Karyotype of the human insulinoma CM cell line--beta cell model in vitro?

The CM cell line is derived from a human pancreatic insulinoma and is used as a beta cell model for the study of the pathogenesis of diabetes, as it appears to maintain the characteristics of beta cells. However, a karyotype study of the CM cell line was not previously performed. We aimed at karyotyping the CM cell line to confirm its human origin, diploid karyotype, and chromosomal structure. We karyotyped the CM cells at earlier passages with the standard Giemsa technique. The karyotyping procedure confirmed the human origin of the CM cell line. However, the karyotype showed 64 chromosomes with structural abnormalities, including chromosome 11, in which the insulin gene is located. Our Medline search of other existing insulinoma cell lines of rodent, mouse and hamster origin did not show any karyotype performed. As the CM cell karyotype reveals significant structural and numerical chromosomal abnormalities, we question the use of such a cell line as an in vitro beta cell model. We suggest that insulinoma cell lines established in vitro to study beta cell function should have a karyotype performed to exclude chromosomal aberrations.