Biosafety classification is based on U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines, it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure that their facilities comply with biosafety regulations for their own country.
The cell line exhibits characteristics of alveolar Type II cells such as lipid-containing inclusion bodies (phosphine 3R staining and electron microscopy) and expression of cytokeratin 8 and 19; the cells do not express alkaline phosphatase activity.
Expression of several chemotactic cytokines by RLE-6TN cells was reported to be similar to that of primary cultures of alveolar Type II cells.
Although these cells appear negative for the SV40 antigen, they should be handled as potentially biohazardous material under at least Biosafety Level 2 containment.
Driscoll KE, et al. Establishment of immortalized alveolar type II epithelial cell lines from adult rats. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Anim. 31: 516-527, 1995. PubMed: 8528500
Driscoll KE, et al. Alpha-quartz-induced chemokine expression by rat lung epithelial cells: effects of in vivo and in vitro particle exposure. Am. J. Pathol. 149: 1627-1637, 1996. PubMed: 8909252
