Immortalized Mouse Stomach Epithelial Cells – Conditionally (ImSt)

ImSt is a conditionally immortalized mouse stomach epithelial cell line 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. Immunohistochemical techniques were utilized detect keratin 18 and E-cadherin to demonstrate the epithelial nature of cells.