Immortalized Mouse Hepatocytes – Conditionally (ImHep)

ImHep is a conditionally immortalized mouse hepatocyte isolated from the mouse harboring thermolabile mutation (tsA58) under the control of an interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible H-2Kb promoter and a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T antigen. The functional expression of the SV40 large T antigen is induced by culturing the cells in vitro in medium containing IFN γ at a temperature permissive (33°C). At a non-permissive temperature (37°C-39°C) or when cultured without IFN γ over 3 passages, the cells cease to proliferate. The ImHep cell line is unique in that 1) it is easily transfectable; 2) it is able to persist in vivo post-hepatocllular transplantation at the non-permissive temperature; both of these characteristics make this cell line a valuable tool for in vitro genetic manipulation, and use in mouse models for ex vivo gene therapy.