Genotypic characterization of an epithelial cell line for the study of parasite-epithelial interactions

The findings discussed in the present research note report the extensive genotypic characterization of an intestinal epithelial cell line originally obtained from a human patient. Although the line exhibits karyotypic anomalies, with 76 modal chromosomes, its immunological, biochemical, and physiological phenotype make it a well-suited model to study intestinal epithelial processes, including those involved during intestinal parasitism. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), isoenzyme analysis, and PCR gene product sequencing ultimately revealed that SCBN epithelial cells express a canine genotype. The observations held true for one of the early cell stocks obtained directly from the laboratory where the cell line was first isolated. Since no canine cells were used in that laboratory at that time, and in view of the normal canine modal chromosomal number of 78, the canine genotype of SCBN cells cannot be explained through simple laboratory contamination. The various characteristics of SCBN nonetheless make it a useful tool for research in epithelial biology, as well as in parasite-epithelial interactions. Its newly discovered genotypic characteristics are of significant relevance to researchers using this cell line.