cell nucleus. When grown on Anocell permeable supports, the cells form a complex epithelium with scalloped luminal membranes, apical junctional complexes containing tight junctions, stratification, transepithelial resistance of 500 - 1000 ohm.cm2, amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current indicative of active transepithelial sodium absorption, and functional evidence for basolateral Na,K-ATPase. This immortalized bladder cell line will facilitate the study of human bladder epithelial function and the response to diverse physiologic and pathophysiologic stimuli.

Received 25 April 1995; accepted in final form 17 July 1995.
APS Manuscript Number F135-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Renal Fluid Electrolyte
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 10 August 1995.