Immortalization and characterization of human peritoneal mesothelial cells

Abstract

The mesothelial lining of the peritoneal cavity represents a permeability and host defense barrier against local infection [1, 2]. During peritoneal dialysis the mesothelial monolayer is exposed to high concentrations of glucose, repeated changes in pH and osmolality and to inadvertently inoculated microorganisms that may cause inflammation and peritonitis [3]. Inflammatory changes can eventually result in ultrafiltration failure limiting the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis [31 The study of interactions between the peritoneal dialysates, mesothelial cells (MsC) and inflammatory cells requires stable and differentiated MsC in culture. Permanent peritoneal mesothelial cells are not widely available and primary MsC cultures must be used for in vitro studies. The slow growth of primary MsC, their special culture requirements and the need to prepare new primary MsC after four to six passages due to dedifferentiation, limits their usefulness [4, 5]. We, therefore, established a permanent peritoneal MsC line through transfection with SV4O T antigen [6—8]. Using a multitude of cell markers and characteristics we show that this human MsC line maintains characteristics of primary MsC and can now serve as a reproducible model of human MsC.