AR4-2J cells: A model to study polypeptide hormone receptors

Abstract

The AR4-2J cell line is derived from a transplantable tumour of the exocrine rat pancreas. Acinar in origin, this cell line contains significant amounts of amylase and can be grown in continuous culture. Many in vitro studies have been done using these cells; these studies were often complemented with in vivo experiments on animals. Particularly, many polypeptide hormones interacting with specific receptors located on the cell membrane have been analysed. The accurate knowledge of the hormone-receptor interactions has allowed to design interesting analogs of these hormones. In several cases, these compounds are powerful antagonists and are able to control cell proliferation induced by the corresponding polypeptide hormones. Other cell lines are useful to understand human pancreatic cancer. These human cell lines (Capan 1, Panc-1 for example) are of ductal origin and differ from AR4-2J cells, especially regarding the distribution of several polypeptide hormone and growth factor receptors. Both models are important for basic studies of neuropeptides, gastrointestinal peptides and their receptors, as well as for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of human pancreatic cancer.

Beer and its Non-Alcoholic Compounds: Role in Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion, Alcoholic Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Carcinoma

“…The cell line retains many of the characteristics of pancreatic acinar cells in its differentiated state and is a general model to study stimulus-secretion coupling [13]. Stimulation of AR4-2J cells with different alcoholic beverages and appropriate ethanol solutions have shown that increasing beer dose increases amylase release, whereas pure ethanol, wine or alcoholic beverages produced by distillation (e.g., whisky, tequila) have no effect (Figure 1).…”

<title>New approach to optical imaging of tumors</title>

“…It can be grown in continuous culture or maintained in vivo in athymic nude mice, SCID mice or in Lewis rats. This cell line is particularly attractive for in vitro receptor assays as it is known to express a variety of hormone receptors including cholecystokinin (CCK), epidermal growth factor (EGF), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP), somatostatin (sst2) and 12 Inthis model, male Lewis rats were implanted with solid tumor material in a similar manner as described for the CA20948 rat model. Palpable masses were present 7 days post implant and imaging studies were conducted on animals at 10-12 days post implant when the mass had achieved 2-2.5 g. This tumor line has been maintained in vivo for more than 30 generations without change in receptor expression.…”

Gene therapy for diabetes: strategies for β-cell modification and replacement

“…123 It has been used for many years as a model for studies of pancreatic acinar cell biology. 124,125 AR42J cells have been known to have some properties of endocrine cells, including the ability to express and store properly processed pancreatic polypeptide in secretory granules. 126 More recently, it has been shown that the combination of activin A and betacellulin 33 or HGF/SF 127 can induce approximately 10% of AR42J cells to express insulin.…”