GLI1+ perivascular, renal, progenitor cells: The likely source of spontaneous neoplasia that created the AGMK1-9T7 cell line

The AGMK1-9T7 cell line has been used to study neoplasia in tissue culture. By passage in cell culture, these cells evolved to become tumorigenic and metastatic in immunodeficient mice at passage 40. Of the 20 x 106 kidney cells originally plated, less than 2% formed the colonies that evolved to create this cell line. These cells could be the progeny of some type of kidney progenitor cells. To characterize these cells, we documented their renal lineage by their expression of PAX-2 and MIOX, detected by indirect immunofluorescence. These cells assessed by flow-cytometry expressed high levels of CD44, CD73, CD105, Sca-1, and GLI1 across all passages tested; these markers have been reported to be expressed by renal progenitor cells. The expression of GLI1 was confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Cells from passages 13 to 23 possessed the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes; after passage 23, their ability to form these cell types was lost. These data indicate that the cells that formed the AGMK1-9T7 cell line were GLI1+ perivascular, kidney, progenitor cells.

GLI1+ perivascular, renal, progenitor cells: The likely source of spontaneous neoplasia that created the AGMK1-9T7 cell line

The AGMK1-9T7 cell line has been used to study neoplasia in tissue culture. By passage in cell culture, these cells evolved to become tumorigenic and metastatic in immunodeficient mice at passage 40. Of the 20 x 106 kidney cells originally plated, less than 2% formed the colonies that evolved to create this cell line. These cells could be the progeny of some type of kidney progenitor cells. To characterize these cells, we documented their renal lineage by their expression of PAX-2 and MIOX, detected by indirect immunofluorescence. These cells assessed by flow-cytometry expressed high levels of CD44, CD73, CD105, Sca-1, and GLI1 across all passages tested; these markers have been reported to be expressed by renal progenitor cells. The expression of GLI1 was confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Cells from passages 13 to 23 possessed the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes; after passage 23, their ability to form these cell types was lost. These data indicate that the cells that formed the AGMK1-9T7 cell line were GLI1+ perivascular, kidney, progenitor cells.

Hojun Li | Koch Institute

A novel strategy for cardiac repair using stem cell–derived progenitor cells and cell-seeding matrix patches

Myocardial infarction (MI) and the resulting heart failure remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cell therapy by implantation of stem/progenitor cells and their derived cardiovascular cells offers new opportunities to repair infarcted hearts.