There was an error in the characteristic information regarding three cell lines published on our website. We did report and apologize to users (recipients) of each cell line when we became aware of the error.
(1) MAEC
MAEC (RCB2712) is a cell line that was deposited in 2007 and has been provided in the characteristic information below.
A cell line derived from the aorta of p53-deficient mice. Epithelial-like cells.
We confirmed in March 2021 that it should have been below.
A cell line derived from the aorta of p53-deficient mice. Endothelial-like cells.
Detailed consideration of the characteristics:
“Epithelial-like cells” or “endothelial-like cells” are information registered by the depositor as cell morphology information, and there was an error in the reprint by our cell bank. In the cell establishment paper, the title of the paper describes that MAEC is a vascular endothelial cell line, and the results of characterization as vascular endothelial cells are also fully shown in the same paper. Therefore, we changed the characteristic information to below.
Vascular endothelial cell line derived from aorta of p53-deficient mouse.
(2) TKD2
TKD2 (RCB0752) is a cell line that was deposited in 1992 and has been provided in the characteristic information below.
Mouse kidney-derived epithelial cell line. Established from transgenic mice expressing the temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen (SV40tsA58).
We confirmed in August 2021 that it should have been below.
Mouse kidney-derived endothelial cell line. Established from transgenic mice expressing the temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen (SV40tsA58).
Detailed consideration of the characteristics:
In the cell establishment paper, the intracellular uptake of acetylated LDL (low density lipoprotein) is described as the experimental result for evaluating TKD2 cells as endothelial cells, but the corresponding experimental results are not shown. Therefore, we conducted the same experiment in our laboratory, but we could not determine that there was clear uptake of acetylated LDL compared to the positive control cells. In addition, expression of endothelial cell markers CD31 and Flk-1 was analyzed by flow cytometry, and expression was observed in positive control cells, but not in TKD2 cells.
The results of the above analyses suggest that TKD2 cells do not possess typical characteristics of endothelial cells.
TKD2 cells immediately after deposit were used for the above analyses, and it is possible that the characteristics as endothelial cells changed during the period from the establishment of the cell line to the deposit to the cell bank.
Based on the above results, we decided to continue providing with the following characteristic information (the endothelial was deleted).
Mouse kidney-derived cell line. Established from transgenic mice expressing the temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen (SV40tsA58).
(3) B1203L
B1203L (RCB2818) is a cell line that was deposited in 2008 and has been provided in the characteristic information below.
Human cell line derived from lung adenocarcinoma.
We confirmed in February 2023 that it should have been below.
Human cell line derived from lung squamous cell carcinoma.
Detailed consideration of the characteristics:
This is a case in which three lung cancer cell lines were simultaneously deposited by the same researcher, and we have confirmed that there was an error in the process of creating the characteristic information based on the data sheet registered by the depositor. There was no error in the characteristic information of the other two cell lines. We also checked the cell establishment paper and changed it to the above.
Regarding prevention of recurrence and future measures:
When the RIKEN Cell Bank was established (1987 onwards), the cells were immortalized by repeated subculturing, such as human cancer cell lines, and the characteristic information was limited to “type of cancer”, “age”, “sex”, and “cell morphology (epithelial-like, endothelial-like, etc.)”. Since then, various immortalization techniques have been developed (iPS cells is one of them), as well as the development of various marker genes and technologies related to gene expression regulation systems, and an extremely wide variety of cell lines have been deposited. Therefore, we though that it was appropriate for the depositor to prepare the characteristic information by himself/herself including the points that the depositor wants to appeal. Since around 2010, the characteristic information written by the depositor himself/herself has been published. As a result, the errors in the creation of characteristic information in cell banks, such as the three cases above, have disappeared. In addition, we are working to disclose accurate characteristic information by implementing the following items.
・If there are any unclear points or doubts about the cell characteristics information (data sheet) obtained from the depositor at the time of cell deposit, we confirm with the depositor.
・Before disclosing each cell line on our website, we inform the depositor that “disclosure will begin” and ask them to reconfirm the characteristics information to be disclosed.
We will continue and thoroughly implement these efforts and strive to provide appropriate descriptions of cell characteristic information.
We would like to ask for your continued understanding and support for the activities of the RIKEN BioResource Research Center.
