A new fish cell line derived from the caudal fin of freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare: development and characterization.

In this study, a new cell line derived from the caudal fin of the freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare was developed and characterized. The cell line was designated angelfish fin (AFF) and subcultured 44 times since its development. These cells grew well in Leibovitz's -15 medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine saline (FBS) at 28° C and the modal chromosome number (2n) was 48. The AFF cell-line is mainly comprised of epithelial cells as confirmed by immunocytological technique using anti-cytokeratin antibodies, an epithelial cell marker. This cell line was tested for growth in a temperatures range from 20 to 37° C and at various FBS concentrations of 5-20% at 28° C. The cell line was cryopreserved at different passage levels and revived successfully with 80% survival rate. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of partial mitochondrial 16s rRNA and coI genes confirmed that the AFF cell-line originated from angelfish. Mycoplasma sp. contamination was not detected in AFF cells and checked by Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining. At the 42nd passage the cells were transfected with 2 μg of pAcGFP1-N1 expression vector. The AFF cells exhibited cytotoxic effects when exposed to the bacterial extra cellular products from Serratia marcescens and Proteus hauseri. The AFF cells and cells from kidney and brain did not show cytopathic effect when exposed to cyprinid herpes virus2 and viral nervous necrosis virus. The newly developed AFF cell line will be useful for the isolation of viruses affecting angelfishes, such as iridoviruses, in the future.