| Abstract: | We have developed an immortalized oral epithelial cell line, ROE2, from fetal transgenic
rats harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. The cells grew
continuously at either a permissive temperature of 33°C or an intermediate temperature of
37°C. At the nonpermissive temperature of 39°C, on the other hand, growth decreased
significantly, and the Sub-G1 phase of the cell cycle increased, indicating that the cells
undergo apoptosis at a nonpermissive temperature. Histological and immunocytochemical
analyses revealed that ROE2 cells at 37°C had a stratified epithelial-like morphology and
expressed cytokeratins Krt4 and Krt13, marker proteins for oral nonkeratinized epithelial
cells. Global-scale comprehensive microarray analysis, coupled with bioinformatics tools,
demonstrated a significant gene network that was obtained from the upregulated genes. The
gene network contained 16 genes, including Cdkn1a, Fos,
Krt13, and Prdm1, and was associated mainly with the
biological process of skin development in the category of biological functions, organ
development. These four genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain
reaction, and the results were nearly consistent with the microarray data. It is therefore
anticipated that this cell line will be useful as an in vitro model for
studies such as physiological functions, as well as for gene expression in oral epithelial
cells. |
