Defining the regulatory mechanisms promoting differentiation and proliferation of cementoblasts has not been well understood, because of the lack of cell models in vitro. To establish an in vitro cell model for the cementoblasts, extracted rat molars obtained from 8-week-old rats were used. Cells lining the root surface (cemetoblasts) were obtained by an enzymatic digestion method, and immediately immortalized by transfection of thermolabile SV40 T-antigen gene. The transfected cementum lining cell clones, RCM-C3 and -C4, were maintained for more than 200 population doublings (PD), while the original cells stopped their growth at 60 PD. Thus, immortalized cell lines decreased expression of SV40 T-antigen and subsequently cell proliferation at non-permissive temperature (39 degrees C). Reverse-transcribed-polymerase chain reaction indicated expression of gene for type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin, and osteocalcin mRNA at both permissive (33 degrees C) and non-permissive (39 degrees C) temperatures. RCM-C4 expressed higher bone siaploprotein (BSP) mRNA than RCM-C3, and further RCM-C4 showed higher BSP mRNA at 39 degrees C than 33 degrees C. High ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation were observed at 39 degrees C in both cell lines. These findings suggested that the cell lines, RCM-C3 and -C4, are useful model for studying the regulatory mechanisms of differentiation and proliferation of cementoblasts.