THLE-2 Telomerase-immortalized Liver Epithelial-2 (THLE-2)

THLE-2 (Telomerase-immortalized Human Liver Epithelial-2) cells are a well-characterized, non-tumorigenic immortalized human hepatocyte cell line. They were developed by introducing the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene into primary human liver epithelial cells, enabling indefinite proliferation while retaining many characteristics of normal hepatocytes. THLE-2 cells exhibit epithelial morphology, express liver-specific markers such as albumin and cytokeratins, and maintain phase I and II drug-metabolizing enzyme activities, making them a valuable model for hepatotoxicity studies, drug metabolism research, and liver disease investigations.

Unlike tumor-derived liver cell lines (e.g., HepG2), THLE-2 cells lack cancerous mutations, providing a more physiologically relevant in vitro system. They are particularly useful for studying xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress responses, and chemical-induced liver injury. Additionally, THLE-2 cells can be genetically modified to investigate specific pathways involved in liver function and disease.