The cell line LMH was established in 1981 by Tomoyuki Kitagawa (see reference below) at the Cancer Institute, Kami-Ikebukuro-ku of Tokyo, Japan. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma epithelial cell lines were transformed into permanent cells by inducing tumorous nodules by long term treatment with diethylnitrosamine in the liver of a male leghorn cchicken. LMH cells are inducible for the expression of the liver specific apolipoprotein II (apoll) gene.The species was confirmed by Real-Time PCR