Species: mouse
Tissue: uterine epithelium
Features: Uterine epithelial cells (UEC) isolated from 6-week-old CF-1 mice were immortalized using retroviral-mediated transfection of SV40 large T-antigen. One line, WEG-1, retained epithelial morphology and reacted with antibodies to cytokeratins 18, 19, laminin, fibronectin, and beta-catenin. In addition, WEG-1 cells displayed strong nuclear immunoreactivity to SV40 large T-antigen, confirming integration of the retrovirus vector and expression of this gene. WEG-1 cells were negative for nonepithelial markers such as desmin and factor 8. Comparison of protein secretions of WEG-1 cells and UEC showed shared as well as distinct bands. Like UEC, WEG-1 cells secreted PGF2a and PGE2 and expressed PG GH synthase-2. Unlike UEC, WEG-1 cells showed no apical/basal preference for either uptake of methionine or secretion of proteins. The absence of immunoreactive E-cadherin or zona occludens-1 was consistent with the absence of cell polarity in WEG-1 cells. Primary UEC, which polarize in vitro, do not support blastocyst attachment. WEG-1 cells, although not polarized in vitro, also exhibited delayed blastocyst attachment compared with nonuterine cell lines, suggesting that WEG-1 cells partially retained some aspects of UEC function relevant to embryo attachment. WEG-1 cells expressed messenger RNA for Muc-1, an UEC mucin suggested to have antiadhesive properties. Furthermore, WEG-1 cells did not display high affinity heparin binding sites, an activity associated with embryo attachment.
Reference: Wegner, C.C., Cherington, V., Clemens, J.W., Jacobs, A.L., Julian, J., Surveyor, G.A., Bell, E.C., and Carson, D.D. Production and characterization of WEG-1, an epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor-alpha-responsive mouse uterine epithelial cell line. Endocrinology 137(1):175-184, 1996. Medline
Mode of Growth: attached
Method of Passage: Trypsin / EDTA
Culture Medium: DMEM / Ham's F12 (1:1) + 10% FBS, penicillin (100U/ml), streptomycin (100µg/ml)
Freeze Medium: culture medium + 10% DMSO
Source:
Dr.Daniel Carson
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 117
Houston, TX 77030
dcarson@utmdacc.mda.uth.tmc.edu