Ouabain sensitivity is linked to ras -transformation in human HOS cells

Mouse cells transformed by the retroviral oncogene v-Ki- ras are significantly more sensitive to the toxic effects of 1mM ouabain than are their nontransformed counterparts. We have extended these findings to a human cell line (HOS). HOS cells (ATCC CRL 1543) are relatively resistant to treatment with 1 microM ouabain while KHOS cells (transformed by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus) are extremely sensitive. Two flat revertant cell lines isolated from the KHOS line and lacking the v- ras gene sequences are resistant to ouabain. This effect may be observed morphologically and can also be demonstrated by dye exclusion and plating efficiency tests. In addition, the toxic effects of ouabain may be rapidly and efficiently quantitated in a 51Cr-release assay. This differential lethality may be used to enrich the proportion of non-transformed revertants in populations of mutagen-treated transformed cells.     

Global enhancement of nuclear localization-dependent nuclear transport in transformed cells

Fundamental to eukaryotic cell function, nucleocytoplasmic transport can be regulated at many levels, including through modulation of the importin/exportin (Imp/Exp) nuclear transport machinery itself. Although Imps/Exps are overexpressed in a number of transformed cell lines and patient tumor tissues, the efficiency of nucleocytoplasmic transport in transformed cell types compared with nontransformed cells has not been investigated. Here we use quantitative live cell imaging of 3 isogenic nontransformed/transformed cell pairs to show that nuclear accumulation of nuclear localization signal (NLS)-containing proteins, but not their NLS-mutated derivatives, is increased up to 7-fold in MCF10CA1h human epithelial breast carcinoma cells and in simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed fibroblasts of human and monkey origin, compared with their nontransformed counterparts. The basis for this appears to be a significantly faster rate of nuclear import in transformed cell types, as revealed by analysis using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching for the human MCF10A/MCF10CA1h cell pair. Nuclear accumulation of NLS/nuclear export signal-containing (shuttling) proteins was also enhanced in transformed cell types, experiments using the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B demonstrating that efficient Exp-1-mediated nuclear export was not impaired in transformed compared with nontransformed cells. Enhanced nuclear import and export efficiencies were found to correlate with 2- to 4-fold higher expression of specific Imps/Exps in transformed cells, as indicated by quantitative Western blot analysis, with ectopic expression of Imps able to enhance NLS nuclear accumulation levels up to 5-fold in nontransformed MCF10A cells. The findings indicate that transformed cells possess altered nuclear transport properties, most likely due to the overexpression of Imps/Exps. The findings have important implications for the development of tumor-specific drug nanocarriers in anticancer therapy.     

Human smooth muscle myosin light chain-2 gene expression is repressed in ras transformed fibroblast cells.

We have previously characterized human smooth muscle myosin light chain (MLC)-2 isoform by complementary DNA cloning and have shown that this isoform is expressed in a number of nonmuscle cells such as fibroblast cells. In this report, we show that when human osteosarcoma derived clonal cells (TE 85 clone F-5) (HOS), which are immortalized and nontumorigenic, undergo transformation following infection by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (K-HOS) or by a chemical carcinogen [N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG-HOS)], the smooth muscle MLC-2 mRNA is repressed. Revertants of transformed K-HOS cells (K-HOS312H) show normal levels of smooth muscle MLC-2 mRNA. Transformation of HOS cells by Ha-ras oncogene sequences, either by retroviral infection or by transfection followed by selection for tumorigenic cells in nude mice, results in complete repression of smooth muscle MLC-2 mRNA level. Treatment of HOS cells with tumor promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, results in repression of smooth muscle MLC-2 mRNA. Smooth muscle MLC-2 mRNA level is repressed in many, but not all, transformed cell lines, suggesting that it is not an indirect consequence of transformation but is specific to the agent that brings about transformation. HOS cells synthesize three MLC-2 protein species resolved by the two-dimensional gel electrophoretic system. The identity of the smooth muscle MLC-2 isoform was established by coelectrophoresis of the in vitro synthesized MLC-2 protein corresponding to the cloned complementary DNA in the two-dimensional gel system along with total [35S]methionine labeled HOS cell proteins. Quantitative analysis of MLC-2 isoforms in different HOS cells indicates that the synthesis of smooth muscle MLC-2 isoform is specifically repressed to an undetectable level in ras transformed and MNNG transformed cells and also following treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.     

Inhibition of neoplastic cell growth by quiescent cells is mediated by serum concentration and cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors

We have demonstrated that confluent monolayers of the mouse fibroblast cell line C3H/10T1/2 (10T1/2) have the ability to cause reversible growth inhibition of cocultured transformed cells. This was first demonstrated for de novo transformed cells and later extended to established cell lines of proven oncogenicity in vivo. This growth inhibition could be increased by growing the 10T1/2 cells to high density in increasing concentrations of serum or by elevating intracellular concentrations of cAMP using inhibitors of phosphodiesterase (PDE). These manipulations, which in cocultures of nontransformed and transformed cells caused complete inhibition of tumor cell growth, had no effect on growth rate or saturation density of either ceil type when cultured alone, demonstrating the cooperative nature of this phenomenon. This cooperation could not be produced by transfer of culture medium, demonstrating the requirement for intimate cell contact. Inhibition of the formation of transformed foci of cells in these mixed cultures was accompanied by a decrease in the incorporation of labeled thymidine into these cultures; the kinetics of this inhibition and recovery suggested a rapidly reversible effect on cell cycle transit times. The potent inhibitor of cAMP PDE, Ro 20-1724 induced dose dependent increases in intracellular cAMP in both nontransformed and in transformed cells. However, at a concentration of 10^?4 M Ro 20-1724, which inhibited tumor cell growth in mixed cultures, cAMP was elevated 30-fold in nontransformed versus only 3-fold in transformed cells. The inhibitory effects of PDE inhibitors on tumor growth have been extended to an in vivo model system, utilizing Lewis lung carcinoma cells growing as metastases in the lungs of C57B1 mice. In these mice, inoculated intravenously with a single cell suspension of Lewis lung cells, the formation of lung metastases was dramatically decreased by the twice daily administration of either isobutylmethylxanthine or Ro 20-1724; PDE inhibitors were shown to be active in vitro. The latter compound, which showed highest activity in vitro, was also substantially more potent in vivo as an inhibitor of lung tumor colony formation and doubled the life span of the tumor bearing animals. Cell cycle analysis of lung tumor colonies by the labeled mitosis method showed that both phosphodiesterase inhibitors caused a prolonged G₁ phase in the cell cycle but failed to influence other phases. Although detailed analysis of host tissues is not complete, prolonged treatment with these drugs caused no statistically significant weight loss or changes in counts of red or white blood cells indicating a selective growth inhibition of transformed cells at these doses. Studies to determine the mechanism of the cellular communication and the nature of the signal are in progress.     

Role of Proliferation for Intercellular Induction of Apoptosis

We have recently described induction of apoptosis of transformed target cells by TGF-β-treated nontransformed effector cells as a potential novel control step in oncogenesis. Here we study the role of proliferation of both cell types for the efficiency of induction of apoptosis. Inhibition of proliferation of transformed target cells by gamma irradiation or colchicine treatment did not affect their sensitivity to induction of apoptosis by TGF-β-treated nontransformed effector cells. This finding indicates that sensitivity to intercellular induction of apoptosis is not related to cell cycle control. In contrast, the ability of nontransformed effector cells to induce apoptosis was dependent on their proliferation. Nontransformed cells blocked by gamma irradiation, colchicine treatment, or thymidine treatment were no longer able to induce apoptosis of transformed target cells. This inability seems to be partially due to substances that are released from proliferation-inhibited nontransformed effector cells and that interfere with induction of apoptosis.     

Altered iron homeostasis involvement in arsenite-mediated cell transformation

Chronic exposure to low doses of arsenite causes transformation of human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells. Although oxidative stress is considered important in arsenite-induced cell transformation, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which arsenite transforms human cells are still unknown. In the present study, we investigated whether altered iron homeostasis, known to affect cellular oxidative stress, can contribute to the arsenite-mediated cell transformation. Using arsenite-induced HOS cell transformation as a model, it was found that total iron levels are significantly higher in transformed HOS cells in comparison to parental control HOS cells. Under normal iron metabolism conditions, iron homeostasis is tightly controlled by inverse regulation of ferritin and transferrin receptor (TfR) through iron regulatory proteins (IRP). Increased iron levels in arsenite transformed cells should theoretically lead to higher ferritin and lower TfR in these cells than in controls. However, the results showed that both ferritin and TfR are decreased, apparently through two different mechanisms. A lower ferritin level in cytoplasm was due to the decreased mRNA in the arsenite-transformed HOS cells, while the decline in TfR was due to a lowered IRP-binding activity. By challenging cells with iron, it was further established that arsenite-transformed HOS cells are less responsive to iron treatment than control HOS cells, which allows accumulation of iron in the transformed cells, as exemplified by significantly lower ferritin induction. On the other hand, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an antioxidant previously shown to suppress As-mediated cell transformation, prevents As-mediated ferritin depletion. In conclusion, our results suggest that altered iron homeostasis contributes to arsenite-induced oxidative stress and, thus, may be involved in arsenite-mediated cell transformation.     

The influence of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells

The product of lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is known to cause cell death at high concentrations, while at lower concentrations it can influence cell proliferation and differentiation. In our experiments we used human osteosarcoma cells (HOS), to test the influence of HNE on cell proliferation, differentiation and induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis induction was estimated by TiterTACS TUNEL test. The cells were in parallel counted and the DAPI staining method was used to distinguish between apoptotic and necrotic cells as well as to define the proportion of cells in mitosis. To test the influence of HNE on HOS cell differentiation, cells were treated every second day with HNE. After 10 days, the cells were stained for alkaline phosphatase, a marker for osteoblast differentiation. Cell growth inhibition was caused by supraphysiological concentrations of 10 or 100 microM HNE, while apoptosis was induced with supraphysiological as well as by the physiological amount of the aldehyde (1 microM). Necrosis appeared when cells were treated with 10 or 100 microM, but not with 1 microM HNE. The proportion of cells in mitosis gradually declined with increased HNE concentration. Multiple exposures of HOS cells to 10 microM HNE prevented HOS cell differentiation. These results indicated that HNE inhibits proliferation and differentiation of HOS cells in the same concentration dependent manner as it causes apoptosis. We thus assume that HNE might be one of the important signaling molecules regulating the growth of the human osteosarcoma cells.     

Energetic mechanism of system A amino acid transport in normal and transformed mouse fibroblasts

Ouabain treatment (0.4 mM) of normal and transformed C3H-10T1/2 cells caused a progressive increase in 2-aminoisobutyrate (AIB) transport reaching a maximum after 16 to 18 h exposure. There was a virtually complete blockage of this stimulated rate when 3 microM cycloheximide (CHX) was added together with ouabain at T = 0. In the transformed cell, addition of CHX after 14 h had no effect; in the normal cell, it inhibited (ca. 50%) the final AIB transport rate achieved after 24 h. The t1/2 for reaching maximal activity (insensitive to CHX exposure) was thus shifted from 8 h in the transformed cell to 15 h in the normal cell. Since the rate of achieving maximal activity in the absence of CHX was about the same in the two cells, the shift in t1/2 in the presence of CHX suggests that the rate of degradation is more rapid in the normal cell. Following ouabain treatment, the apparent Km for Na+ was decreased in both cells. The Km returned to the basal level 1 h after ouabain removal in the normal cell, but remained low in the transformed cell during this time period. The stimulation of AIB transport following ouabain removal was largely abolished by a proton ionophore (1799), a lipophilic cation (tetraphenyl-phosphonium), or ouabain. These results suggest that, under the conditions of ouabain stress, there is a switch in the bioenergetic mechanism. The Na+/K+ pump and System A transporter appear to be linked and the membrane potential generated by the Na+/K+ pump activity becomes a major driving force for AIB uptake.     

Ouabain-induced stimulation of sodium-hydrogen exchange in rat optic nerve astrocytes

Sodium-dependent transporters are inhibited indirectly by the Na-K-ATPase inhibitor ouabain. Here we report stimulation of sodium-hydrogen exchange (NHE) in ouabain-treated cells. BCECF was used to measure cytoplasmic pH in cultured rat optic nerve astrocytes. Ammonium chloride was applied to acid load the cells. On removal of ammonium chloride, cytoplasmic pH fell abruptly, then gradually recovered toward baseline. Ouabain (1 microM) did not change cell sodium content, but the rate of pH recovery increased by 68%. Ouabain speeded pH recovery both in the presence and absence of bicarbonate. In bicarbonate-free medium, dimethylamiloride, an NHE inhibitor, eliminated the effect of 1 microM ouabain on pH recovery. Western blot analysis showed an NHE1 immunoreactive band but not NHE2, NHE3, or NHE4. Immunoprecipitation studies showed phosphorylation of NHE1 in cells treated with 1 microM ouabain. Ouabain evoked an increase of cAMP, and the effect of 1 microM ouabain on pH recovery was abolished by H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. 8-Bromoadenosine-cAMP increased the pH recovery rate, and this recovery was not further increased by ouabain. Although 1 microM ouabain did not alter cytoplasmic calcium concentration, it stimulated calcium entry after store depletion, a response abolished by 2-APB. Ouabain-induced stimulation of pH recovery was suppressed by inhibitors of capacitative calcium entry, SKF-96365, and 2-APB, as well as the cytoplasmic calcium chelator BAPTA. The cAMP increase in ouabain-treated cells was abolished by BAPTA and 2-APB. Taken together, the results are consistent with increased capacitative calcium entry and subsequent cAMP-PKA-dependent stimulation of NHE1 in ouabain-treated cells.     

Quantitative aspects of the selective killing of transformed cells by methotrexate in the presence of leucovorin

Summary A quantitative study was made of the cytotoxicity of methotrexate (MTX) for nontransformed and transformed NIH 3T3 cells in the presence and absence of leucovorin. The study was preceded by an analysis of the growth rates of the cells at low and high population density combined with low and high concentrations of calf serum (CS). The reduced maximal growth rates of the transformed cells at low population densities relative to the nontransformed cells reinforced earlier evidence that heritable damage involving chromosome aberrations drives the process of transformation. When small numbers of transformed cells are cocultured with a large excess of nontransformed cells in the assay for transformed foci, the transformed cells were more readily killed by MTX than the nontransformed cells. The selectivity was increased when leucovorin (folinic acid) was present in the medium. The selective killing of the transformed cells actively multiplying in foci was most pronounced when the background of nontransformed cells had become confluent and their growth was inhibited. However, selectivity has also been demonstrated when transformed and nontransformed cells are growing at their maximum rates at low density despite the lower growth rate of the transformed cells under these conditions. The sensitivity of transformed cells in pure culture to MTX was lower during the first 3 d of subculture than in the following 6 d but decreased to zero a few d after net growth had ceased. The nontransformed cells were more susceptible to killing by MTX in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) than in MCDB 402, but the transformed cells were sensitive to MTX in both media. The high selectivity of MTX for transformed over nontransformed cells in MCDB 402 results from the presence of 1.0 μM leucovorin (5-formyltetrahydrofolate), a reduced form of the folic acid present in most other culture media. When leucovorin was added to DMEM with its high concentration of folic acid, the resistance to MTX of both nontransformed and transformed cells was greatly increased, but the selectivity of MTX for transformed cells was almost entirely lost. The results indicate that leucovorin protects nontransformed cells against concentrations of MTX that kill transformed cells, but the protection is dependent on the relative amounts of leucovorin to folic acid in the medium. The relative sensitivities of transformed and nontransformed cells in our system to MTX when both cell types are exhibiting their characteristic differential in growth behavior is similar to that described for tumor and normal cells in vivo. Since the unregulated growth behavior of the transformed, tumor-producing cells is efficiently and quantitatively measured in this system, it can be used to develop general principles of treatment and resolve questions of cytotoxic mechanism.     

Alterations in integrin receptor expression on chemically transformed human cells: specific enhancement of laminin and collagen receptor complexes

The abilities of malignant tumor cells to bind and migrate through basement membranes are important steps in invasion and metastasis. Malignant tumor cells would therefore be expected to express receptors on their surfaces for basement membrane and stromal components, such as collagens, laminin, and fibronectin, although the pattern of expression of these receptors on the malignant cells may be different from that on their normal progenitors. We report here that chemically transformed tumorigenic human cells express an altered pattern of integrin receptors on their cell surfaces as compared with their untransformed nontumorigenic counterparts. Specifically, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine transformation of HOS cells into highly tumorigenic cells results in a significant specific increase in the expression of (in descending order of level of cell surface expression) the integrins alpha 6/beta 1, alpha 2/beta 1, and alpha 1/beta 1, which are receptors for laminin, collagens, and collagen type IV and laminin, respectively. The level of expression of two fibronectin receptor integrins, alpha 5/beta 1 and alpha 3/beta 1, are, however, unaltered, whereas the level of expression of vitronectin receptor integrin, alpha v/beta 3, is drastically reduced on the transformed cells. Consistent with the increased expression of laminin and collagen receptors and the decreased expression of vitronectin receptors on the transformed cells, these cells attached three- to fivefold more strongly to laminin and collagen but attached very poorly to vitronectin. The MNNG-HOS cells were also found to have a greater potential for invasion through reconstituted basement membrane, matrigel, the major components of which are laminin and type IV collagen. The invasion of both the HOS and MNNG-HOS cells was inhibited 45-50% by a polyclonal anti-fibronectin receptor antibody. However, although the invasion of HOS cells could be inhibited up to 75% by an anti-alpha 6 monoclonal antibody, a similar concentration of this antibody had no effect on the alpha 6-overproducing MNNG-HOS cells. A fivefold higher concentration of this antibody did result in partial inhibition of MNNG-HOS invasion. These data indicate a critical role for the alpha 6/beta 1 laminin receptor in the invasion of these cells through basement membranes and demonstrate that chemical transformation of nontumorigenic human cells to highly tumorigenic cells is associated with an altered pattern of integrin expression which may play a direct role in the increased capacity of these cells to bind and invade through basement membranes.     

Human recipient cell for oncogene transfection studies.

We used human oncogene DNA to transform the nontumorigenic, revertant, human osteosarcoma cell line HOS TE-85 clone 5 (ATCC CRL 1543) to tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice with latency periods as short as 3 weeks. These cells were also transformed by genetic markers in genomic DNA samples. Because of their low rate of spontaneous tumor formation and the simplicity of culturing them, HOS cells provide a human cell alternative to NIH 3T3 murine fibroblasts for oncogene transfection studies.     

Viral transformation increases vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylation of glutamate.

Mammalian cells contain a microsomal vitamin K-dependent carboxylase activity which catalyzes the gamma-carboxylation of glutamate. While most cells have a limited ability to fully gamma-carboxylate proteins, it has been suggested that the ability of transformed cells to perform this complex post-translational modification may play a role in tumor biology. In this study, we examined the effect of transformation by adenovirus oncogenes on the ability of cells to efficiently gamma-carboxylate a vitamin K-dependent protein. Several morphologically transformed BHK-21 cell lines (BHK-Ad) were isolated following the chromosomal integration of the viral oncogenes E1A/E1B from human adenovirus type 12 (Ad12). The lines were capable of growing in soft agar and low serum and produced functional E1A as determined by promoter activation studies. Using a vector for the expression of the vitamin K-dependent recombinant human protein C (HPC), a regulator of the clotting cascade, Ad-transformed and nontransformed lines secreting rHPC were generated. The rHPC from the transformed and nontransformed cell lines displayed identical serine protease activities, and there were no apparent differences in the proteolytic processing of the proteins, although a minor difference in the proportion of each HPC glycoform was observed. However, the functional anticoagulant activity, which depends on the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) content, was approximately 70% higher in the Ad-transformed lines. Approximately 90% of the rHPC from the Ad-transformed lines exhibited a calcium-dependent (high Gla) elution profile on anion-exchange resin, compared to only 15 to 26% from the nontransformed cell clones. By analyzing endogenous microsomal carboxylase, we determined that enzyme activity increased approximately 50% following transformation. Overall, our data demonstrate that transformation can increase the potential of a cell to efficiently gamma-carboxylate a protein and lend support to the suggested involvement of this post-translational modification in tumor cell function. Further, our results demonstrate a potential means of altering cells to enable full modification of vitamin K-dependent factors for structure/function studies and potentially for therapeutic use.     

Enhanced ROS production in oncogenically transformed cells potentiates c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and sensitization to genotoxic stress

Many primary tumors as well as transformed cell lines display high sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this sensitivity are largely unknown. Here we show that the sensitization of transformed cells to stress stimuli is due to the potentiation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Activation of these pathways by the antitumor drug cis-platin (CDDP) and by other stress agents is markedly enhanced and is induced by lower stress doses in NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptor, HER1-2 kinase, or oncogenic Ras than in nontransformed NIH 3T3 cells. Inhibition of stress kinase activity by specific inhibitors reduces CDDP-mediated cell death in transformed cells, whereas overactivation of stress kinase pathways augments cells death. Potentiation of stress kinases is a common feature of cells transformed by different oncogenes, including cells derived from human tumors, and is shown here to be independent of the activity of the particular transforming oncoprotein. We further show that the mechanism that underlies potentiation of stress kinases in transformed cells involves reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose production is elevated in these cells. JNK/p38 activation is inhibited by antioxidants and in particular by inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and NADPH oxidase. Conversely, by artificially elevating ROS levels in nontransformed NIH 3T3 cells we were able to induce potentiation of JNK/p38 activation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ROS-dependent potentiation of stress kinase pathways accounts for the sensitization of transformed cells to stress and anticancer drugs.     

Ouabain activates signaling pathways associated with cell death in human neuroblastoma

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) like ouabain are not only specific inhibitors of the sodium pump (Na(+),K(+)-ATPase), they also can influence various cytosolic signaling events in a hormone-like manner. In the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y ouabain triggers multiple signaling pathways. Within 30 min of incubation with 1 or 10 microM ouabain, SH-SY5Y cells generate reactive oxygen species to a level approximately 50% above control and show a modest but significant elevation in cytosolic [Ca(2+)] of about 25%. After 6 h of exposure, ouabain stimulates a series of anti-apoptotic actions in SH-SY5Y cells, including concentration-dependent phosphorylation of Erk1/2, Akt, and Bad. Nevertheless, at the same time this CTS also induces a series of events that inhibit retinoic acid-induced neuritogenesis and promote cell death. Both of these latter phenomena are possibly associated with the observed ouabain-induced reduction in the abundance of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-XL and Bcl-2. In addition, ouabain treatment results in cytochrome c release into the cytosol and induces activation of caspase 3, events that point towards the stimulation of apoptotic pathways that are probably enhanced by the stimulation of p53 phosphorylation at Ser15 also observed in this study. These pathways may eventually lead to cell death: treatment with 10 nM ouabain results in a 20% decrease in cell number after 4 days of incubation and treatment with 1 microM ouabain decreases cells number by about 75%. The results obtained here emphasize the importance of further research in order to elucidate the various signalling cascades triggered by ouabain and possibly other CTS that are used in the treatment of heart failure and to identify their primary receptor(s).     

In vivo gene transfer between interacting human osteosarcoma cell lines is associated with acquisition of enhanced metastatic potential

We report here in vivo gene transfer between cancer cells is associated with acquisition of high metastatic behavior. The 143B‐GFP cell line with high metastatic potential and the MNNG/HOS‐RFP cell line with low metastatic potential, both derived from the TE85 human osteosarcoma cell line, were either co‐transplanted or transplanted alone in the tibia in nude mice. Upon mixed transplantation of the two differently labeled sublines, resulting metastatic colonies are single colored either red or green, thereby demonstrating their clonality and enabling facile color‐coded quantification. When MNNG/HOS‐RFP and 143B‐GFP were co‐transplanted in the tibia, the number of lung metastases of MNNG/HOS‐RFP increased eight‐fold compared to MNNG/HOS‐RFP transplanted alone (P < 0.01). In contrast, no enhancement of MNNG/HOS‐RFP metastases occurred when MNNG/HOS‐RFP and 143B‐GFP were transplanted separately in the right and left tibiae, respectively. This result suggests that the presence of 143B‐GFP increased the metastatic potential of MNNG/HOS‐RFP within the mixed tumor. We observed transfer of the Ki‐ras gene from 143B‐GFP to MNNG/HOS‐RFP after they were co‐implanted suggesting the Ki‐ras played a role in increasing the metastatic potential of MNNG/HOS‐RFP in the presence of 143B‐GFP. These data suggest the possible role of in vivo gene transfer in enhancing the metastatic potential of cancer cells. The data also further demonstrated the power of color‐coded imaging to visualize cancer‐cell/cancer‐cell interactions in vivo. J. Cell. Biochem. 108: 362–367, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Concanavalin A agglutinability of some enveloped RNA viruses modified by host cell transformation

The dependence on concanavalin A (Con A) concentration of agglutinability of some enveloped RNA viruses grown in transformed cells was compared with that of those grown in nontransformed cells. The avian oncoviruses were purified by centrifuging to equilibrium in a combination equilibrium: viscosity gradient of potassium tartrate and glycerol after conventional isopycnic sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Avian oncoviruses were more agglutinable with Con A when grown in transformed cells than when grown in nontransformed cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus grown in transformed cells was also more agglutinable than the virus grown in nontransformed cells. These results agree with the concept that the envelopes are modified by host cell transformation and that, therefore, viruses grown in transformed cells are expected to be more agglutinable with Con A than those grown in nontransformed cell.     

Ultraviolet mutagenesis in human lymphocytes: The effect of cellular transformation

We have assessed the role of cellular transformation in ultraviolet (uv)-induced mutagenic events in human cells. To maintain uniformity of genetic background and to eliminate the effect of DNA repair, primary nontransformed lymphocytes (T-cells) and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes (B-cells) from one patient (XP12Be) with the DNA repair-deficient disorder xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) were transfected with the mutagenesis shuttle vector pZ189. Parallel control experiments were performed with primary, nontransformed lymphocytes from a normal individual and with a repair-proficient Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocyte line (KR6058). pZ189 was treated with uv and introduced into the four cell lines by electroporation. Plasmid survival and mutations inactivating the marker supF suppressor tRNA gene in the recovered pZ189 were scored by transforming an indicator strain of Escherichia coli. Plasmid survival was reduced and mutation frequency elevated equally with both XP-A cell lines compared to both normal cell lines. Base sequence analysis of more than 250 independent plasmids showed that while the G:C----A:T base substitution mutation was found in at least 60% of plasmids with single or tandem mutations with all four cell lines, the frequency with the transformed XP-A (93%) cells was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than that with the nontransformed XP-A cells (77%). In addition, with the transformed XP-A cells, there were significantly fewer plasmids with transversions and with mutations at a transversion hotspot (base pair 134) than with plasmids recovered from nontransformed XP-A cells. Interleukin-2 and phytohemagglutinin (used to maintain growth of the nontransformed lymphocytes) treatment of transformed XP12Be cells did not change overall plasmid survival or mutation frequency, but increased the transversion frequency and induced a mutational hotspot (at base pair 159), while another mutational hotspot (at base pair 123) disappeared. Thus we have demonstrated that in repair-deficient human cells, cellular transformation, while not affecting overall postuv plasmid survival and mutation frequency, does increase the susceptibility to G:C----A:T transition mutations, a type of mutation associated with uv-induced neoplasia.