Amplification and overexpression of the met gene in spontaneously transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts.

We have identified a class of transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts that arise at low frequencies in transfection experiments with DNA from both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells and that may result from a low level of spontaneous transformation of NIH3T3 cells. DNA from the transformed cells was unable to transform NIH3T3 cells in a second cycle of transfection and, where examined, the cells showed no evidence for the uptake of the transfected DNA sequences. The results of Southern analyses demonstrate that a mouse homologue of the human met oncogene is amplified 4- to 8-fold in 7 of 10 lines of these transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts. The cells containing the amplified gene also exhibit at least a 20-fold overexpression of an 8.5-kb mRNA that is homologous to met. To test the hypothesis that met encodes a growth factor receptor, we examined the binding of platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I and gastrin-releasing peptide to transformed and non-transformed NIH3T3 cells. The results show that there is no significant elevation of the binding of these growth factors to cells containing amplification and overexpression of met.     

E3B1, a human homologue of the mouse gene product Abi-1, sensitizes activation of Rap1 in response to epidermal growth factor

E3B1, a human homologue of the mouse gene product Abi-1, has been implicated in growth-factor-mediated regulation of the small GTPases p21Ras and Rac. E3b1 is a regulator of Rac because it can form a complex with Sos-1 and eps8, and such a Sos-1-e3B1-eps8 complex serves as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac. In the present study, we found that overexpression of e3B1 in NIH3T3/EGFR cells sensitized EGF-induced activation of Rac1, whereas it had no impact on EGF-induced activation of p21Ras. Remarkably, we found that EGF-induced activation of the p21Ras-related GTPase Rap1 was also sensitized in NIH3T3/EGFR-e3B1 cells. Thus, in NIH3T3/EGFR-e3B1 cells, maximal EGF-induced activation of Rap1 occurs with a dose of EGF much lower than in NIH3T3/EGFR cells. We also report that overexpression of e3B1 in NIH3T3/EGFR cells renders EGF-induced activation of Rap1 completely dependent on Src tyrosine kinases but not on c-Abl. However, EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the Rap GEF C3G occurred regardless of whether e3B1 was overexpressed or not, and this did not involve Src tyrosine kinases. Accordingly, we propose that overexpression of e3B1 in NIH3T3/EGFR cells leads to mobilization of Src tyrosine kinases that participate in EGF-induced activation of Rap1 and inhibition of cell proliferation.     

Numerous proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine and enhanced tyrosine kinase activities in vanadate-treated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

A monoclonal antibody that can immunoprecipitate proteins containing phosphotyrosine has been isolated and characterized. To identify proteins that can act as substrates for tyrosine kinases in intact cells, extracts of phosphate-labeled NIH cells that had been treated with the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase inhibitor, vanadate, were precipitated with the antibody, and the immunoprecipitates were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Numerous proteins were specifically precipitated from vanadate-treated NIH 3T3 cells by the antibody. The high level of phosphotyrosine detected in vanadate-treated cells is presumably primarily due to phosphatase inhibition, but approx. 2-fold increased tyrosine kinase activities were also detected in extracts of the cells after treatment with vanadate. The enhanced tyrosine kinase activity may contribute to the generation of the transformed phenotype seen in response to treatment with vanadate.     

EphA3基因稳定表达细胞模型的建立与分析

目的：建立稳定表达外源EphA3基因的小鼠成纤维细胞株模型,初步探讨EphA3基因表达对肿瘤发生、发展的影响。方法：通过脂质体介导的方法,将真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（-）/myc-his-EphA3转染NIH3T3细胞,用Western印迹确定外源EphA3基因表达;通过MTT实验、软琼脂集落形成实验,观察EphA3基因表达对NIH3T3细胞生物学特性的影响。结果：建立了稳定转染EphA3基因的NIH3T3细胞株;EphA3基因表达的小鼠成纤维NIH3T3细胞生长速度没有明显变化,但在软琼脂上锚着非依赖生长的能力加强。结论：建立了稳定表达外源EphA3基因的NIH3T3细胞株,EphA3基因稳定表达具有诱导正常NIH3T3细胞发生恶性转化的重要生物功能。     

Human c-fgr induces a monocyte-specific enzyme in NIH 3T3 cells.

The mutant c-fgr protein (p58c-fgr/F523) containing Phe-523 instead of Tyr-523 exhibited transforming activity in NIH 3T3 cells like other protein-tyrosine kinases of the src family, but normal p58c-fgr (p58c-fgr/wt) did not. The mutant protein showed tyrosine kinase activity threefold higher than that of the normal protein in vitro. Surprisingly, transfection of the normal c-fgr gene into NIH 3T3 cells resulted in induction of sodium fluoride (NaF)-sensitive alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (alpha-NBE), a marker enzyme of cells of monocytic origin, which was not induced in v-src-, v-fgr-, or lyn-transfected NIH 3T3 cells. The NaF-sensitive alpha-NBE induced in c-fgr transfectants was shown by isoelectric focusing to have a pI of 5.2 to 5.4, a range which was the same as those for thioglycolate-induced murine peritoneal macrophages and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated WEHI-3B cells. Immunoblotting studies with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies revealed that 58-, 62-, 75-, 120-, 200-, and 230-kDa proteins were commonly phosphorylated at tyrosine residues in NIH 3T3 cells transfected with normal and mutated c-fgr, while 95-kDa protein was significantly phosphorylated at tyrosine residues in cells transfected with the mutated c-fgr. These findings suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of specific cellular substrate proteins is important in induction of NaF-sensitive alpha-NBE and cell transformation by p58c-fgr.     

过表达Gankyrin基因细胞模型的建立及其成瘤性分析

目的：Gankyrin作为一个新的癌基因,在细胞周期调控和肿瘤发生过程中有重要功能。建立Gankyrin过表达的细胞和动物模型,以便进一步研究其在肿瘤形成过程中的作用机制。方法：采用逆转录病毒感染细胞的方法构建Gankyrin稳定表达的细胞株,采用Western-blot检测Gankyrin的表达,采用软琼脂和裸鼠成瘤实验验证该细胞株的恶性转化效应。结果：构建了Gankyrin稳定过表达的NIH3T3细胞株,且该细胞株具有成瘤性。结论：采用逆转录病毒感染细胞的方法可以有效建立Gankyrin转化细胞株,为进一步研究Gankyrin的作用机制及其在肿瘤形成中的功能提供了基础。     

The human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor is capable of initiating signal transduction in NIH3T3 cells.

The ability of the receptor for the hematopoietic cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to function in non-hematopoietic cells is unknown. NIH3T3 fibroblasts were transfected with cDNAs encoding the alpha and beta subunit of the human GM-CSF receptor and a series of stable transformants were isolated that bound GM-CSF with either low (KD = 860 - > 1000 pM) or high affinity (KD = 20-80 pM). Low affinity receptors were not functional. However, the reconstituted high affinity receptors were found to be capable of activating a number of signal transduction pathways, including tyrosine kinase activity, phosphorylation of Raf-1, and the transient induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNAs. The activation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation by GM-CSF in NIH3T3 cells was rapid (< 1 min) and transient (peaking at 5-20 min) and resulted in the phosphorylation of proteins of estimated molecular weights of 42, 44, 52/53 and 58-60 kDa. Some of these proteins co-migrated with proteins from myeloid cells that were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to GM-CSF. In particular, p42 and p44 were identified as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases), and the phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of p42 and p44 MAP kinases occurred at the same time as the phosphorylation of Raf-1. However, despite evidence for activation of many mitogenic signal transduction molecules, GM-CSF did not induce significant proliferation of transfected NIH3T3 cells. These results suggest that murine fibroblasts contain signal transducing molecules that can effectively interact with the human GM-CSF receptor, and that are sufficient to activate at least some of the same signal transduction pathways this receptor activates in myeloid cells, including activation of one or more tyrosine kinase(s). However, the level of activation of signal transduction is either below a threshold of necessary activity or at least one mitogenic signal necessary for proliferation is missing.     

Use of a cloned multidrug resistance gene for coamplification and overproduction of major excreted protein, a transformation-regulated secreted acid protease.

Malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts synthesize and secrete large amounts of major excreted protein (MEP), a 39,000-dalton precursor to an acid protease (cathepsin L). To evaluate the possible role of this protease in the transformed phenotype, we transfected cloned genes for mouse or human MEP into mouse NIH 3T3 cells with an expression vector for the dominant, selectable human multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene. The cotransfected MEP sequences were efficiently coamplified and transcribed during stepwise selection for multidrug resistance in colchicine. The transfected NIH 3T3 cell lines containing amplified MEP sequences synthesized as much MEP as did Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. The MEP synthesized by cells transfected with the cloned mouse and human MEP genes was also secreted. Elevated synthesis and secretion of MEP by NIH 3T3 cells did not change the nontransformed phenotype of these cells.     

Constitutively activated neu oncoprotein tyrosine kinase interferes with growth factor-induced signals for gene activation.

The neu receptor oncoprotein tyrosine kinase, capable of transforming cultured fibroblasts and causing mammary carcinomas in transgenic mice, carries a point mutation in its transmembrane domain and shows a constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. We analyzed the neu tyrosine kinase and its substrates in transfected NIH 3T3 fibroblasts by phosphotyrosine immunoblotting. Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins were similar but not identical in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated cells expressing the human EGF receptor (EGFR) or a chimeric EGFR/neu receptor but differed from phosphotyrosyl proteins constitutively expressed in neu oncogene-transformed cells. The neu oncoprotein in the latter cells was phosphorylated in tyrosine in a ligand-independent manner and had a shortened half-life in comparison with the normal neu protein. Tumor promoter pretreatment inhibited ligand-induced receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased tyrosine phosphorylated neu oncoprotein. Prolonged pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also prevented the induction of immediate early growth factor-regulated genes in response to neu activation. Expression of the neu oncogene but not the protooncogene in NIH 3T3 cells was associated with enhanced levels of the jun and fos oncoproteins and loss of serum growth factor induction of immediate early mRNA responses. The constitutively activated neu oncoprotein tyrosine kinase thus deregulates cellular genomic responses to growth factors.     

p67/MetAP2 suppresses K-RasV12-mediated transformation of NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts in culture and in athymic mice

In many tumor cells, the activation and activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) are very high because of the constitutive activation of the Ras-mediated signaling pathway. Here, we ectopically expressed the human homologue of rat eukaryotic initiation factor 2-associated glycoprotein, p67/MetAP2, in EGF-treated mouse embryonic NIH3T3 fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts and NIH3T3 cell lines expressing the constitutively active form of MAP kinase kinase (MEK) to inhibit the activation and activity of ERK1/2 MAP kinases. In addition, we also ectopically expressed rat p67/MetAP2 in oncogenic Ras-induced transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts and inhibited their transformed phenotype both in culture and in athymic nude mice possibly by inhibiting angiogenesis. This inhibition of ERK1/2 MAP kinases is due to the direct binding with rat p67/MetAP2, and this leads to the inhibition of activity of ERK1/2 MAP kinases both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, expression of p67/MetAP2 siRNA in both NIH3T3 fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts causes activation and activity of ERK1/2 MAP kinases. Our results thus suggest that ectopic expression of rat p67/MetAP2 in transformed cells can inhibit the tumorigenic phenotype by inhibiting the activation and activity of ERK1/2 MAP kinases and, thus, that p67/MetAP2 has tumor suppression activity.     

Platelet-derived growth factor stimulation of GTPase-activating protein tyrosine phosphorylation in control and c-H-ras-expressing NIH 3T3 cells correlates with p21ras activation.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation of NIH 3T3 cells leads to the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) and an associated 64- to 62-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated protein (p64/62). To assess the functions of these proteins, we evaluated their phosphorylation state in normal NIH 3T3 cells as well as in cells transformed by oncogenically activated v-H-ras or overexpression of c-H-ras genes. No significant GAP tyrosine phosphorylation was observed in unstimulated cultures, while PDGF-BB induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of GAP in all cell lines analyzed. In NIH 3T3 cells, we found that PDGF stimulation led to the recovery of between 37 and 52% of GAP molecules by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. Furthermore, PDGF exposure led to a rapid and sustained increase in the levels of p21ras bound to GTP, with kinetics similar to those observed for GAP tyrosine phosphorylation. The PDGF-induced increases in GTP-bound p21ras in NIH 3T3 cells were comparable to the steady-state level observed in serum-starved c-H-ras-overexpressing transformants, conditions in which these cells maintained high rates of DNA synthesis. These results imply that the level of p21ras activation following PDGF stimulation of NIH 3T3 cells is sufficient to support mitogenic stimulation. Addition of PDGF to c-H-ras-overexpressing cells also resulted in a rapid and sustained increase in GTP-bound p21ras. In these cells GAP, but not p64/62, showed increased tyrosine phosphorylation, with kinetics similar to those observed for increased GTP-bound p21ras. All of these findings support a role for GAP tyrosine phosphorylation in p21ras activation and mitogenic signaling.     

Modulation of guanine nucleotides bound to Ras in NIH3T3 cells by oncogenes, growth factors, and the GTPase activating protein (GAP)

The mitogenic activity of membrane-associated tyrosine kinases such as Src and the PDGF receptor appear to depend on Ras function. Ras biochemical activity involves regulation of a GTP/GDP cycle and the GTPase activating protein (GAP). Recently, PDGF and v-Src have been shown to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation of GAP, linking these pathways at the biochemical level. To test whether PDGF and v-Src affect the Ras GTP/GDP cycle, we have measured the guanine nucleotides complexed to Ras in NIH3T3 cells and compared the ratio of GTP to total GTP + GDP detected (percent GTP). In normal quiescent NIH3T3 cells, PDGF stimulated the basal amount of GTP complexed to Ras (7%) by 2.1-fold to 15%. The effect was dependent on PDGF concentration and was observed maximally within 10 min following PDGF challenge. Ras was complexed to 22% GTP in NIH3T3 cells transformed by v-src or v-abl. Overexpression of GAP by 110-fold in NIH3T3 cells reduced the basal level of GTP complexed to Ras to 2.4%; upon challenge with PDGF, Ras was complexed to 6.6% GTP. These results indicate that PDGF receptor activation and tyrosine kinase-encoding oncogene products can stimulate Ras into the GTP complex and that GAP in intact mammalian cells can decrease the amount of GTP complexed to Ras.     

Simultaneous transfer of tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes by transfection with genomic DNA from a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

High-molecular-weight genomic DNA isolated from a human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (AS) was assayed for its ability to induce tumorigenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Subcutaneous injection of NIH 3T3 cells cotransfected with DNAs from AS tumor and pSV2-neo plasmid not only induced tumors at the site of injection, but also metastasized spontaneously to the lungs in 100% of nude mice injected. DNA isolated from a representative primary tumor and a metastasis was again used in a second round of transfection. Injection of secondary transfectants into nude mice again resulted in induction of both subcutaneous tumors and spontaneous long metastases. Southern blot hybridization with ras-specific probes revealed that DNA from both primary tumors and metastases induced by AS tumor DNA contained highly amplified Ha-ras oncogene. Furthermore, DNAs from secondary tumors and metastases induced by DNA from a primary tumor and a metastasis also contained similar highly amplified Ha-ras oncogene. These results suggest that the amplified Ha-ras oncogene may be responsible for induction of both tumorigenic and metastatic phenotypes in NIH 3T3 cells transfected with DNA from AS tumor.     

Synergistic interaction of p185c-neu and the EGF receptor leads to transformation of rodent fibroblasts

The protein product of the rodent neu oncogene, p185neu, is a tyrosine kinase with structural similarity to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Transfection and subsequent overexpression of the human p185c-erbB-2 protein transforms NIH 3T3 cells in vitro. However, NIH 3T3 cells are not transformed by overexpressed rodent p185c-neu. NIH 3T3 transfectants overexpressing EGF receptors are not transformed unless incompletely transformed. Several groups have recently demonstrated EGF-induced, EGFR-mediated phosphorylation of p185c-neu. During efforts to characterize the interaction of p185c-neu with EGFR further, we created cell lines that simultaneously overexpress both p185c-neu and EGFR and observed that these cells become transformed. These observations demonstrate that two distinct, overexpressed tyrosine kinases can act synergistically to transform NIH 3T3 cells, thus identifying a novel mechanism that can lead to transformation.     

The Mos/MAP kinase pathway stabilizes c-Fos by phosphorylation and augments its transforming activity in NIH 3T3 cells.

The c-mos proto-oncogene product, Mos, is a serine/threonine kinase that can activate ERK1 and 2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by direct phosphorylation of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK). ERK activation is essential for oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by Mos. In this study, we examined how mitogenic and oncogenic signalling from the Mos/MEK/ERK pathway reaches the nucleus to activate downstream target genes. We show that c-Fos (the c-fos protooncogene product), which is an intrinsically unstable nuclear protein, is metabolically highly stabilized, and greatly enhances the transforming efficiency of NIH 3T3 cells, by Mos. This stabilization of c-Fos required Mos-induced phosphorylation of its C-terminal region on Ser362 and Ser374, and double replacements of these serines with acidic (Asp) residues markedly increased the stability and transforming efficiency of c-Fos even in the absence of Mos. Moreover, activation of the ERK pathway was necessary and sufficient for the c-Fos phosphorylation and stabilization by Mos. These results indicate that c-Fos undergoes stabilization, and mediates at least partly the oncogenic signalling, by the Mos/MEK/ERK pathway. The present findings also suggest that, in general, the ERK pathway may regulate the cell fate and function by affecting the metabolic stability of c-Fos.     

Overexpression of the human EGF receptor confers an EGF-dependent transformed phenotype to NIH 3T3 cells

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is frequently amplified and/or overexpressed in human malignancies. To investigate the biological effects of its overexpression, we constructed a eukaryotic vector containing human EGFR cDNA. Introduction of this construct led to reconstitution of functional EGF receptors in NR6 mutant cells, which are normally devoid of this receptor. Transfection of NIH 3T3 resulted in no significant alterations in growth properties. However, EGF addition led to the formation of densely growing transformed foci in liquid culture and colonies in semisolid medium. NIH 3T3-EGFR clonal lines, which expressed the EGF at 500- to 1000-fold levels over control NIH 3T3 cells, demonstrated a marked increase in DNA synthesis in response to EGF. Thus EGF receptor overexpression appears to amplify normal EGF signal transduction. Finally, high levels of EGFR expression, which conferred a transformed phenotype to NIH 3T3 cells in the presence of ligand, were demonstrated in representative human tumor cell lines that contained amplified copies of the EGFR gene.     

An essential role for mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERKs, in preventing heat-induced cell death.

Stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) or extracellular signal regulated protein kinases (ERKs) after exposure of mammalian cells to ultraviolet (UV) and X-irradiation occurs through activation of receptor tyrosine kinases via Ras/Raf/Mek/ERKs cascade. This activation of MAPKs is proposed to play a role in the replacement of damaged proteins during these stresses. Heat shock also activates MAPKs; however, the signaling cascade and the biochemical and physiological links between activation by heat and downstream effects are unknown. In this report we demonstrate that, unlike irradiation, heat induces MAPKs through ceramide metabolism to sphingosine with stimulation of Raf-1 protein kinase. The activation of MAPKs by heat does not occur in all cell types, because the step(s) downstream of ceramide to activation of Raf-1 protein kinase is missing in myeloid leukemic cells such as HL-60, U937, and K562, while it is present in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Heat-induced MAPK activation may enhance the ability of cells to survive a severe heat shock. Blocking 60-70% of the activity of MAPK (ERK1) by stable overexpression of the dominant negative allele ERK1-KR renders NIH3T3 and K562 cells up to 100-fold more sensitive to cytotoxic effects of heat. Conversely, NIH3T3 and K562 cells stably overexpressing the wild-type ERK1 develop resistance to killing by heat. These results suggest that increased thermal sensitivity of leukemic cells to thermal stress or other cancer therapy regimens could be attributable to lack of pertinent activation of the MAPK pathway by such stresses.