Establishment and characterization of a cell line derived from a spontaneous murinelung carcinoma (M109)

Summary The Madison lung (M109) tumor cell line, initiated from a “spontaneous”, anaplastic murine lung carcinoma, has been propagated continuously in vitro for more than 300 cell generations. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a mouse karyotype with a mode of 78 chromosomes (2n=40). Three distinct marker chromosomes were identified by trypsin-giemsa banding. The cells piled up in culture and had a short generation time and high plating efficiency. Electron microscopy revealed highly undifferentiated cells with little rough endoplasmic reticulum, an abundance of free polysomes, the presence of few and often oddshaped mitochondria, lipid bodies and phagocytic vacuoles. Virus particles of the C-type were found frequently. The subcutaneous transplantation of M109 cultured cells at a relatively low cell inoculum produced highly metastatic tumors in syngeneic BALB/c mice.     

Isolation and characterization of a bovine trophectoderm cell line derived from a parthenogenetic blastocyst

A bovine trophectoderm cell line was established from a parthenogenetic in vitro-produced blastocyst. To initiate the cell line, 8-day parthenogenetic blastocysts were attached to a feeder layer of STO fibroblasts and primary outgrowths occurred that consisted of trophectoderm, endoderm, and very occasionally epiblast tissue. Any endoderm and epiblast outgrowths were removed from the primary cultures within the first 10 days of culture by dissection. One of the primary trophectoderm cell cultures was chosen for further propagation and was passaged by physical dissociation and replating on STO feeder cells. The cell culture, designated BPT-1, was maintained in T25 flasks and passaged at a 1:3 split ratio for the first 15 passages approximately once every 2 weeks. Thereafter, the cell culture was passaged at 1:10-1:40 split ratios. Transmission electron microscopic examination showed the cells to be a polarized epithelium with apical microvilli, a thin basal lamina, and lateral junctions consisting of tight junctions and desmosomes. Lipid vacuoles and digestive vacuoles were also prominent features of the BPT-1 cells. Metaphase spread analysis at passage 59 indicated a near diploid cell population (2n = 60) with a mode and median of 60 and a mean of 64. BPT-1 cells secreted interferon-tau into the medium as measured by anti-viral assay and Western blot analysis. The cell line provides an in vitro model of parthenogenote trophectoderm whose biological characteristics can be compared to trophectoderm cell lines derived from bovine embryos produced by normal fertilization or nuclear transfer.     

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.     

Isolation and characterization of a bovine visceral endoderm cell line derived from a parthenogenetic blastocyst

Summary A cell line, BPE-1, was derived from a parthegogenetic 8-d in vitro-produced bovine blastocyst that produced a cell outgrowth on STO feeder cells. The BPE-1 cells resembled visceral endoderm previously cultured from blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Analysis of the BPE-1 cells demonstrated that they produced serum proteins and were negative for interferon-tau production (a marker of trophectoderm). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cells were a polarized epithelium connected by complex junctions resembling tight junctions in conjunction with desmosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum was prominent within the cells as were lipid vacuoles. Immunocytochemistry indicated the BPE-1 cells had robust microtubule networks. These cells have been growth for over 2 yr for multiple passages at 1∶10 or 1∶20 split ratios on STO feeder cells. The BPE-1 cell line presumably arose from embryonic cells that became diploid soon after parthenogenetic activation and development of the early embryo. However, metaphase spreads prepared at passage 41 indicated that the cell population had a hypodiploid (2n=60) unimodal chromosome content with a mode of 53 and a median and mean of 52. The cell line will be of interest for functional comparisons with bovine endoderm cell lines derived from IVF and nuclear transfer embryos. Disclaimer: Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Establishment and characterization of a cisplatin-resistant cell line (IGSK-1) from a poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma

We successfully established a spontaneously cisplatin-resistant tumor cell line (designated as IGSK-1) derived from original gastric carcinoma. The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese woman. The histopathological diagnosis was gastric poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied with metastatic foci in lymph nodes, pT3, N2 M0, stage IIIB. The IGSK-1 cells grew as adhesive and monolayered cultures on the bottom of dishes. The susceptibility of the IGSK-1 cells to anti-cancer drugs was examined using oxygen electrode apparatus (Daikin, Tsukuba, JPN), and the results suggested TXL was effective, and CDDP, CPT-11 and 5-FU were not effective. Gastrin and somatostatin secretions were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and also radioimmunoassay. Immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay for serotonin suggested the IGSK-1 cells might incorporate serotonin from the growth media. Spontaneously cisplatin-resistant gastric carcinoma cell line secreted gastrin and somatostatin is very important material for chemotherapy.     

Establishment and characterization of human malignant lymphoma cell line derived from uterine cervix

Human uterine cervical malignant lymphoma (B-cell type) was cultured and the cell line (HIUML) was newly established. The HIUML cells were round in shape and had a tendency to make floating clusters. The cells had a smooth surface or protrusion on the margin of the cytoplasm, and proliferate in floatation. The population doubling time was about 32 hours and 42 or more passages were successfully observed in two years. The HIUML cells were not transplantable into nude mice but were successfully done in the cheek pouch of hamster with formation of malignant lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus was detected in the HIUML cells.     

Establishment and characterization of JHUCS-1 cell line derived from carcinosarcoma of the human uterus

The cell line designed JHUCS-1 was established from a carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed mesodermal tumor) of the uterus that was surgically removed from a 57-year-old Japanese woman. We carefully examined the histopathology of the original tumor after the cell line was established and noted differentiation into a neuroendocrine carcinoma within the tumor's epithelial components. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumorous tissue that had been heterotransplanted was positive for Leu7. Additionally, secretary granules were observed in the grafted cells as determined by electron microscopy. These results support the existence of neuroendocrine cells within the JHUCS-1 cell line.     

Establishment and characterization of an adherent pure epithelial cell line derived from the bovine oviduct

The oviduct in vivo has to perform various tasks: maturation and transport of the gametes, milieu preparation for fertilization and embryonic development, and transport of the embryo. The complex arrangement of endocrine and paracrine signals being exchanged between the early embryo and the inner cell layers of the oviduct is barely understood. Therefore, a reproducible, well-characterized oviduct epithelial cell line as well as an optimized transfection protocol for DNA vectors and siRNA for this cell line has been established. A bovine oviduct primary cell culture system has been optimized using a selection medium permitting the survival of only epithelial cells. From this we established an adherent bovine oviduct pure epithelial cell line (aBOPEC-1). This cell line maintains some important characteristics of the primary cells such as the expression of estrogen receptors and p450 aromatase but it lacks some characteristics due to the selection and dedifferentiation processes (cilia, expression of progesterone receptor and oviduct specific glycoprotein-1). Optimization of the transfection protocols finally revealed a suitable DNA-transfection procedure yielding transfection efficiencies of over 50%. Additionally, siRNA transfection efficiency reached more than 90%. This new cell line builds an essential basis especially for future functional studies in the oviduct epithelium using distinct knock down experiments.     

Establishment and characterization of a new human cell line (EJ) derived from endometrial carcinoma

We present a new cell line, EJ established from an invasive endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus in a 56-year-old patient. The cells show rapid growth in culture with a doubling time of 16 h and high migration activity. Monolayer-cultured cells were polygonal in shape showing a tendency to pile up without contact inhibition. Subcutaneous transplantation of the EJ cells into nude mice formed solid tumors that were histologically diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, whereas no metastasis was observed. Cultured EJ cells produced tissue polypeptide antigen (IPA). Genetic and molecular analyses revealed high telomerase activity but not estrogen receptor alpha expression. Using the DNA sequencing technique, we have screened EJ cells for p53 mutation in exon 5 to 8 but no mutation of p53 was observed. This cell line appears to represent the development of a more malignant clone with divergent receptor function and growth behavior, and provides us with an interesting new tool for the study of tumorigenesis in the human endometrium.     

Establishment and characterization of a cell line derived from a human serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary

A novel serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary (SSPC) cell line, HYKSSPC, was established successfully. Carcinoma cells were obtained from ascitic fluid of a 60-year-old Japanese woman. The population doubling time was 51.4 h. A phase contrast micrograph showed a pavement stone-like arrangement without contact inhibition. The chromosome number showed a wide distribution of aneuploidy, and the mode was in 46-47. An immunocytochemical study showed that CA125, BerER4 and cytokeratin were positive and that CEA, calretinin and thrombomodulin were negative. This cell line preserved some characters of the adenocarcinoma while growing in vitro. A chemosensitivity test revealed that HYKSSPC cells were sensitive to CDDP (cis-platinum), 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, paclitaxel and irinotecan. To our knowledge, HYKSSPC is the first established cell line derived from SSPC, and it may offer some useful information for investigating this disease.     

Establishment and characterization of a new murine cell line (SR-4987) derived from marrow stromal cells

A new murine cell line designated as SR-4987 was established by treating a long-term bone marrow culture with the supernatant from Y-1 cells which actively produce viral C-particles (MuLV). The line showed a fibrolbast-like morphology and its mesodermal origin was confirmed by immunocytochemical staining. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA index evidenced a tetraploid number of chromosomes whereas cell cycle analysis showed 34.8% of cells in S phase and 60.7% in G1.In vitro growth studies demonstrated a population doubling time of 14.7h, a good plating efficiency (52.3%) and a very poor agar clonogenic capacity (0.6%). SR-4987 was tumorigenic only in syngeneic mice in which sarcomas were induced. The line produced M-CSF in the culture supermatant whereas G-CSF, IL-3 and GM-CSF were not detected. Studies are in progress to assess the production of other cytokines and to verify if same autocrine growth factor is involved in the control of SR-4987 proliferation. Our line provides a further model of stromal cells for studying the interaction between hemopoietic progenitors and their micro-environment, as well as to study factors produced by stromal cells acting as modulators of proliferation and differentiation of related cell populations.     

Establishment and characterization of a bovine mammary myoepithelial cell line

Summary The thermolabile large T-antigen, encoded by the simian virus 40 early region mutant tsA58, was used to establish clonal cell lines (BMM-UV) from primary bovine myoepithelial cells. The BMM-UV cells have undergone more than 300 population doublings without any signs of senescence, and they contain the intranuclear large T antigen. At low confluency, they grow in a spindlelike manner and develop very long projections that most likely allow for communication of cells at a distance from each other. Establishment results in a decrease in the number of cells that contract in response to oxytocin compared with the parental nontransfected cells (20% versus 45%). Oxytocin responsiveness of BMM-UV cells increases when the cells are cultured in a medium supplemented with staphylococcal proteases. Proliferation of BMM-UV cells increases when they are cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor (10 ng/ml) or insulinlike growth factor I (50 ng/ml). The BMM-UV cells may become a useful model to study growth properties, cell-to-cell communication, and the function of bovine mammary myoepithelial cells.     

Establishment and characterization of a brain‐cell line from kelp grouper Epinephelus moara

A new brain‐cell line, EMB, was developed from kelp grouper Epinephelus moara, a cultured marine fish. The EMB cells were subcultured for more than 60 passages. The cells were cultured in Leibovitz's L‐15 medium (L15) supplemented with antibiotics, foetal bovine serum (FBS), 2‐mercaptoethanol (2‐ME) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The cells could grow at 18–30° C, with the maximum growth between 24 and 30° C. The optimum FBS concentration for the cells growth ranged between 15 and 20%. Chromosome analysis indicated that the modal chromosome number was 48 in the cells at passage 45. After being transfected with pEGFP‐N3 plasmid, the cells could successfully express green fluorescence protein (GFP), implying that this cell line can be used for transgenic studies. A significant cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed in the cells after infection with Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) or red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) and the viral replication was confirmed by quantitative real‐time PCR (qrt‐PCR) assay, which suggested EMB's application potential for studies of SGIV and RGNNV.     

Establishment and characterization of a normal melanocyte cell line derived from pig skin

Several minipig strains develop spontaneous malignant melanoma. As a first step toward the analysis of genes involved in the tumoral progression of melanoma in these animal models, we developed culture conditions for pig melanocytes whereby melanocytes from normal epidermis can be isolated directly onto mitotically inactivated keratinocytes in Eagle's minimal essential medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) and cholera toxin. We also derived an immortal line of pigmented melanocytes from the epidermis of a healthy Meishan pig. This cell line, designated PigMel, retains differentiation function in culture, dependence on TPA and cholera toxin and a diploid chromosome number. PigMel melanocytes exhibit morphological and molecular characteristics common to normal mammalian skin melanocytes.     

Establishment and characterization of a carcinoma-associated fibroblast cell line derived from a human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is one of the most common malignancies in the oral and maxillofacial region. Carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAF) is an important component in the tumor microenvironment and participates in SACC progression. In this study, we established a CAF cell line derived from a human SACC and named it CAF-SA. It was identified that CAF-SA expressed typical CAF biomarkers. Then, we studied the cellular communications between CAF-SA, tumor cells and endothelial cells. It was found that CAF-SA promoted the migration, invasion, and proliferation of SACC tumor cells in vitro. In addition, tube formation by endothelial cells was enhanced by CAF-SA. In vivo experiment showed that SACC cells formed larger xenografts in nude mice when they were transplanted with CAF-SA. Overall, we demonstrated that CAF-SA exhibited the most important defining feature of CAF by promoting cancer progression.     

Influence of TNFalpha on the sialylation of mucins produced by a transformed cell line MM-39 derived from human tracheal gland cells

In order to investigate the influence of inflammation on the peripheral glycosylation of airway mucins, a human respiratory glandular cell line (MM-39) was treated by TNF. The expression and the activity of sialyl- and fucosyl-transferases, involved in the biosynthesis of peripheral carbohydrate determinants like sialyl-Lewis x, were investigated by RT-PCR and by HPAEC respectively. The mRNA steady-state level of sialyl- (ST3Gal III) and of fucosyl- (FUT3) transferases was moderately up-regulated by TNF; a 52% increase of 2,3-sialyltransferase activity was also observed in TNF-stimulated MM-39 cells. After metabolic radio-labelling with [³H]glucosamine and [³H]fucose, the mucins released inthe culture supernatant were purified by Sepharose CL-4B, density-gradient centrifugation and treatment with glycosaminoglycans-degrading enzymes. The mucins, released in the culture supernatant from control MM-39 cells, were constituted by two populations of molecules having the same 1.39–1.44 mg/ml density but carrying either high or low amounts of sialic acid residues at their periphery. TNF was able to increase the sialylation of the weakly sialylated mucins. This effect and the enhancement of the 2,3-sialyltransferase activity by TNF argue in favour of a regulation of the mucin sialylation by this pro-inflammatory cytokine. Despite the moderate overexpression of FUT3, no fucosylation of mucins produced by MM-39 cells was induced by TNF. In conclusion, the influence of TNF on the sialylation of mucins could explain why the mucins from infected patients suffering either from cystic fibrosis or from chronic bronchitis are more sialylated.     

Establishment,characterization and viral susceptibility of two cell lines derived from leopard wrasse Macropharyngodon geoffroy

Two new fish cell lines were established from skin (LWSK) and fin (LWFN) of leopard wrasse Macropharyngodon geoffroy. These cells grew optimally at 25° C in Leibovitz‐15 medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum. Proliferation of M. geoffroy cells remained serum dependent up to cell passage 16, and cell‐plating efficiency ranged from 12 to 16%. Karyotypic analysis of these new cell lines at cell passage 8 indicated that both cell lines remained diploid with a peak chromosomal count of 144. PCR amplification of 16S mitochondrial DNA and the subsequent analysis confirmed that these cell lines were indeed derived from M. geoffroy. Results of viral challenge assays revealed that both LWSK and LWFN shared patterns of viral susceptibility similar to that of six fish viruses tested: LWSK and LWFN cells were highly permissive to channel catfish virus, spring viremia carp virus and snakehead rhabdovirus with high‐yield virus production ranging from 10^7·18±0·17 to 10^8·37±0·16 TCID₅₀ ml^?1 (mean ± s.d .). These newly established cell lines would be useful in attempts to isolate and study aquatic viruses, particularly the viral aetiology of green turtle fibropapilloma as M. geoffroy is known to be one of the common cleaner fish of green sea turtles.     

Ultrastructural changes accompanying secretion and cell death in the molting glands of an insect (Oncopeltus)

During the fifth (last) larval instar of Oncopeltus fasciatus, morphological changes in the molting glands associated with ecdysone secretion include an increase in cytoplasmic volume relative to that of the nucleus, increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and the formation of deep infoldings of the plasma membrane. On the sixth day of the fifth instar large electron-lucent areas become apparent beneath the basement membrane; however, the glands remain intact until the seventh (last) day of the instar when a dramatic fragmentation of the cytoplasm, and condensation and fragmentation of the nucleus are observed. It is likely that such changes occur rapidly, just prior to the time of ecdysis to an adult. Cell death in the molting glands of Oncopeltus is markedly different from that described for the molting glands of other insect species in that autophagic vacuoles are not observed prior to a complete loss of cellular integrity.