Here are some key characteristics and features of the 16HBE14o- cell line:

1. Source: It was originally isolated from the bronchial epithelium of a child. The "14o-" designation refers to the specific subline of cells derived from this source.

2. Immortalization: The cells were immortalized using the SV40 large T antigen, which enables the cells to proliferate indefinitely under appropriate culture conditions.

3. Application:

   • This cell line is widely used in the study of respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary infections.

   • It serves as a model for studying airway epithelial cell function, including barrier function, ion transport, and response to inflammatory stimuli.

   • 16HBE14o- cells have been used to study the mechanisms of respiratory infections, as they can be infected with various pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, influenza viruses, and other respiratory pathogens.

4. Characteristics:

   • The cells maintain some of the characteristics of airway epithelial cells, such as the expression of ciliated epithelial cell markers and the ability to form a tight monolayer under appropriate culture conditions.

   • The 16HBE14o- cell line can be cultured on permeable supports to form polarized monolayers, mimicking the epithelium in the respiratory tract.

5. Use in Studies: Researchers utilize these cells to investigate airway mucociliary clearance, cell-cell interactions, and host-pathogen interactions. This makes the cell line an important tool in pulmonary biology and the development of treatments for respiratory diseases.

6. Other Notable Information: The immortalization allows for more consistent and reproducible experiments, which makes this cell line a reliable model for in vitro studies of airway biology