The E6 and E7 genes of human papillomavirus type 6 have weak immortalizing activity in human epithelial cells.

Previous studies have shown that the E7 gene of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 or 18 alone was sufficient for immortalization of human foreskin epithelial cells (HFE) and that the efficiency was increased in cooperation with the respective E6 gene, whereas the HPV6 E6 or E7 gene was not active in HFE. To detect weak immortalizing activities of the HPV6 genes, cells were infected with recombinant retroviruses containing HPV genes, alone and in homologous and heterologous combinations. The HPV6 genes, alone or together (HPV6 E6 plus HPV6 E7), were not able to immortalize cells. However the HPV6 E6 gene, in concert with HPV16 E7, increased the frequency of immortalization threefold over that obtained with HPV16 E7 alone. Interestingly, 6 of 20 clones containing the HPV16 E6 gene and the HPV6 E7 gene were immortalized, whereas neither gene alone was sufficient. Thus, the HPV6 E6 and E7 genes have weak immortalizing activities which can be detected in cooperation with the more active transforming genes of HPV16. Acute expression of the HPV6 and HPV16 E6 and E7 genes revealed that only HPV16 E7 was able to stimulate the proliferation of cells in organotypic culture, resulting in increased expression of the proliferative cell nuclear antigen and the formation of a disorganized epithelial layer. Additionally, combinations of genes that immortalized HFE cells (HPV16 E6 plus HPV16 E7, HPV16 E6 plus HPV6 E7, and HPV6 E6 plus HPV16 E7) also stimulated proliferation.     

Characterization of epithelial cell cultures derived from human tracheal glands

Summary Cultures of normal human tracheal gland epithelial cells that exhibit functional differentiation have been propagated in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin (5 μg/ml), epidermal growth factor (10 ng/ml), hydrocortisone (0.5 μg/ml), and bovine pituitary extract (25 μg/ml). The cells retain many characteristics of epithelial cells including microvilli on cell surfaces, desmosomes between cells, and tonofilaments in the cytoplasm. In addition, they exhibit keratin-positive titers and react positively with Peanut agglutinin, which is specific for the disaccharide β-d-galactose-(l→ 3)N-acetyld-galactosamine, a major component of mucin glycoprotein. The cells also exhibit normal Cl⁻ channel activity which was enhanced by the cAMP agonist Forskolin. The major component of the cellular secretion was hyaluronic acid; approximately 10% of the void volume material was resistant to hyaluronidase and may contain material similar to mucin glycoprotein. Some of the cell cultures have been maintained in serum-free conditions for 6 to 7 passages. This model will be important to study regulation of ion-channel activities and mucous glycoprotein secretion and to compare such regulations with the tracheal mucosal epithelial cells already established. This research was supported by USPHS grants HL 41979 and HL 33142 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes.     

Synthesis of mucin glycoproteins by epithelial cells isolated from swine trachea by specific proteolysis

Mucus-producing cells were isolated from swine trachea mucosa by a method that included enzymatic digestion of the epithelial surface with Dispase, a neutral protease from Bacillus polymyxa, and differential attachment of the washed cells to culture flasks coated with collagen. Epithelial cells were the major cell type isolated by these procedures. Ciliated cells that did not attach to the flasks were removed by decantation , and fibroblasts were destroyed by the bacterial protease. The isolated cells synthesized respiratory mucins and the rate of secretion was increased about threefold when tracheas were exposed to sulfur dioxide. The cultured cells incorporated both [35S]O4 and [I-14C]N-acetylglucosamine into secreted mucin glycoproteins. The secretion of glycoprotein increased for about 3 d until the cells became confluent, and then a constant rate was observed for a period of at least 7 d. This increase in the output of mucin glycoprotein during the initial 3 d of culture was accompanied by a corresponding increase in the number of mucus-producing cells in the flasks. The results obtained in these and subsequent studies suggest that the rate of formation of mucus-producing cells may be a rate limiting step in the regulation of mucin glycoprotein synthesis in tracheal epithelium. The chemical, physical, and immunological properties of the glycoprotein secreted by isolated tracheal epithelial cells were very similar to the mucin glycoprotein purified from washes of swine trachea epithelium. The purified mucin glycoproteins showed complete cross-reaction with antibodies to trachea mucin glycoprotein. They were eluted near the void volume during gel filtration of Sepharose CL-6B columns. The glycoprotein isolated from culture media under the standard assay conditions had nearly the same carbohydrate composition as samples purified from washes of trachea epithelium. Reduced oligosaccharides released by beta-elimination with dilute alkaline borohydride showed similar elution profiles during chromatography on Bio Gel P-6 columns. Taken collectively, these results suggest that the isolated epithelial cells secreted mucin glycoproteins that were very similar to those synthesized by the intact trachea epithelium under standard incubation conditions.     

Inhibition of growth, transformation, and expression of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 in human keratinocytes by alpha interferons.

We used a model system of normal human keratinocytes (HKc) and HKc immortalized with human papillomavirus type 16 DNA (HKc/HPV16) to investigate the effects of alpha interferons (IFN-alpha) on the growth of HPV16-immortalized human epithelial cells, on HPV16-mediated immortalization of normal HKc, and on HPV16 gene expression. Normal HKc and HKc/HPV16 were treated with several recombinant human IFN-alpha subtypes (IFN-alpha B, IFN-alpha D, and IFN-alpha B/D). These IFN-alpha subtypes inhibited proliferation of both normal HKc and HKc/HPV16 in a dose-dependent fashion; however, although 1,000 to 10,000 U of IFN-alpha per ml were required to inhibit growth of normal HKc, HKc/HPV16 were substantially growth inhibited by 100 U/ml. In addition, 100 U of IFN-alpha B/D per ml inhibited transformation of normal HKc by HPV16 DNA. Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed no effect of IFN-alpha on the mRNA levels of the HPV16 E6 and E7 open reading frames. However, immunofluorescence studies of the HPV16 E6 and E7 proteins with anti-E6 and anti-E7 monoclonal antibodies showed significant inhibition of E7 protein expression in cells treated with IFN-alpha, whereas E6 protein expression was not altered. The inhibition of E7 protein expression in cells treated with IFN-alpha was further confirmed by Western immunoblot analysis. These results suggest that IFN-alpha may inhibit HPV16-mediated transformation of HKc and proliferation of HKc/HPV16 through an inhibition of HPV16 E7 protein expression.     

Synthesis of mucin glycoproteins by epithelial cells isolated from swine trachea by specific proteolysis

Summary Mucus-producing cells were isolated from swine trachea mucosa by a method that included enzymatic digestion of the epithelial surface with Dispase, a neutral protease fromBacillus polymyxa, and differential attachment of the washed cells to culture flasks coated with collagen. Epithelial cells were the major cell type isolated by these procedures. Ciliated cells that did not attach to the flasks were removed by decantation, and fibroblasts were destroyed by the bacterial protease. The isolated cells synthesized respiratory mucins and the rate of secretion was increased about threefold when tracheas were exposed to sulfur dioxide. The cultured cells incorporated both [³⁵S]O₄ and [I-¹⁴C]N-acetylglucosamine into secreted mucin glycoproteins. The secretion of glycoprotein increased for about 3 d until the cells became confluent, and then a constant rate was observed for a period of at least 7 d. This increase in the output of mucin glycoprotein during the initial 3 d of culture was accompanied by a corresponding increase in the number of mucus-producing cells in the flasks. The results obtained in these and subsequent studies suggest that the rate of formation of mucus-producing cells may be a rate limiting step in the regulation of mucin glycoprotein synthesis in tracheal epithelium. The chemical, physical, and immunological properties of the glycoprotein secreted by isolated tracheal epithelial cells were very similar to the mucin glycoprotein purified from washes of swine trachea epithelium. The purified mucin glycoproteins showed complete cross-reaction with antibodies to trachea mucin glycoprotein. They were eluted near the void volume during gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B columns. The glycoprotein isolated from culture media under the standard assay conditions had nearly the same carbohydrate composition as samples purified from washes of trachea epithelium. Reduced oligosaccharides released by β-elimination with dilute alkaline borohydride showed similar elution profiles during chromatography on Bio Gel P-6 colums. Taken collectively, these results suggest that the isolated epithelial cells secreted mucin glycoproteins that were very similar to those synthesized by the intact trachea epithelium under standard incubation conditions. This investigation was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant HL 20868 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and AM 28187 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.     

Immortalization of human urothelial cells by human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 genes in a defined serum-free system

Normal human epithelial cell cultures exhibit a limited (although different between tissues) lifespan in vitro. In previous studies, urothelial cell cultures were immortalized using retroviral transformation with human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 genes, in undefined culture systems containing serum or bovine pituitary extract. OBJECTIVE: Due to the variability of results in such systems, we instead developed a procedure for the immortalization of urothelial cells using a defined, serum-free culture system. METHOD AND RESULTS: Immortalization through retroviral transformation with human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 was successful, and transformation of urothelial cells conferred an extended over normal lifespan and restored telomerase activity. Transformed cells retained typical morphology and exhibited a similar growth rate, cytokeratin immunoreactivity pattern, and response to growth factors as observed in untransformed cells. Karyotype analysis revealed a gradual accumulation of genetic mutations that are consistent with previously reported mutations in epithelial cells transformed with human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7. CONCLUSION: The ability to extend the in vitro lifespan of cells holds the potential to reduce the continuous need for tissue samples and to enable complete investigations with one cell line.     

IGFBP-3, a marker of cellular senescence, is overexpressed in human papillomavirus-immortalized cervical cells and enhances IGF-1-induced mitogenesis

Human ectocervical cells, following retroviral transduction with the human papillomavirus type 16 E6/E7 oncogenes, are altered in their array of transcribed cellular genes, including increased mRNA for the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). IGFBP-3 expression is associated with cellular senescence, and its addition to many cell types inhibits growth or induces apoptosis. By immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, we demonstrate that late-passage, immortalized E6/E7-transduced cells secrete high levels of IGFBP-3 (25 ng/ml), which represent a 500-fold increase compared to levels in early-passage, nonimmortalized transduced cells (<0.05 ng/ml). Concomitantly, these late-passage cervical cells exhibit an increase in sensitivity to IGF-1, including enhanced phosphorylation of the IGF receptor (IGF-R) and insulin receptor substrate as well as increased DNA synthesis (5-fold) and cell proliferation (3.7-fold). However, there was no change in the level of IGF-R in these cells (surface or total), and the cells did not synthesize IGF-1, indicating that these arms of the IGF pathway were independently regulated and not responsible for the augmented signaling. Consistent with a causal relationship between IGFBP-3 expression and enhanced IGF-1 responses, we found that early-passage cells could be converted to the late-passage, IGF-1-responsive phenotype by preincubation with IGFBP-3. Thus, in contrast to findings with some cell types, IGFBP-3 expression in cervical cells is associated with augmented IGF-1 signaling and cell proliferation and correlates with the timing of cellular immortalization.     

Loss of p53 protein in human papillomavirus type 16 E6-immortalized human mammary epithelial cells.

We have shown previously that introduction of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) or HPV18 genome into human mammary epithelial cells induces their immortalization. These immortalized cells have reduced growth factor requirements. We report here that transfection with a single HPV16 gene E6 is sufficient to immortalize these cells and reduce their growth factor requirements. The RB protein is normal in these cells, but the p53 protein is sharply reduced, as shown by immunoprecipitation with anti-p53 antibody (pAB 421). We infer that the E6 protein reduces the p53 protein perhaps by signalling its destruction by the ubiquitin system. The HPV-transforming gene E7 was unable to immortalize human mammary epithelial cells. Thus, cell-specific factors may determine which viral oncogene plays a major role in oncogenesis.     

Restoration of telomeres in human papillomavirus-immortalized human anogenital epithelial cells.

Loss of telomeres has been hypothesized to be important in cellular senescence and may play a role in carcinogenesis. In this study, we have measured telomere length in association with the immortalization and transformation of human cervical and foreskin epithelial cells by the human papillomavirus type 16 or 18 E6 and E7 open reading frames. By using a telomeric TTAGGG repeat probe, it was shown that the telomeres of precrisis normal and E6-, E7-, and E6/E7-expressing cells gradually shortened with passaging (30 to 100 bp per population doubling). Cells that expressed both E6 and E7 went through a crisis period and gave rise to immortalized lines. In contrast to precrisis cells, E6/E7-immortalized cells generally showed an increase in telomere length as they were passaged in culture, with some later passage lines having telomeres that were similar to or longer than the earliest-passage precrisis cells examined. No consistent association could be made between telomere length and tumorigenicity of cells in nude mice. However, of the three cell lines that grew in vivo, two had long telomeres, thus arguing against the hypothesis that cancer cells favor shortened telomeres. Our results indicate that arrest of telomere shortening may be important in human papillomavirus-associated immortalization and that restoration of telomere length may be advantageous to cells with regard to their ability to proliferate.     

Transformation of human corneal endothelial cells by micro- injection of oncogenes

Human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) were transfected with some cloned oncogenes. The direct microinjection of either early region (E1) genes of monkey (SA7) and human (Ad5) adenoviruses or Ha-ras oncogen in conjunction with the Ad5 Ela-gene into embryonic HCEC nuclei was shown to result in immortalization of these cells. 3 independent immortalized HCEC lines were established in their growth and morphological properties were studied. These properties were very similar to those of primary HCEC, but unlike primary HCEC the immortalized cells didn't need the endothelial cell growth factor.     

Involvement of the MAP kinase ERK2 in MUC1 mucin signaling

MUC1 mucin is a receptor-like glycoprotein expressed abundantly in various cancer cell lines as well as in glandular secretory epithelial cells, including airway surface epithelial cells. The role of this cell surface mucin in the airway is not known. In an attempt to understand the signaling mechanism of MUC1 mucin, we established a stable cell line from COS-7 cells expressing a chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD8 and the cytoplasmic (CT) domain of MUC1 mucin (CD8/MUC1 cells). We previously observed that treatment of these cells with anti-CD8 antibody resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of the CT domain of the chimera. Here we report that treatment of CD8/MUC1 cells with anti-CD8 resulted in activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 2 as assessed by immunoblotting, kinase assay, and immunocytochemistry. The activation of ERK2 was completely blocked either by a dominant negative Ras mutant or in the presence of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor. We conclude that tyrosine phosphorylation of the CT domain of MUC1 mucin leads to activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway through the Ras-MEK-ERK2 pathway. Combined with the existing data by others, it is suggested that one of the roles of MUC1 mucin may be regulation of cell growth and differentiation via a common signaling pathway, namely the Grb2-Sos-Ras-MEK-ERK2 pathway.