The skin epithelial layer acts as an important immunological barrier against pathogens and is capable of recognizing and responding to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in human and mouse models. Although presumed, it is unknown whether amphibian skin epithelial cells exhibit the ability to respond to PAMPs such as viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). To address this, two cell lines from the dorsal skin (Xela DS2) and ventral skin (Xela VS2) of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) were established. Xela DS2 and Xela VS2 cells have an epithelial-like morphology, express genes associated with epithelial cells, and lack senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. Cells grow optimally in 70% Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum at 26 °C. Upon treatment with poly(I:C), a synthetic analogue of viral dsRNA and known type I interferon inducer, Xela DS2 and Xela VS2 exhibit marked upregulation of key antiviral and pro-inflammatory transcripts suggesting frog epithelial cells participate in the recognition of extracellular viral dsRNA and production of local inflammatory signals; similar to human and mouse models. Currently, these are the only known Xenopus laevis skin epithelial-like cell lines and will be important for future research in amphibian epithelial cell biology, initial host-pathogen interactions, and rapid screening of the effects of environmental stressors, including contaminants, on frog skin epithelial cells.

皮肤上皮层是抵御病原体的重要免疫屏障，能够识别人和小鼠模型中的病原体相关分子模式 (PAMP) 并对其做出反应。虽然推测，但尚不清楚两栖动物皮肤上皮细胞是否表现出对病毒双链 RNA (dsRNA) 等 PAMP 的反应能力。为了解决这个问题，来自非洲爪蛙（Xenopus laevis）背部皮肤（Xela DS2）和腹侧皮肤（Xela VS2）的两种细胞系) 成立。Xela DS2 和 Xela VS2 细胞具有上皮样形态，表达与上皮细胞相关的基因，并且缺乏与衰老相关的 β-半乳糖苷酶活性。细胞在 70% Leibovitz's L-15 培养基中在 26°C 下生长最佳，并辅以 15% 胎牛血清。用 poly(I:C)（病毒 dsRNA 的合成类似物和已知的 I 型干扰素诱导剂）处理后，Xela DS2 和 Xela VS2 表现出关键抗病毒和促炎转录本的显着上调，表明青蛙上皮细胞参与识别胞外病毒dsRNA 和局部炎症信号的产生；类似于人类和小鼠模型。目前，这些是唯一已知的非洲爪蟾 皮肤上皮样细胞系，对于未来两栖动物上皮细胞生物学、初始宿主-病原体相互作用以及环境压力源（包括污染物）对青蛙皮肤上皮细胞的影响的快速筛选具有重要意义。