Phenotypic characterization of an intestinal subepithelial
myofibroblast cell line.
Valentich, John D., Vsevold Popov, Jamal I. Saada and Don W. Powell,.
Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology, University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0564
APStracts 3:0415C, 1996.
Subepithelial myofibroblasts are located at the interface between the
epithelium and lamina propria in most mucosal tissues. Their biologic
functions are largely unknown because a long-term cell culture model
for these cells has not been available. In this report we define the
phenotypic properties of a human colonic cell line (18Co) which
exhibits most of the known characteristics of intestinal
subepithelial myofibroblasts in situ. These characteristics include:
1) a cell shape that can be reversibly interconverted between a
flattened discoid and stellate morphology, 2) intracellular
organelles reminiscent of myofibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in
situ, 3) expression of [alpha]-smooth muscle actin, 4) plasma
membrane receptors for endothelins and natriuretic peptides and 5)
regulation of epithelial sensitivity to calcium-dependent
secretagogues by paracrine secretion of prostaglandins. 18Co cells
provide an exploitable model to begin defining the physiological and
pathophysiological functions of ISEMF at the molecular level.
Received 7 June 1996; accepted in final form 13 December 1996.
APS Manuscript Number C318-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 31 December 1996