A transformed human tracheal gland cell line, MM-39, that retains serous secretory functions.

Abstract

Infection with the wild type SV40 virus was used to transform primary cultures of human tracheal gland serous (HTGS) cells. Over 80 different cell lines were obtained, but the majority had lost some of their epithelial and secretory features. However, one of these cell lines, MM-39, was shown to have conserved the physiologic characteristics of the genuine HTGS cells-i.e., the presence of cytokeratin, expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mRNA, a level of secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor secretion comparable to that of the native cells (25 +/- 3 ng/10(6) cells/h), and the responsiveness to pharmacological agonists: carbachol (+260 +/- 40%), isoproterenol (+260 +/- 40%), and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (+280 +/- 30%). These characteristics describe a transformed cell line of human tracheal gland cells which has retained the features of the native serous cells. As a result, this cell line appears to be a useful tool for large-scale physiologic and pharmacologic studies of bronchial secretion at the cellular level.

Contribution of α7 nicotinic receptor to airway epithelium dysfunction under nicotine exposure

“…Fig. S3 shows that αBTX dose-dependently decreased forskolin-activated chloride efflux in MM39, a cell line derived from the normal human airway glandular epithelium and expressing WT-CFTR (23). It had no effect on KM4, a cell line derived from CF human tracheal glands and homozygous for the ΔF508 mutation (24), and decreased forskolin-activated chloride efflux in KM4*, derived from the KM4 cell line after transduction with the lentiviral vector expressing the WT-CFTR cDNA (25).…”

Development of Substituted Benzo[c]quinolizinium Compounds as Novel Activators of the Cystic Fibrosis Chloride Channel

“…It is known that the secretagogue agent ATP, proposed for CF therapy, acts on the human tracheal gland cell line MM39 by increasing protein secretion (32). This effect is mediated by cAMP generation and through calcium mobilization (32).…”

“…This effect is mediated by cAMP generation and through calcium mobilization (32). We examined the effect of MPB-07 on the secretion of the SLPI by MM39.…”

“…gland cell line MM39 because it has retained the physiological characteristics of the genuine cells, namely CFTR expression, high capacity of ionic transport (33), and constitutive and stimulated secretion of proteins highly involved in the defense mechanism of the bronchotracheal tree (32). These are SLPI, lactoferrin, and lysozyme participating in the antibacterial activity of the lung.…”

Cystic Fibrosis - Renewed Hopes Through Research

“…The transfer of genes to the airway results in gene expression primarily in lung epithelial cells, and the transgene is localised to the lung without much systemic distribution. The highest level of CFTR gene expression is found in the bronchial submucosal gland cells (Merten et al, 1996;Kammouni et al, 1999;Chow et al, 2000) and it was suggested that these glandular cells may be better reached by vasculature and systemic application of the vector rather than by the airways (Boucher, 1999 ;Kolb et al, 2006).…”