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CD4 expression on EL4 cells as an epiphenomenon of retroviral transduction and selection
Author(s) -
Logan Grant J,
Spinoulas Afroditi,
Alexander Stephen I,
Smythe Jason A,
Alexander Ian E
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1046/j.0818-9641.2004.01228.x
Subject(s) - phenotype , biology , downregulation and upregulation , epiphenomenon , transduction (biophysics) , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , cytokine , cell culture , receptor , cancer research , immunology , genetics , gene , philosophy , biochemistry , epistemology
The EL4 murine tumour cell line, isolated from a chemically induced lymphoma over 50 years ago, has been extensively exploited in immunological research. The conclusions drawn from many of these studies have been based on the presumption that EL4 cells maintain a stable phenotype during experimental manipulation. To the contrary, we have observed 100‐fold greater expression of cell surface CD4 (CD4 high ) on a subpopulation of EL4 cells following retroviral transduction and G418 selection when compared with unmodified populations. Although the mechanism responsible for this effect remains to be elucidated, the unexpected expression of CD4, a molecule that functions as both a coreceptor with the T‐cell receptor and ligand for the pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐16, has the potential to influence experimental outcomes. Upregulation of CD4 should be excluded when EL4 cells are utilized in experiments requiring a consistent immuno‐phenotype.