Immortalized adult human colon epithelial cell line

Immortalized adult human colon epithelial cell line, which does not express tumour markers, which expresses metabolic markers specific for the non-immortalized human epithelial cells and metabolic differentiation markers specific for the non-immortalized epithelial cells of the human colon, and which is capable of adhering in vitro to the strain of lactic acid bacterium CNCM-1225. Serum-free culture medium characterized in that it comprises trace elements, vitamins consisting of vitamin C and retinoic acid, and hormones consisting of triiodothyronine, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, bovine pituary gland extract, insulin, EGF and transferrin. Process for the immortalization of epithelial cells of the human colon, in which a culture of primary epithelial cells derived from the human colon is prepared, the culture is infected with a recombinant virus, the immortalized cells are cultured in the serum-free culture medium according to the invention. Process for identifying the mutagenic, toxic or beneficial effect of an agent on the metabolism of the cells of the intestinal tract, in which (1) an agent suspected of being a mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agent for the metabolism of the cells of the intestinal tract is reacted, cultured or brought into contact with a culture comprising a cell line according to the invention, and (2) the effects of the said agent on the said cell line are determined or measured. Use of the cells according to the invention as an active pharmaceutical agent. In particularly, cell line DSM ACC2258.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The subject of the present invention is a new human epithelial colon
 immortalized cell line, a method for obtaining this line, as well as any
 use of this line, especially in processes for the identification of
 mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agents for the metabolism of the cells of
 the intestinal tract.
 BACKGROUND
 For many years, efforts have been made to develop human cell lines adapted
 to the study of human diseases, such as infections, inflammations or
 cancers, for example. Among the cells often involved in the onset of
 diseases, there are the epithelial cells, in particular the epithelial
 cells of the intestinal tract which are sensitive to the surroundings of
 the human body, and especially to the conditions of its diet.
 The epithelial cells differ from other cells of the human body in the
 expression of compounds or structures which are mainly found in the
 epithelial cells, such as for example cytokeratins (Moll et al., Cell, 31,
 11-24, 1982), connections between the cells (Gumbiner et al., Cell, 69,
 385-387, 1992), alkaline phosphatase which is specific to the intestine
 (Dudeja et al., Gastroenterology, 105, 357-366, 1993), cytochromes P450
 (Mercurio et al., Biochem. Biophy. Research Communications, 210, No. 2,
 350-355, 1995; McKinnon et al., Gut, 36, 259-267, 1995), enzymes involved
 in cellular oxidation defense (Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, glutathione
 peroxidase and catalase; Albers et al., Toxicology and Applied
 Pharmacology, 109, 507-513, 1991) and/or in the detoxification of
 electrophiles (glutathione-S-transferase and quinone reductase; Chenevix-
 Trench et al., Carcinogenesis, 16, No. 7, 1655-1657, 1995), and vimentin
 (Richard et al., Arch. Dematol. Res., 282, 512-515, 1990),
 In addition, the epithelial cells of the human intestinal tract are capable
 of adhering lactic acid bacteria in vitro (Bernet et al., Gut, 35,
 483-489, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,399)
 Finally, the epithelial cells of the human colon also differ from other
 human epithelial cells in the expression of compounds or structures found
 mainly in the epithelial cells of the human intestine, such as, for
 example, surface villosities (Friedrich et al., Bioassays, 12, No. 9,
 403-408, 1990), sucrose isomaltase (Gibson et al., Gut, 35, 791-797, 1994;
 Paul et al., Am. Pysiol. Soc., C266-C278, 1993), certain class II major
 histocompatibility antigens (Mayer et al., Gastroenterology, 100, 3-12,
 1991), and dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV; Hauri et al., J. Cell. Biol.,
 101, 836-851, 1985).
 The preparation of an epithelial cell line of the human colon may be
 carried out by the selection of human cancer cells. Stauffer et al. thus
 describe the selection of two lines NCM356 and NCM425 which comprise the
 p53 mutation and which express in particular the tumour antigen CEA (The
 American journal of surgery, 169, 190-196, 1995). These cells represents a
 tumorigenic transformation stage, and are of interest for studying the
 development of the tumorigenic transformation of the epithelial, cells.
 Other human colon epithelial cell lines isolated from a human colon adenoma
 are also known, such as, for example, the lines CaCO-2 (ATCC HTB37; Fogh
 et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 58, 209-214, 1977) and HT29 (ATCC HTB38;
 Fogh et al., Human tumour Cells In Vitro, 145-159, 1975)
 It is also possible to immortalize normal cells, that is to say make them
 capable of multiplying indefinitely. Indeed, normal cells do not survive
 more than a ten passages. For that, techniques for the transfection of
 cells, with the aid of specially adapted vectors, such as the SV40 vector
 comprising a sequence of the large T antigen (R. D. Berry et al., Br. J.
 Cancer, 57, 287-289, 1988), or a vector comprising DNA sequences of the
 human papillomavirus (U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,542), are generally used.
 Sanderson et al. have thus immortalized normal cells of the foetal small
 intestine (Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol., 107, 396-397, 1995). However,
 these cells still remain physiologically distant from normal adult cells.
 Up until now, no immortalization of normal epithelial cells of the adult
 human colon has been reported. Even if the immortalization techniques are
 known, it is still quite difficult to find the optimum conditions for
 immortalizing a human cell so that it conserves its original
 characteristics, and without exhibiting signs of a tumorigenic
 transformation.
 One of the conditions to propagate immortalized cells is their growth in a
 particular culture medium. The culture media described in the literature
 are each specific for a cell type and cannot be easily applied to other
 cell types. By way of example, there may be mentioned the serum-free media
 described by Gibson et al. (Gut, 35, 791-797, 1991), Pfeifer et al. (Proc.
 Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90, 5123-5127, 1993) and Kulkani et al.
 (Carcinogenesis, 16, No. 10, 2515-2521, 1995).
 The aim of the invention is to provide new human colon epithelial cell
 lines which are genetically and physiologically related to the normal
 epithelial cells of the human colon, to the extent that it is difficult to
 differentiate them. In particular, these lines do not express tumour
 markers. These lines express, in addition, numerous specific markers found
 in normal epithelial cells of the human colon.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 To this end, the invention relates to any immortalized human colon
 epithelial cell lines, which does not express tumour markers, which
 expresses metabolic markers specific for the non-immortalized human
 epithelial cells and metabolic differentiation markers specific for the
 non-immortalized epithelial cells of the human colon, and which is capable
 of adhering in vitro the CNCM-1225 strain of lactic acid bacterium.
 The subject of the invention is also a serum-free culture media adapted to
 the culture and immortalization of epithelial cells of the human colon.
 This medium comprises the constituents usually found in the serum-free
 media used to culture animal cells, such as, for example, inorganic salts,
 glucose, sodium pyruvate, amino acids, bovine serum albumin (BSA), amines
 such as phosphoethanolamine and ethanolamine, vitamins, and hormones. This
 medium comprises, in addition, a new combination of some of its
 constituents, namely trace elements, vitamins consisting of vitamin C and
 retinoic acid, hormones consisting of triiodothyronine, dexamethasone,
 hydrocortisone, extract of bovine pituarity gland, insulin, epithelial
 growth factor (EGF) and transferrin.
 Another aspect of the invention relates to a new process for the
 immortalization of epithelial cells of the human colon, in which a culture
 of primary epithelial cells derived from the human colon is prepared, the
 culture is infected with a recombinant virus, and the immortalized cells
 are cultured in the serum-free culture medium described above.
 Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for identifying the
 mutagenic, toxic or beneficial effect of an agent on the metabolism of the
 cells of the intestinal tract, in which (1) an agent suspected of being a
 mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agent for the metabolism of the cells of
 the intestinal tract is reacted, cultured or brought into contact with a
 culture comprising a cell line described above, and (2) the effects of the
 said agent on the said cell line are determined or measured.
 The invention also relates to a diagnostic kit comprising the immortalized
 epithelial cells of the human colon described above, the culture medium
 described above, and the reagents for determining a metabolic response of
 the said cells to mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agents.
 Finally, the subject of the invention is also any uses of the cell lines
 described above, in processes for the identification of mutagenic, toxic
 or beneficial agents for the metabolism of the cells of the intestinal
 tract, as well as any uses of the said lines as an active pharmaceutical
 agent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Within the framework of the present invention, the expressions "normal
 cells", "primary cells" or "non-immortalized cells" designate epithelial
 cells of the human colon which can be collected from the colon of a
 healthy adult not having crippling physiological or genetic deficiencies,
 and which can be cultured for a limited time without losing their original
 differentiation characteristics.
 On the other hand, the expression "immortalized cells" designates cells
 which have undergone a genetic manipulation, by means of a DNA construct,
 which makes them capable of multiplying indefinitely, that is to say at
 more than 60 passages. The cancer cells selected by Stauffer et al., or
 the lines CaCO-2 and HT29 are thus not considered as cells which have been
 immortalized according to the present invention.
 Likewise, the word "passage" designates the process consisting in taking an
 aliquot of a confluent culture of a cell line, in inoculating into fresh
 medium, and in culturing the line until confluence or saturation is
 obtained. The cell lines are thus traditionally cultured by successive
 passages in fresh media. It should be noted that the cell lines may loose
 their original differentiation characteristics after several successive
 passages. It is therefore extremely advantageous to be able to have a line
 whose characteristics are conserved even after numerous passages,
 preferably at least 60 passages.
 Finally, the expression "original differentiation characteristics"
 designates both the markers found specifically on the human epithelial
 cells and the differentiation markers found specifically on the human
 colon epithelial cells.
 The immortalized human colon epithelial cell lines according to the
 invention do not express tumour markers, that is to say do not have
 carcinogenic mutations or do not express messenger RNAs (mRNAs), or
 differentiated cellular structure and/or proteins characteristic of the
 transformation of the cells into tumour cells. The presence of these
 markers may be detected by hybridization or RT-PCR of MRNA with specific
 radiolabeled probes, for example. The presence of a marker in a cell does
 not mean that the said cell is capable of conferring a cancer, after a few
 months, on a mouse without immune defence, but rather reflects a
 tumorigenic transformed state of the cells compared with the original
 cells from which they are derived.
 Preferably, the line according to the present invention does not have the
 p53 mutation (Lavigeur et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 9, 3982-3991, 1989;
 Donehower et al., Nature, 356, 215-221, 1992), the carcinoma embryonic
 antigen (CEA; Stauffer et al.), and/or mutation in the APC gene
 (adenomatous polyposis coli; Hargest et al., Gut,37, 826-829, 1995).
 The epithelial cell lines according to the invention express, on the other
 hand, metabolic markers specific for normal human epithelial cells. These
 markers may be a messenger RNA (mRNA), a protein, and/or a differentiated
 cellular structure, which is generally found only in the majority of the
 human epithelial cells, capable of being derived from the skin, the eye,
 the intestinal tract, or the liver, for example. The human epithelial
 cells according to the invention may therefore express at least two
 markers found in different types of epithelial cells. Preferably, the
 cells according to the invention express the said markers chosen from the
 group formed by at least cytokeratins, connections between the cells (also
 called "tight junctions"), intestine alkaline phosphatase, cytochromes
 P450, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), quinone reductase (QR),
 Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP) and catalase
 (CA).
 The lines according to the invention may therefore express enzymes involved
 in cellular oxidation (SOD, GP and CA) and/or the detoxification of
 electrophiles (GST and QR). These lines are therefore particularly adapted
 to the study of the phenomena of inflammations or irritations of the
 mucous membranes of the human colon.
 The cell lines according to the invention also express metabolic
 differentiation markers which are specific for the non-immortalized
 epithelial cells of the human colon. These markers may be an mRNA, a
 protein, or a differentiated cellular structure which is found only in the
 epithelial cells of the colon. Preferably, the lines according to the
 invention express, as metabolic differentiation marker, at least two
 markers chosen from the group formed by surface villosities, sucrose
 isomaltase, class II major histocompatibility complexes which are specific
 to colon epithelial cells, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV.
 Likewise, the lines according to the invention preferably express the
 HLA-DR and HLA-DP antigens of the class II major histocompatibility
 complexes (MHC II), and do not express the HLA-DQ antigen, in the presence
 of human gamma-interferon (expression of HLA-DQ has been associated with
 tumorigenicity).
 The lines according to the invention should also be capable of adhering in
 vitro the Lactobacillus johnsonii strain CNCM-I-1225. For that, a culture
 of lactic acid bacterium simply has to be spread over a confluent culture
 of a line according to the invention, the confluent culture washed and
 then the number of bacteria adhering to the villosities of the said lines
 measured. Preferably, a line according to the invention is capable of
 adhering in vitro the strain of lactic acid bacterium CNCM-I-1225 at the
 rate of at least 80 bacteria per 100 colon cells according to the
 invention, especially 80-200.
 The lines according to the invention should also be capable of adhering in
 vitro to Clostridium difficile and/or to other adherent lactic bacteria,
 like bifidobacteria, in particulare the bifidobacteria described in
 Applied Env. Microb., 59, 4121-4128, 1993 and in EP577904 (Nestle), which
 have been deposited at the Pasteur Institut, Paris, France, where they
 received the deposit numbers CNCM I-1226, CNCM I-1227 and CNCM I-1228,
 respectively.
 The lines according to the invention should also be capable of expressing
 many cytokines, after being in contact with an inflammation agent, notably
 cytokines IL-1.beta., IL-1Ra, TNF.alpha., IL-6 and IL-8, for instance.
 The invention also relates in particular to an immortalized line according
 to the invention which has been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung Von
 Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124
 Braunschweig, Germany, on Apr. 16, 1996, where it received the deposit
 number DSM ACC2258.
 The human colon epithelial lines according to the invention advantageously
 conserve their original differentiation characteristics even after
 numerous passages, especially at least 40-80 passages. There may be noted
 however, after the 40th passage, or even before, a change in the karyotype
 of the lines following the loss of fragments of chromosomes. However,
 these lines generally conserve as for even the same intact set of each
 pair of chromosomes, which allows them to also conserve the expression of
 their original differentiation characteristics.
 Another aspect of the present invention relates to a serum-free culture
 medium adapted to the culture and to the immortalization of epithelial
 cells of the human colon according to the invention. This culture medium
 is particularly adapted to maintain indefinitely, during successive
 passages, the original differentiation characteristics of the lines
 according to the invention. If other culture media are used, the lines
 according to the invention could thus loose their original differentiation
 characteristics following a few successive passages, for example 5-10
 passages. This medium is also essential for successfully immortalizing
 lines according to the invention. The suppression of one of its
 characteristic constituents thus generally leads to the failure of the
 immortalization of epithelial cells of the colon according to the
 invention.
 This medium may comprise all the constituents usually found in serum-free
 animal cell culture media, namely inorganic salts, glucose, a buffer
 (HEPES, for example: Biofluids), sodium pyruvate, amino acids, BSA,
 phosphorlyethanorlamine, ethanolamine, vitamins, and hormones, for
 example. Commercial culture media, such as the DMEM medium (Biofluids
 Inc., USA) may thus serve as base for the preparation of this medium.
 The novelty of the medium according to the invention lies in a new
 combination of some of its constituents, whereas the other compounds
 usually necessary may vary within the limits known to persons skilled in
 the art. These essential constituents are trace elements, vitamins
 consisting of vitamin C and retinoic acid, and hormones consisting of
 triiodothyronine, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, bovine pituary gland
 extract, insulin, EGF and transferrin.
 This culture medium may thus comprise 1-100 nM trace elements, 10-1000 nM
 retinoic acid, 10-1000 nM triiodothyronine (T3), 0.1-50 nM dexamethasone,
 1-100 nM hydrocortisone, 1-100 .mu.g/ml of vitamin C, 1-100 .mu.g/ml of
 bovine pituary gland extract, 0.1-50 .mu.g/ml of insulin, 0.1-50 ng/ml of
 EGF and 0.1-100 .mu.g/ml of transferrin.
 Among the trace elements, there may be chosen the compounds chosen from the
 group formed by selenium, manganese, silicate, molybdenum, vanadium,
 nickel, tin, and their salts, for example.
 Among the inorganic salts usually included in the medium, there may be
 chosen salts form the group formed by sodium chloride, potassium chloride,
 potassium sulphate, calcium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate, sodium
 bicarbonate, ferric nitrite, ammonium metevanadate, ammonium molybdate,
 cupric sulphate, magnesium chloride, manganese chloride, nickel sulphate,
 sodium acetate, sodium pyruvate, sodium selenite, sodium silicate, tin
 chloride, and zinc sulphate, for example.
 In particular, care may be taken so that the medium contains less than 80
 .mu.M of calcium in the form of inorganic salts, so as to inhibit the
 development of contaminating fibroblasts. However, calcium concentration
 can be raised to 1 mM, which was necessary for some experiments
 (polarisation, expression of thigh junction proteins, etc.). After several
 passages, there is no further risk to propagate fibroblasts, which might
 be early contaminants due to the processing of primary cells.
 Likewise, among the other vitamins usually included in the medium, there
 may be chosen other vitamins chosen from the group formed by calcium
 D-pantothenate, choline chloride, folic acid, inositol, nicotinamide,
 pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, biotin and cyanocobalamin, for example.
 Finally, a culture medium which makes it possible to successfully obtain
 lines according to the invention preferably has the composition B50
 defined in Table 1 below.
 Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for the
 immortalization of epithelial cells of the human colon, in which a culture
 of primary epithelial cells derived from the human colon is prepared, the
 culture is infected with a recombinant virus, the immortalized cells are
 cultured in the serum-free culture medium described above.
 Before that, the following steps are preferably used:
 (1) a sample of epithelial tissues of a human colon is obtained;
 (2) this sample is prepared for the purpose of its culture in vitro;
 (3) the epithelial cells are inoculated into a serum-free culture medium
 and on culture plates comprising a coating which facilitates the
 attachment of the cells and their growth;
 (4) the medium is changed as many times as necessary in order to optimize
 the confluent growth;
 (5) the cells are infected with a recombinant virus;
 (6) and the immortalized cells are cultured in the serum-free culture
 medium described above.
 In greater detail, stage 1) relates to the obtaining of samples of colon
 cells from normal individuals during surgical acts on the intestinal
 tract. In stage 2), the sample may be washed in the culture medium, cut
 into pieces, and the epithelial part separated from other tissues by
 physical and/or chemical means. For example, the pieces of tissue may be
 placed in a solution comprising about 0.5% trypsin and 0.1% EDTA for a
 time sufficient to achieve separation of the cells, and then a trypsin
 inhibitor added for a few minutes, and finally culture medium, preferably
 that described above, is added.
 In stage 3), the epithelial cells may be inoculated on plates in a
 serum-free culture medium, preferably that described above. The culture
 plates preferably have a coating consisting of a solution of fibronectin,
 BSA and type 1 collagen (see Lechner et al., J. Tissue Cult. Meth., 9,
 43-48,1985).
 In stage 4), the culture medium containing the epithelial cells is changed
 as many times as necessary so as to optimize a confluent growth.
 Preferably, the medium is replaced every two days. After having reached a
 confluence of the order of 90% of the available surface area, which
 generally occurs 10 days after the inoculation, the cells are separated by
 treatments in solutions of trypsin and EDTA.
 The separated cells are transferred in stage 5) into an infection medium,
 for example that described above, on culture plates preferably having the
 coating described above. The cells are then infected in a conventional
 manner with a recombinant virus. Numerous transfection techniques are
 available to persons skilled in the art. By way of example, there may be
 mentioned the techniques described in WO96/07750, by Claudia Chen et al.
 (Mol. and Cell. Biol., 7, 2745-2752, 1987) or by Wilson et al. (Analytical
 Biochemistry, 226, 212-220, 1995).
 Preferably, a recombinant SV40 virus comprising the T Antigen (T-Ag), an
 inactivated virus replication origin (MuLV retrovirus), and a selectable
 gene are used. By way of example, the construct presented in FIG. 1, whose
 sequence is available in the GeneBank data bank (accession No. M64753;
 Stockshlaeder et al., Human Gen. Therapy, 2, 33-39, 1991), may thus be
 used. Other appropriate vectors may also be easily constructed by persons
 skilled in the art from commercially available vectors comprising, for
 example, the gene encoding T-Ag, a selectable gene and/or a human
 replication origin. By way of example, there may be mentioned the plasmids
 ATCC37460 and ATCC37640 which contain the gene encoding T-Ag.
 In stage 6), the epithelial cells are transferred into a fresh growth
 medium, on culture plates preferably comprising the coating described
 above.
 Knowing the new and original properties of the epithelial cell lines
 according to the invention, their application may be envisaged in
 immunological, pharmacological and toxicological studies
 The lines according to the invention are thus particularly adapted for
 screening mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agents for the metabolism of the
 cells of the intestinal tract, for example in a process in which (1) an
 agent suspected of being a mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agent for the
 metabolism of the cells of the intestinal tract is reacted, cultured or
 brought into contact with a culture comprising a cell line according to
 the invention, and (2) the effects of the said agent on the said cell line
 are determined or measured by monitoring the expression of known markers
 of mutagenic, toxic, or beneficial responses. For example, a toxic
 response such as inflamation may be monitored by measuring the level of
 cytokines produced by the culture after exposure to the agent (see Example
 1, section 8).
 It may therefore also be envisaged to prepare a diagnostic kit comprising
 the epithelial cells according to the invention, the culture medium
 according to the invention, and reagents for determining a metabolic
 response of the said cells to mutagenic, toxic or beneficial agents.
 The lines according to the invention are also adapted to the expression of
 recombinant proteins. The methods of transfection of foreign DNA are now
 well known to persons skilled in the art (see for example WO94/05472)
 The lines according to the invention also have a potential usefulness in
 gene therapy ex vivo. These lines might indeed constitute a suitable tool
 for developing recombinant cells expressing genes of interest for the
 purpose of a therapeutic application. One advantage additionally presented
 by the lines according to the invention is that they are not exposed to an
 animal serum, which considerably reduces the risks of potential
 contaminations by viruses or other pathogenic agents.
 The present invention is described in greater detail below with the aid of
 the additional description which follows, which refers to examples of
 preparations of cell lines according to the invention. These examples are
 preceded by a description of the culture media used, as well as a
 comparative example. It goes without saying, however, that these examples
 are given by way of illustration of the subject of the invention and do
 not in any way constitute a limitation thereto. The cell line culture, the
 preparation of SV40 vectors, the transfection and the analysis of the
 expressions of the markers are, unless otherwise stated, carried out
 according to the procedures described in the manual by Sambrook et al.
 (Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
 Press, U.S.A., 1989). The percentages are given by weight, unless
 otherwise indicated.
 TABLE 1
 Culture media:
 Constituents Medium A50 Medium B50
 INORGANIC
 SALTS
 NaCl 6.400 g/l 6.400 g/l
 KCl 0.400 g/l 0.400 g/l
 MgSO.sub.4 -7H.sub.2 O 0.200 g/l 0.200 g/l
 CaCl.sub.2 0.200 g/l 0.200 g/l
 NaH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 -H.sub.2 O 0.13 g/l 0.13 g/l
 NaHCO.sub.3 3.7 g/l 3.7 g/l
 Fe(NO.sub.3).sub.2 -9H.sub.2 O 0.0001 g/l 0.0001 g/l
 OTHER
 COMPOUNDS
 Glucose 4.50 g/l 4.50 g/l
 Hepes 20 mM 20 mM
 Phenol Red 0.010 g/l 0.110 g/l
 Sodium Pyruvate 0.110 g/l 0.110 g/l
 BSA 0.3% 0.3%
 PE 0.5 .mu.M 0.5 .mu.M
 AMINO ACIDS
 L-Arginine/HCl 0.0840 g/l 0.0840 g/l
 L-Cystine 0.0480 g/l 0.0480 g/l
 L-Glutamine -- 2 mM
 Glycine 0.0300 g/l 0.0300 g/l
 L-Histidine- 0.0420 g/l 0.0420 g/l
 HCl-H.sub.2 O
 L-Isoleucine 0.1048 g/l 0.1048 g/l
 L-Leucine 0.1048 g/l 0.1048 g/l
 L-Lysine-HCl 0.1462 g/l 0.1462 g/l
 L-Methionine 0.0300 g/l 0.0300 g/l
 L-Phenylalanine 0.0660 g/l 0.0660 g/l
 L-Serine 0.0420 g/l 0.0420 g/l
 L-Threonine 0.0952 g/l 0.0952 g/l
 L-Tryptophan 0.0160 g/l 0.0160 g/l
 L-Tyrosine 0.0720 g/l 0.0720 g/l
 L-Valine 0.0936 g/l 0.0936 g/l
 VITAMINS
 Co-D-Pantothenate 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Choline Chloride 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Folic acid 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Inositol 0.008 g/l 0.008 g/l
 Nicotinamide 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Pyridoxine-HCl 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Riboflavin 0.0004 g/l 0.0004 g/l
 Thiamine-HCl 0.004 g/l 0.004 g/l
 Vitamin C -- 0.030 g/l
 Retinoic acid 10 nM 100 nM
 Trace elements -- 10 nM
 HORMONES
 Insulin 0.005 g/l 0.005 g/l
 EGF 1 ng/ml 1 ng/ml
 Transferrin 0.005 g/l 0.005 g/l
 T3 -- 100 nM
 Dexamethasone -- 1 nM
 Hydrocortisone -- 10 nM
 Bovine pituitary -- 0.038 g/l
 extract
 ANTI-
 BACTERIAL
 Fungizone 0.25 .mu.g/ml 0.25 .mu.g/ml
 Penicillin 2.5 U/ml 2.5 U/ml
 Streptomycin 5 .mu.g/ml 5 .mu.g/ml
 Gentamycin 10 .mu.g/ml 10 .mu.g/ml
 (PE: mixture of phosphorylethanolamine and ethanolamine)
 Comparative Example
 The vector pLXSHD+SV40+ described by Stockshlaeder et al. (GeneBank,
 accession No. M64753; Stockshlaeder et al., Human Gen. Therapy, 2, 33-39),
 which is represented in FIG. 1, and which comprises the gene encoding the
 large T antigen, the psi gene, the selectable marker histidinol
 dehydrogenase (HSD), and the LTR promoter, is used.
 The SV40 viruses are prepared according to a modified version of the Lynch
 and Miller procedure (J. Virol., 65, 3887-3890, 1991). For that, the
 ecotropic cell lines Psi2 (Mann et al., Cell, 33,153-159, 1983) and the
 amphotropic cell lines 17 (ATCC CRL9078) are cultured in the DMEM
 medium (Dulbecco, USA) comprising 10% foetal calf serum, at 37.degree. C.
 and under an atmosphere comprising 5% CO.sub.2. These lines are
 conventionally transfected separately using 250 mM CaCl.sub.2 and 10 .mu.g
 of the vector the vector pLXSHD+SV40+, they are subjected to a treatment
 with trypsin after 48 h of incubation, they are mixed in an equal
 quantity, and the whole is incubated at 37.degree. C., under an atmosphere
 comprising 5% CO.sub.2. After growing up to 70% confluence, the viruses
 are harvested in the serum-free medium PC-1 (Ventrex, USA). After
 filtration (0.45 .mu.m, Micropore), the quantity of virus is determined on
 NIH 3T3 cells (ATCC CRL 1658).
 Primary cells of the colon were obtained following biopsy on a 69-year old
 woman due to the appearance of a sigmoid diverticulum. The sample is
 washed in the DMEM culture medium, it is cut into pieces, the epithelial
 part is separated from the other tissues, the epithelial cells on plates
 are inoculated into the DMEM medium. The culture plates were preincubated
 in a 500 ml solution comprising 5 mg of human fibronectin (Sigma), 5 ml of
 Vitrogen 100 (Collagen Corp. Palo Alto, Calif., USA) 50 ml of a 0.1% BSA
 solution (Biofluids ) and the remainder of the DMEM medium. The culture
 medium containing the epithelial cells is changed as many times as
 necessary in order to optimize a confluent growth.
 After having reached a confluence of the order of 90% after 1 week of
 culture, the cells are conventionally separated by treatments in solutions
 of trypsin and EDTA. The cells separated are transferred onto culture
 plates having the coating described above, and in the A50 medium described
 above.
 The cultures are then infected in the presence of 8 .mu.g/ml of polybrene
 and a high recombinant SV40 virus titre (10.sup.5 -10.sup.7 CFU)
 comprising the T Antigen (T-Ag) prepared as described above. After 2 h of
 incubation, the cultures are washed in PBS and the A50 fresh growth medium
 is added.
 The cells unfortunately subsequently exhibit a growth which is so slow that
 it proves impossible to select a clone having a growth comparable to that
 of epithelial cells of the human colon.
 EXAMPLE 1
 The epithelial cells of the human colon are infected as described in the
 comparative example above, the only difference being that the A50 medium
 is replaced with the B50 medium described in Table 1 above.
 After 2 h of incubation with the virus, the cultures are washed in PBS, the
 B50 fresh growth medium is added and the cells are cultured by successive
 passages in fresh B50 medium, being careful at each passage to separate
 the cells by a treatment in a solution comprising 0.02% trypsin, 1%
 polyvinyl-pyrolidine and 0.02% ethylene glycol in the HEPES buffer
 (Biofluids).
 By observing the size of the cell colonies which develop on the culture
 plates, those which develop rapidly are selected. It was thus possible to
 select 6 human epithelial colon immortalized cell lines, of which one was
 deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung Von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen
 (DSM), Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany, on Apr. 16,
 1996, where it received the deposit number DSM ACC2258.
 1. Analysis of the karyotype of the strain DSM ACC2258.
 4 karyotypes of the DSM ACC2258 strain taken at the 40th passage are
 prepared (method described in the manual "Human cytogenetics, Edts: Rooney
 DE, Czepulkowski BH, IRL Press, Oxford, 1986", incorporated by reference).
 The results show that 6 different chromosomes were lost or damaged. The
 line therefore conserves intact in its genome a chromosome of each pair of
 chromosomes. The sex of the line is XO/XX. It should be noted that the
 loss of one set of a chromosome is not a sign of a tumorigenic
 transformation of the said line.
 2. Tumourigenicity of the strain DSM ACC2258
 10.sup.7 cells of the DSM ACC2258 line, taken at the 46th passages, are
 injected into mice without immune defence ("nude") according to the
 procedure described by Stauffer et al. (above). No tumour formation is
 visible after more than 8 months. The non-tumourigenicity of the lines is
 not a sign of a non-tumorigenic transformation of the said line. Indeed,
 by way of example, the NMC456 line described by Stauffer et al. does not
 induce tumours in nude mice, although it expresses tumour markers
 characteristic of its tumorigenic transformation.
 3. Expression of tumour markers in the DSM ACC2258 line
 It is determined according to the procedure described by Stauffer et al.
 whether the DSM ACC2258 line expresses the following tumour markers: the
 p-53 mutation, the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mutation in the
 adenoma colyposis coli (APC) gene.
 The results are negative for all these markers, which indicates a state of
 non-tumorigenic transformation of the line.
 4. Viral contamination of the DSM ACC2258 line
 It is determined whether the DSM ACC2258 line is contaminated by the
 hepatitis C virus (HCV), the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the AIDS virus
 (HIV-1).
 For the analysis of HBV, DNA is extracted from about 2.times.10.sup.6 cells
 by treating with phenol and chloroform solutions followed by a
 precipitation in ethanol. DNA samples are then subjected to a PCR
 amplification using primers specific for the pre-core region of the virus
 (Lynch et al., J. Virol., 65, 3887-3890). The amplification products are
 then separated on an agarose gel, and they are visualized under UV in the
 presence of ethidium bromide. For comparison, a dilution of a serum
 containing 10-10.sup.5 HBV (Anawa Biomedical Services 6 Product, USA) is
 analysed in the same manner, in parallel.
 For the analysis of HIV- 1, DNA samples described above are subjected to a
 PCR amplification using primers specific for the GAG region of the virus.
 The amplification products are then separated on an agarose gel, and they
 are visualized under UV in the presence of ethidium bromide. For
 comparison, a dilution of a serum containing 10-10.sup.5 HIV-1 (Anawa
 Biomedical Services 6 Product, USA) is analysed in the same manner, in
 parallel.
 For the analysis of HCV, the RNA is extracted from about 2.times.10.sup.6
 cells by the method of Chomczynski et al. (Anal. Biochem., 162, 156-159,
 1987). A reverse transcription is carried out conventionally, and the
 complementary DNA obtained is subjected to a PCR amplification using
 primers specific for the non-coding 5' region of the virus. The
 amplification products are then separated on an agarose gel, and they are
 visualized under UV in the presence of ethidium bromide. For comparison, a
 dilution of a serum containing 10-10.sup.5 HCV (Anawa Biomedical Services
 6 Product, USA) is analysed in the same manner, in parallel.
 The results are negative for the presence of the 3 viruses.
 5. Expression of markers specific for the human epithelial cells
 5.a. Cytokeratins: The cells of a culture of the DSM ACC2258 line are
 attached onto glass plates by a 100% cold methanol solution, and then the
 plates are washed in a buffer comprising 0.05M Tris pH 8.6, 1.8% NaCl and
 0.2% polyethylene glycol 2000 (TNP buffer). The cells are then incubated
 for 30 min in the presence of mouse antibodies specific for certain
 cytokeratins (anti-CH peptide 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, Sigma,
 USA). After 3 washes in the TNP buffer comprising 0.5% BSA, the plates are
 incubated for 30 min with a goat anti-mouse IgG antibody comprising an
 immunofluorescent compound (1:300, FITC goat anti-mouse IgG; Biosys).
 After 3 washes in the preceding buffer, the plates are fixed and they are
 analysed by fluorescence microscopy. All the cells are positive for the
 cytokeratins 7, 8 and 17.
 5.b. Vimentin: In the same manner as for the analysis of the cytokeratins,
 the fixed cells described above are subjected to a mouse anti-vimentin
 antibody (DAKO, USA), and then to the goat anti-mouse IgG antibody
 mentioned above. By fluorescence microscopy, all the cells are positive
 for vimentin.
 5.c. Connections between the cells (tight junctions): The cells of the DSM
 ACC2258 line are cultured on a glass plate until they become confluent,
 they are fixed by treatment with a 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution in a 0.1 M
 phosphate buffer pH 7.4 for 1 h, at room temperature. After two washes in
 the same phosphate buffer, the cells are again fixed in a 2% OsO.sub.4
 solution in the same buffer. The cells are then dehydrated in successive
 solutions of ethanol at 30, 50, 70, 90 and 100% (Polaron Equipment Ltd.,
 Watford, UK), and then the cells are recovered by a fine gold layer (SEM
 coating unit E5100, Polaron), The cells are then examined by electron
 microscopy (Philips 505 SEM). The analysis shows that the cells have
 intercellular connections which are characteristic of the epithelial
 cells.
 5.d. Alkaline phosphatase: The alkaline phosphatase activity of the cells
 of the DSM ACC2258 line is determined with the aid of the Sigma commercial
 kit which reproduces the method described by Dahlquist et al. (Analytical
 Biochemistry, 22, 99-107, 1968). The results presented in FIG. 2 show that
 the cells of the DSM ACC2258 line (Oc11, Oc12, Oc14) express a phosphatase
 activity comparable to that of the human colon epithelial cancer cells
 CaCO-2, but greater than human colon epithelial cancer cells HT-29. The
 results C, Q, D, H, P relate to other human colon epithelial lines
 presented in Example 2.
 5.e. Cytochrome P450: The expression of cytochromes by the cells of the DSM
 ACC2258 line is analysed with the aid of the known RT-PCR technique using
 DNA primers specific for the different cytochromes P450. These primers
 were conventionally prepared from the DNA sequence of the different
 cytochromes available on the GeneBank data base (CYP1A1: accession No.
 X02612; CYP2C: accession No. M61855 or M61858 or M61856 or MM61854;
 CYP2D6: accession No. M33388; CYP2E1: accession No. J02843; CYP3A5:
 accession No. J04813; CYP1A2: accession No. Z00036; CYP2A6: accession No.
 M33318; CYP2B6: accession No. M29874).
 For that, the cells are cultured until they become confluent on 35 mm
 dishes (Costar), the RNA is extracted with the aid of the RNAeasy kit
 (Qiagen), a reverse transcription is performed (1st Strand cDNA Synthesis
 Kit for RT-PCR, Boehringer Mannheim), the complementary DNA obtained is
 subjected to a PCR amplification using DNA primers specific for the
 different cytochromes P450, the amplification products are then separated
 on an agarose gel, and they are visualized under UV in the presence of
 ethidium bromide.
 The results show that the cells express cytochromes CYP1A1, CYP2C, CYP2D6,
 CYP2E1 and CYP3A5. On the other hand, the cells are negative for the
 cytochromes CYP1A2, CYP2A6 and CYP2B6. The expression of cytochrome CYP3A5
 is also confirmed by western-blot analysis of a protein extract of the DSM
 ACC2258 cells with the aid of an anti-CYP3A5 polyclonal antibody (Oxygene,
 USA)
 5.f. Enzymes involved in the cellular oxidation and the detoxification of
 electrophiles: The cells of the DSM ACC2258 line are cultured, the RNA is
 extracted by the Chomczynski et al. method (Anal. Biochem., 162, 156-159,
 1987), DNA probes are prepared from the DNA sequences of the
 Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP), catalase
 (CA), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and quinone reductase (QR), which
 are available on the GeneBank data base (GST: accession No. X08058; GP:
 accession No. M21304; CA: accession No. M81578; SOD: accession No. 729336;
 QR: accession No. M81596.sub.-- 600), and then a Northern-blot is
 performed on the RNA with these probes to confirm the transcription of
 these enzymes.
 The results show that all the cells express a transcription of the genes
 encoding the SOD, GP, CA, GST and QR activity. The DSM ACC2258 line
 therefore expresses enzymes involved in the cellular oxidation and the
 detoxification of electrophiles.
 6. Expression of markers specific for the epithelial cells of the human
 colon
 6.a. Surface villosities: As described in point 5.c above, the analysis by
 electron microscopy of the cells clearly show the presence of short
 villosities at the pole opposite that which adheres to the support.
 6.b. Sucrose isomaltase: Sucrose-isomaltase is specific for the epithelial
 cells of the human colon. The presence of sucrose-isomaltase can be
 demonstrated at the level of the messenger RNA by the RT-PCR technique
 described above in point 5.e, after exposing a confluent culture of DSM
 ACC2258 cells for 48 h to 1 ng/ml of human recombinant TGF-.beta. (Becton
 Dickinson). The DNA primers are conventionally prepared from the DNA
 sequence of the sucrose-isomaltase gene available on the GeneBank data
 base (accession No. X63597 S41833 S41836).
 6.c. Dipeptidylpeptidase IV: DPPIV is specific for the epithelial cells of
 the human colon. Its presence can be demonstrated at the level of the
 messenger RNA by the RT-PCR technique described above in point 5.e. The
 DNA primers are conventionally prepared from the DNA sequence of the DPPIV
 gene accessible on the GeneBank data base (accession No. U13710-35).
 6.d. Class II major histocompatibility complex: The epithelial cells of the
 colon can express the class II major histocompatibility complex (HLA
 antigens) in the presence of y-interferon (.gamma.-IFN). For that, the DSM
 ACC2258 cells are cultured in the B50 medium, in the presence of 100 U/ml
 of recombinant .gamma.-IFN (Boehringer Mannheim) at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of
 culture. The cells are separated by a solution comprising 0.025% trypsin
 and EDTA (Gibco Life Technologie, USA), and they are incubated in the
 presence of antibodies specific for the HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ antigens
 (Becton-Dickinson, USA), and they are separated using a flow cytometer
 (FACS can, Becton-Dickinson).
 The results presented in FIG. 3 show an expression of the HLA-DP antigen
 from 12 h of culture, with increasing concentrations at 24 and 48 h. The
 expression of HLA-DR is observed after 24 h of culture with maximum
 concentrations at 36 and 48 h. On the other hand, the HLA-DQ antigen is
 not induced, which confirms the observations made on the primary
 epithelial cells of the colon (Mayer et al.).
 7. Adhesion to microorganisms
 7.a. Adhesion to the strain of bacterium CNCM-I-1225: The human intestine
 is colonized by numerous non-pathogenic bacteria, among which there are
 the lactobacilli and the bifido bacteria, some of which are capable of
 adhering to the villosities of the intestinal mucous membrane. The
 Lactobacillus johnsonii strain CNCM-I-1225, known to strongly adhere to
 the epithelial cells of the intestinal tract (EP577904; Bernet et al.), is
 thus cultured for 12 h in an MRS medium (Man, Rogosa and Sharpe, Biokar)
 comprising 100 .mu.C of .sup.3 H-adenine, in the absence of oxygen.
 The DSM ACC2258 cells are cultured for 2 weeks until they become confluent,
 and then they are incubated for 1 h at 37.degree. C. with the 12-h MRS
 medium described above, or a fresh MRS medium or a phosphate buffer pH 6.5
 comprising 4.times.10.sup.8 cells per ml derived from the 12-h MRS culture
 described above. The DSM ACC2258 cells are washed 3 times with PBS, they
 are lysed with a 1 M NaOH solution, then the radioactive intensity
 released by the cells is measured with the aid of a scintillation counter.
 For comparison, the strain CaCO-2 is cultured in the same manner as
 described above, it is incubated with the strain CNCM I-1225 and the
 radioactive intensity released by the cells is measured.
 The results presented in Table 2 below show that the DSM ACC2258 cells are
 capable of adhering the CNCM I-1225 bacteria, as well as the CaCO-2 cells.
 It can also be noted that the culture of the 12-h LA-1 strain manifestly
 contains factors which promote the adhesion of the bacteria. Indeed, the
 fresh MRS medium to which bacteria were added exhibits a lower adhesion
 level. Furthermore, it can be observed that a pH of 6.5, which is similar
 to that found in the intestinal tract in vivo, also promotes the adhesion
 of the bacteria, when a comparison is made with the adhesion level
 obtained with the fresh MRS medium having a pH of the order of 5.
 TABLE 2
 Cell line Incubation conditions % .sup.3 H-adenine
 DSM ACC2258 12-h MRS 30.2
 Fresh MRS 11.8
 Buffer pH 6.5 13.03
 CaCo-2 12-h MRS 34.8
 Fresh MRS 6.1
 Buffer pH 6.5 8.3
 The capacity of the DSM ACC2258 line has to retain the bacteria CNCM I-1225
 is also measured according to the method described by Bemet et al. (Gut,
 35, 483-489, 1994). In short, the number of bacteria which adhere to 100
 colon cells is determined visually. For that, a 12-h MRS culture medium,
 or a fresh MRS medium comprising 4.times.10.sup.8 cells per ml derived
 from this 12-h MRS culture, is used. Furthermore, the analysis is carried
 out on three preparations, and 20 micrographs taken at random in each
 preparation are used.
 For comparison, the capacity of the CaCO-2 line has to retain the bacteria
 CNCM I-1225 is also measured in the same manner.
 The results presented in the Table below shows that the line is capable of
 retaining a significant number of bacteria. It can also be noted that the
 culture of the 12-h LA-1 strain manifestly contains factors which promote
 the adhesion of the bacteria. Indeed, the fresh MRS medium to which
 bacteria were added does not make it possible to obtain such a high
 adhesion level.
 TABLE 3
 Incubation
 Cell line conditions No./100 cells Standart deviation
 DSM ACC2258 12-h MRS 118 7
 Fresh MRS 13 4
 CaCo-2 12-h MRS 124 13
 Fresh MRS 9 4
 7.b adhesion to Clostridium difficile and/or adherent bifidobacteria: The
 capacity of the DSM ACC2258 line has to retain the bacteria Clostridium
 difficile and adherent bifidobacteria described in Applied Env. Microb.,
 59, 4121-4128, 1993 and in EP577904 (Nestle) has been also analysed. The
 results shows that the line is also capable of retaining a significant
 number of each bacteria.
 8. Cytokines expression: The expression of cytokines by the cells of the
 DSM ACC2258 line, in presence or absence of an infammation agent, is
 analysed with the aid of the known RT-PCR technique using DNA primers
 specific for different cytokines. These primers were conventionally
 prepared from the DNA sequence of the different cytokines available on the
 GeneBank data base (accession number: TNF.alpha.: X02910; IL-1.beta.:
 M15840; IL-6: M14584; IL-8: M28130; IL-ra: M97748). Induction of
 inflammation was carried out by incubation of the line with 1 mM histamine
 or 20 ng/ml TPA during 24 h.
 For comparison, same analysis were carried out with a normal colon tissue,
 HT-29 and CaCO-2 tumorigenic cell lines. The results are presented in
 Table 4 below.
 TABLE 4
 colon tissue DSM ACC2258 HT-29 CaCO-2
 mRNA non-induced non-induced/induced non-induced/induced
 non-induced/induced
 IL-1.beta. + + ++ - ++ - +
 IL-ra - - + + ++ - +
 TNF.alpha. - + ++ + ++ + ++
 IL-6 + + ++ + ++ + ++
 IL-8 - + ++ + ++ + ++
 EXAMPLE 2
 The other immortalized human epithelial colon cell lines developed in
 Example 1 exhibit characteristics similar to those described above for the
 DSM ACC2258 strain. By way of example, the alkaline phosphatase activity
 of 5 other lines called C, Q, D, H, P are presented in FIG. 2.