THE POTENTIAL OF IMMORTALIZED MAMMALIAN-CELLS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF DRUG DISCOVERY

Oncogenes can be introduced into cells which have a limited lifespan, and immortalised cell lines isolated as a result. These cell lines often retain the differentiated, tissue-specific characteristics found in the original cells and, as such, provide an important model for pharmacological studies. The techniques used to develop cell lines from rabbit kidney, mouse macrophages and rat liver are described. A preliminary characterisation of all three types of cells has been carried out, and in each case the immortalised lines described have many of the properties of the original tissue type.