Immortalization of cells including neuronal cells

Abstract

The instant invention provides methods for immortalizing cells. The invention further provides immortalized cell lines, e.g., neuronal cell lines, and methods of using these cell lines in screening assays.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of producing immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell line comprising: introducing a plasmid comprising an SV40 large T-antigen into dorsal root ganglion cell; selecting dorsal root ganglion cells that contain the plasmid; introducing hTERT into the selected cells; and selecting for cells that contain hTERT; thereby producing immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal line. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein hTERT in introduced by a retrovirus. 
     
     
         31 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of identifying a modulator of pain, comprising: contacting an immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell of  claim 29 , with a candidate modulator; and determining if the candidate modulator is binds to and/or modulates the dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell; thereby identifying a modulator of pain. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell expresses markers of nociceptive dorsa root ganglion neurons. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  where the immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell expresses a capsaicin receptor, TRPV1, GDNF-receptor, NGF-receptor, or a sodium channel. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  where the immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell further comprises an oncogene and hTERT. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell the oncogene is selected from the group consisting of Ras, Myc, Raf, and large T-antigen. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the immortalized dorsal root ganglion neuronal cell comprises SV40 large T-antigen and hTERT.