Immortalized Human Alveolar Epithelial Cell Line

Description

Immortalized Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells are derived from normal human lung alveolar tissue and genetically modified to extend proliferative capacity while retaining key epithelial features, and are widely referenced in pulmonary research as a representative lung epithelial cell line closely associated with the structure and function of the alveolar epithelium. These cells exhibit cobblestone or flattened morphology and form polarized monolayers in vitro. They express alveolar-specific markers, including tight junction proteins, surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B), EpCAM, and cytokeratins (CK18, CK8), essential for alveolar barrier integrity and function. This cell line serves as a robust and reproducible model for pulmonary research, including studies on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, ARDS, lung cancer, and respiratory viral infections such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Its extended lifespan and reduced donor variability make it highly suitable for mechanistic and translational investigations in respiratory biology.