Human telomerized cells as glomerular filtration barrier model

Evercyte has developed novel telomerized podocyte and microvascular endothelial cell lines that are balanced in growth and differentiation as they show functions of the corresponding primary cell counterparts concomitant with an unlimited growth.

These new cell lines are key components of highly relevant and standardizable in vitro model systems that have become increasingly important in disease modeling or toxicity testing.

Applications

The combination of these cell types allows researchers to set up a glomerular filtration barrier model. This can be used in three different ways:

• To test the efficacy or toxicity of novel drugs
• To study transport functions
• To gain insights into kidney diseases and diabetes

Description and Characteristics

Highly differentiated immortalized human somatic cells are of ever increasing importance as in vitro test systems in various fields of biomedicine, toxicology and biotechnology. Although normal somatic cells maintain a phenotype similar to the corresponding cells in vivo, the application of these cells is limited due to their finite life span. In contrast, tumor cells can be grown without limitation but lacking essential characteristics.

In order to circumvent these limitations, Evercyte offers hTERT immortalized cell lines that are characterized by expression of cell-type specific markers and functions. These are thus balanced in growth and differentiation.

Besides sole expression of the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT), Evercyte has also developed protocols for combined introduction of hTERT and viral oncogenes or essential cell cycle regulators for life span extension without tumorigenic transformation of the cells. Derivatives of Evercyte cells (e.g. cell pellets, cDNA, RNA, extracellular vesicles) are available upon request.

Evercyte provides cells from various tissues, including colon, cornea, kidney, lung, mammary gland, muscle, skin, thymus and vascular system.