CHARACTERISTICS OF 2 CELL-LINES (TE-1 AND TE-2) DERIVED FROM HUMAN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (5) , 575-584
Abstract
Two epithelial cell lines (TE-1 and TE-2) were established from a well or poorly differentiated human squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. TE-1 was subcultured 120 times during 2 yr and 10 mo.; TE-2 was subcultured 50 times for almost 2 yr. Cultured cells grew as isolated and piled-up colonies of epithelial cells. The average doubling time of the TE-1 cell line was 60 h and that of TE-2 was 72 h. Distinctive marker chromosomes and a male karyotype were present in TE-1, but no marker chromosomes were seen in TE-2. Scanning electron microscopic examinations of TE-1 and TE-2 confirmed the presence of desmosomes and interdigitated microvilli. Transmission electron micrographs of TE-1 showed the presence of abundant cell organelles, and a few organelles were found in the scanty cytoplasm of TE-2. There was a marked difference in the cell organelles between TE-1 and TE-2. Heterotransplantation of the cultured TE-1 and TE-2 cells produced tumors, the histological appearance of which was similar to that of the original ones. The carcinoembryonic antigen level of the medium in the confluent culture of TE-2 was 270 ng/106 cells. In the cytoplasm of TE-1 cells the number of paracrystals, which were produced by treatment with vinblastine sulfate, increased by the addition of cholera toxin to the medium.

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