Characterization of the Continuous Skin Fibroblastoid Cell Line, WE-skin11f, from Walleye (Sander Vitreus)

A walleye dermal fibroblastoid cell line, WE-skin11f, was established and characterized. WE-skin11f was immunocytochemically positive for two known dermal fibroblast protein markers: vimentin and collagen I. At passage 26, WE-skin11f cultures contained both diploid and aneuploid populations. Ascorbic acid was required to produce extracellular collagen I fibres. Both of the skin fibroblastoid cell lines, WE-skin11f and rainbow trout-derived RTHDF, were not as good as the walleye caudal fin fibroblastoid cell line, WE-cfin11f, at forming abundant dense extracellular collagen matrices. The thermobiology of WE-skin11f was similar to that of other walleye cell lines with 26°C showing best temperature for growth and 4°C showing no growth but 100% viability. The transcript levels of b2m and mhIa genes of the major histocompatibility class I receptor in WE-skin11f were largely similar at all temperatures examined (4, 14, 20 and 26°C). Cortisol had a variety of effects on WE-skin11f cells: growth inhibition, morphological change from fibroblastoid to epithelioid, and enhancement of barrier function. Treatment of WE-skin11f cells with the physiologically relevant concentration of 100 ng/ml cortisol inhibited collagen I synthesis and matrix formation. Thus, WE-skin11f cell line could be useful in fish dermatology, endocrinology, and immunology research.