# Establishment and Characterization of a New Cell Line from Enzootic Nasal Adenocarcinoma in Goats: ENA-1

## TL;DR

Researchers established and characterized a new goat cell line from nasal tumors, which could help study the disease's biology.

## Contribution

The first reported cell line from enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma in goats, ENA-1, with stable proliferation and tumorigenic properties.

## Key findings

- ENA-1 cells show strong proliferation and tumorigenicity in nude mice.
- Cells express CK7 and CK18 and carry ENTV-2 without contamination.
- ENA-1 retains tumor phenotypes and can be used as an in vitro model for ENA.

## Abstract

Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma is an infectious, chronic tumor disease of goats and sheep. Tumor cell lines are very important tools in tumor research. This manuscript describes the isolation, culture, and characterization of a new enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma cell line from goats. This is the first report about an enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma cell line. ENA-1 cells are stable in passaging, have strong proliferative potential and tumorigenicity in nude mice, express primitive tumor phenotypes, and carry enzootic nasal tumor virus.

Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA) is a contagious tumor disease of goats and sheep, which is caused by enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV). To better understand the pathogenesis of ENA, this study aimed to establish a goat ENA cell line (ENA-1). The cells have been characterized with regard to morphology, growth rate, ultrastructural features, chromosome number, expression of CK7 and CK18, tumorigenicity, species, and mycoplasma contamination. ENA-1 had an epithelioid cell morphology with an unstable chromosome number under a light microscope. Under an electron microscope, the cell nuclear heterogeneity was not obvious, and there were more intermediate filaments and a small number of immature retrovirus-like particles in the cytoplasm. ENA-1 had strong proliferative potential, and the cell multiplication time was about 36 h, which could make BALB/c nude mice develop tumors. CK7 and CK18 were expressed in the cytoplasm of primary goat tumors, in transplanted tumors from nude mice, and un ENA-1 cells with the same intensity. PCR revealed that ENA-1 continuously carried ENTV-2 up to the 17th generation with no germline contamination or mycoplasma contamination. In conclusion, using a serum-containing culture system, ENA-1 cells were successfully isolated, cultured, and purified from goat tumor tissues. The isolated ENA-1 cells retained robust proliferation potential and maintained their phenotype, indicating the potential application of the ENA-1 cell line as an in vitro model of ENA.