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Isolation and characterization of a human hepatic epithelial-like cell line (AKN-1) from a normal liver

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Summary

The isolation and characterization of human liver cell lines are rather difficult due to limited material and poor growth in cell culture. In this report, we present the isolation, culture and characterization of a new epithelial-like liver cell line (AKN-1) with a heterogeneous cell population and many characteristics of the biliary epithelium. The AKN-1 cell line stained positively with antibodies to epithelial cytokeratin polypetides CK 8, 18, and 19. In addition, the cell line expressed the anti-human epithelial-related antigen (MOC-31), the human epithelial antigen (HEA), and the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, the hematopoietic growth factor, stem cell factor, and also its receptor, c-kit. The cell line failed to express albumin and factor 8 by immunohistochemistry. It did show, however, a twofold increase in 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity. Cytogenetic characterization revealed rare breakpoints in chromosome 2, which to our knowledge, have not yet been reported in liver cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, University of Ulm, 89075, Germany

    Andreas K. Nussler, Susanne Gansauge & Hans G. Beger

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Ulm, 89075, Germany

    Gianna Vergani

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 15213, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Kenneth Dorko, Antony J. Demetris, Minoru Nomoto & Stephen C. Strom

  4. Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 15213, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Sidney M. Morris Jr.

  5. Department of Human Genetics and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 15213, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Susanne M. Gollin

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  1. Andreas K. Nussler
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  2. Gianna Vergani
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  3. Susanne M. Gollin
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  4. Kenneth Dorko
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Nussler, A.K., Vergani, G., Gollin, S.M. et al. Isolation and characterization of a human hepatic epithelial-like cell line (AKN-1) from a normal liver. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Animal 35, 190–197 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-999-0026-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-999-0026-4

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