Immortalized Mouse Wildtype M4+/+ Epidermal Keratinocytes

The Immortalized Mouse Wildtype M4+/+ Epidermal Keratinocyte Cells were derived from primary keratinocytes of newborn CD-1 mice. The primary keratinocytes were immortalized in subsequent cultures after passaging for an extended period. The immortalized cells display similar phenotype to the primary keratinocytes including the cobblestone-shape morphology. The Immortalized Mouse Wildtype M4+/+ Epidermal Keratinocyte Cells are non-tumorigenic. They also differentiate with increased calcium, maintain a relatively stable karyotype no more aberrant than cultured primary keratinocytes, and produce epidermis upon orthotopic grafting onto nude mouse hosts. Upon introduction of v-rasHa oncogene, the cells produce squamous cell carcinoma in orthotopic skin grafts. These cells are useful in studies in epidermal keratinocyte biology and pathology.