Immortalized Rat Tracheal Epithelial Cells (SPOC-1)

Description

Mucus hypersecretion is a hallmark of inflammatory airway diseases, but few immortalized tracheal cell lines maintain the ability to differentiate into mucus-producing epithelium. Immortalized Rat Tracheal Epithethelial Cells SPOC-1 were spontaneously derived from secondary cell cultures. Like other tracheal cell lines, SPOC1 exhibits increased proliferative capacity and decreased growth factor requirements relative to primary cells, but is unique in being non-tumorigenic, having a diploid karyotype and possessing the ability to form gland-like epithelial structures in tracheal grafts, which are comprised of mucin-producing mucous goblet cells. These characteristics position SPOC1 as a valuable tool for the study of airway epithelial secretory cell differentiation, function and neoplastic progression, as well as the key molecular events underlying mucous production.