Culture of mantle epithelial cells expressing shell matrix proteins from scallop Patinopecten yessoensis

In molluscs, mantle epithelial cells secrete organic matrix proteins to form shells. In this study, we established a culture of mantle epithelial cells by using the mantle pallial layer of scallops. We aimed to identify the mantle epithelial cells expressing scallop shell matrix proteins and establish a culture system of epithelial cells. After the mantle pallial layer was carefully isolated from the mantle tissue, explant culture was performed at 4°C. Most cells that migrated from the explant tissue were round cells. Most of the adhered cells retained round morphology, while some of the cells adhered to the dish and showed morphology similar to that of epithelial-like and fibroblast-like cells. When the cultured cells were immuno stained with a polyclonal antibody against the shell matrix protein, the antibody recognized many of the adhered cells. An estimation of the number of epithelial cells revealed that approximately 70% of the adhered cells were epithelial cells. This is the first report to describe epithelial cells in cultured mantle cells, which express shell matrix proteins. This culture system may be a useful method for characterization of the mantle epithelial cells.