Immortalized Mouse Intestinal Myofibroblasts

Description

Intestinal epithelial cells provide a protective barrier against bacteria, antigens, and toxic substances which enters the body through the luminal tube. The cells are regulated to differentiate and proliferate to establish their protective function. Subepithelial intestinal myofibroblasts have been indicated to have a role in regulating intestinal epithelial cells. The Immortalized Mouse Intestinal Myofibroblasts are isolated from C57BL/6J mouse colonic muscosa and transfected with SV40 large T antigen. It retains primary myofibroblastic phenotypes, and expresses alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and type I collagen. Immune response-related proteins, such as TLR-4, CD14, MD2, and IkappaBalpha are also detected. Additionally, these cells are reactive to lipopolysaccharide LPS treatment, enabling an inflammatory response causing the degradation of IkappaBalpha and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. It is a valuable tool in research involving intestinal injury, fibrosis, inflammation, tissue repair, and immune regulation in intestinal tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to determined cell markers and protein expression.