[Immortalization of human fetal esophageal epithelial cells induced by E6 and E7 genes of human papilloma virus 18]

Abstract

Objective: For studying the relationship between HPV and esophageal carcinoma, an immortalized human fetal esophageal epithelial cell line (SHEE) was established.

Methods: The human fetal esophageal tissues were cultured and infected with HPV 18 E6E7 AAV. It was examined by light- and electron-microscope for morphological changes, by PCR and FISH for detection of HPV E6E7 and by soft agar culture and nude mice inoculatior for dectecting tumor transformation.

Results: The cell line has become immortal and has propagated cntinuously for more than 50 passages. After a long-term culture, the phenotype keeps the characteristics of primary epithelial cells. They showed as monolayer growth and anchorage dependent growth without forming colonies in softagar. They were nontumorigenic in nude mice. SHEE cells contained tonofilaments in its cytoplasm by electron microscopic examination and showed cytokeratin positive in immunohistochemical procedure. So it shows that the cells are squamous epithelium in origin. The cell line contained the HPV 18 E6 and E7 genes by FISH and PCR assay.

Conclusion: Establishment of the esophageal epithelial cell line SHEE successfully immortalized with HPV 18, E6E7, supports that the HPV18 may be related to the etiology of esophageal carcinoma. It will facilitate further research on etiology and pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma.