Establishment and evaluation of a PRRSV-sensitive porcine endometrial epithelial cell line by transfecting SV40 large T antigen

• Main Authors: Kang Zhang, Houshen Li, Shasha Dong, Ying Liu, Dong Wang, Haichang Liu, Feng Su, Lijiang Ge, Yunliang Jiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-08-01
• Series: BMC Veterinary Research
• Subjects: Porcine endometrial epithelial cell line; SV40T antigen; PRRSV-sensitivity; Lentrival vector; Replication efficiency
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2051-1

Abstract Background PRRSV is an infectious illness causing lung injury and abortion in sows. Cells apoptosis in the interface between the endometrium and fetal placenta is a crucial factor causing abortion. Previous study confirmed PRRSV could cause apoptosis of macrophages but rarely produced an obvious change in porcine endometrial epithelial cells (PECs). Recently, PRRSV-induced abortion was attributed to fetal placental and endometrium epithelial cells (Sn+ and CD163+) apoptosis. However, the mechanism of abortion is still unrevealed because of the limit of porcine endometrium epithelial cells (PEC). The aim of this study was to establish a stable immortalized PECs lines and use it to reveal the abortion mechanism. Results In this study, highly purified primary PECs were harvested through differential digestion, and their characteristics were confirmed by CK18, ERɑ and PR staining. Cells were then immortalized by transfecting a lentiviral vector that expressed SV40 large T antigen. PECs lines were obtained after puromycin screening. Proliferation of cell line was evaluated by cell growth curve and cell cycle assays. Cell lines exhibited faster proliferation capacity than primary cells. Biological characteristics of cell line were assessed by Western blot, karyotype analysis and staining, which confirmed that the cell line retained the endometrium characteristics. Finally, PRRSV sensitivity was assessed; expression of Sn and CD163 indicated that primary PECs and cell lines were all potentially sensitive to PRRSV. PRRSV infection tests showed an obvious increase in apoptotic rate in the infected PEC cell line, which suggested its susceptibility. Conclusion The newly constructed cell line is a useful tool for studying the mechanism of abortion caused by PRRSV.