Possible activity of acidic fibroblast growth factor as a progression factor rather than a transforming factor.

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF) are mitogens for mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells. The facts that FGF-related proteins are oncogenic and that FGFs are expressed in a variety of tumor cell lines or tumor tissues suggest the transforming activities of FGFs. To examine such an activity of aFGF, we introduced a human aFGF expression vector into two populations of Rat-1 cells; one was non-transformed (nRat-1), the other was partially-transformed (tRat-1). tRat-1 cells transfected with aFGF cDNA formed larger colonies in soft agar and produced larger and more malignant tumors in nude mice than those of parental cells. In contrast, nRat-1 cells transfected with aFGF cDNA neither formed colonies in soft agar nor produced tumors in nude mice. Our results suggest that high expression of aFGF may enhance a tumorigenic potential of Rat-1 cells rather than confer such a potential de novo.     

Properties of cell lines derived from altered-cell foci in baby mouse skin cultures

Long-term cell lines were readily developed from a proportion of either baby mouse skin (BMS) cultures passing through colchicine-induced crisis or altered-cell foci selected from BMS cultures exposed to light and/or oxygen followed by colchicine. The developing cell lines behaved as though they passed through a continuing, profound genetic reshuffling process, which was usually lethal but which in some cases eventually yielded a gene set that favored long-term survival. Some cell lines have passed 120 cell doublings, and none has shown a second crisis or signs of senescence. As soon after isolation as measurement was possible (19–50 days) the cell lines were predominantly or entirely tetraploid or subtetraploid. Although BMS cells and all of the cell lines were density inhibited, the BMS, C14, C21 and C23 cells overgrew (formed colonies on) monolayers of the same cells in most combinations. The cell lines retained a variety of neoplastic morphological characters, although their morphology was more normal than in the original focus. No cell line, however, showed anchorage-independent growth or formed tumors in syngeneic hosts. The cell lines may all, therefore, be regarded as preneoplastic.     

In vitro characterization of estrogen induced syrian hamster renal tumors: Comparison with an immortalized cell line derived from diethylstilbestrol-treated adult hamster kidney

Summary Primary diethylstilbestrol-induced kidney tumors from Syrian hamsters were grown in vitro and maintained in culture for 6 mo. Combined immunohistochemical studies using antibodies to intermediate filaments and ultrastructural studies of tumor cells in culture exhibited characteristics similar to tumor cells in vivo. Furthermore, the cells manifested transformed properties in culture; they grew both as multilayered colonies attached to the tissue culture substrate and as floating multicellular colonies (spheroids). When cultured cells were injected into diethylstilbestrol-treated recipient hamsters, tumors developed at the injection sites. In contrast, renal tubules or whole kidney cortex from control hamsters cultured in the same medium underwent only short-term growth, with senescence developing after approximately 1 mo. However, cell cultures of kidney cortex from animals treated in vivo for 5 mo. with diethylstilbestrol formed a cell line. This diethylstilbestrol-induced cell line has been maintained in culture for 1.5 yr and has the following characteristics: a) it is anchorage-dependent, b) it is negative in in vivo tumorigenicity tests, and c) cultured cells are histochemically and ultrastructurally similar to cultured tumor cells. This culture system should prove to be of use in studying hormonal carcinogenesis in vitro. This study was supported by the Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, and by grant CA-22008 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD.     

Consequences of selenite supplementation on the growth and metabolism of cultures of canine mammary cells

Previous studies with cultures of canine mammary cells revealed differences in the degree of growth inhibition caused by selenite supplementation, with canine mammary tumor cell line 13 > 11 > non-neoplastic canine mammary cells. The present studies show this variation in growth retardation cannot be explained by selenium retention. Intracellular glutathione related inversely to the degree of growth inhibition resulting from the addition of selenite. Dimethyl selenide formation by S-9 preparations corresponded to the sensitivity of the culture to supplemental selenite. DL-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis, accentuated the growth inhibition and prevented the increase in intracellular glutathione caused by supplemental selenite. Treatment of canine mammary tumor cell line 13 cultures with DL-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine resulted in a persistent depletion of intracellular glutathione without affecting growth. Glutathione reductase activity, before and following selenite, was inversely related to the degree of growth inhibition, with canine mammary tumor cell line 13 > 11 > non-neoplastic canine mammary tumor cell line. Selenite addition increased the activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in canine mammary tumor cell line 11 and non-neoplastic canine mammary cells, but not in canine mammary tumor cell line 13 cells. The present data suggest the differences in the growth inhibition caused by selenite among these mammary cells is related to glutathione regulation and ultimately to selenium detoxification.     

The cytology of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in culture

Thirteen cell lines derived from embryos of the mouse, rat and hamster were sampled at closely spaced intervals for cytology and spontaneous neoplastic transformation. Transformation, determined by growth of the cells as malignant neoplasms in compatible hosts, occurred in eight lines and appeared to be unrelated to time in culture, passage number, proliferative activity of the cells or type of serum used to supplement the culture medium. In an effort to establish cytologic criteria for malignancy of rodent fibroblasts, cultures were examined for 19 cytologic abnormalities. The percentage of cells or colonies showing each of the abnormal properties was recorded. Five of the 19 were found to correlate with neoplastic transformation in all cell lines. These were cytoplasmic basophilia, reduced cytoplasmic spreading on substrate, cording, high nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio and clumping. Each of these properties is amenable to quantitation or computerized image analysis. On the basis of the five cytologic criteria, the percentage of colonies diagnosed neoplastic, borderline and non-neoplastic was determined for each line. Although these percentages varied from one transplant generation to another, the percentage of neoplastic colonies tended to increase with time in all lines which became malignant, and the borderline colonies tended to decrease, suggesting a progression from borderline to neoplastic state.     

The effects of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on the growth and morphology of transformed rat liver cells

The effects of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) on the growth, morphology, and tumorigenicity of the spontaneously transformed rat liver cell line R72/3 were studied. These cells grow either in suspension or in a monolayer and are tumorigenic. In monolayer cultures, cells treated with low concentrations (2.5 μg/ml) of BrdUrd were larger, more spread out, and more firmly attached to the substratum than were untreated controls. Treated cells failed to grow in suspension or on confluent monolayers of 3T3 cells and did not form colonies in soft agar. Scanning electron microscopy revealed extensive flattening of treated cells and a dramatic reduction in the number of microvilli on the cell surface. Transmission electron microscopy showed an increase in polyribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum, as well as an enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and a complete absence of the bundles of intermediate size filaments that were conspicuous in untreated cells. The persistence of these changes required the continuous presence of BrdUrd in the medium. The effects of BrdUrd were readily reversed by withdrawal of BrdUrd and were not expressed in the presence of excess thymidine.     

The cytology of spontaneous neoplastic transformation in culture

Summary Thirteen cell lines derived from embryos of the mouse, rat and hamster were sampled at closely spaced intervals for cytology and spontaneous neoplastic transformation. Transformation, determined by growth of the cells as malignant neoplasms in compatible hosts, occurred in eight lines and appeared to be unrelated to time in culture, passage number, proliferative activity of the cells or type of serum used to supplement the culture medium. In an effort to establish cytologic criteria for malignancy of rodent fibroblasts, cultures were examined for 19 cytologic abnormalities. The percentage of cells or colonies showing each of the abnormal properties was recorded. Five of the 19 were found to correlate with neoplastic transformation in all cell lines. These were cytoplasmic basophilia, reduced cytoplasmic spreading on substrate, cording, high nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio and clumping. Each of these properties is amenable to quantitation or computerized image analysis. On the basis of the five cytologic criteria, the percentage of colonies diagnosed neoplastic, borderline and non-neoplastic was determined for each line. Although these percentages varied from one transplant generation to another, the percentage of neoplastic colonies tended to increase with time in all lines which became malignant, and the borderline colonies tended to decrease, suggesting a progression from borderline to neoplastic state.     

Association between Tumorigenic Potential and the Fate of Cancer Cells in a Syngeneic Melanoma Model

The self-renewal potential of a cancer cell can be estimated by using particular assays, which include xenotransplantation in immunocompromised animals or culturing in non-adherent serum-free stem-cells media (SCM). However, whether cells with self-renewal potential actually contribute to disease is unknown. Here we investigated the tumorigenic potential and fate of cancer cells in an in-vivo melanoma model. We examined cell lines which were derived from the same parental line: a non-metastatic cell line (K1735/16), a metastatic cell line (K1735/M4) and a cell line which was selected in non-adherent conditions (K1735/16S). All cell lines exhibited similar proliferation kinetics when grown on culture plates. K1735/16 cells grown in soft agar or in suspension non-adherent conditions failed to form colonies or spheroids, whereas the other cell lines showed prominent colonogenicity and spheroid formation capacity. By using sphere limiting dilution analysis (SLDA) in serum-free media, K1735/16S and K1735/M4 cells grown in suspension were capable of forming spheroids even in low frequencies of concentrations, as opposed to K1735/16 cells. The tumorigenic potential of the cell lines was determined in SCID mice using intra footpad injections. Palpable tumors were evident in all mice. In agreement with the in-vitro studies, the K1735/M4 cell line exhibited the highest growth kinetics, followed by the K1735/16S cell line, whereas the K1735/16 cell line had the lowest tumor growth potential (P<0.001). In contrast, when we repeated the experiments in syngeneic C3H/HeN mice, the K1735/16 cell line produced macroscopic tumors 30–100 days after injection, whereas K1735/M4 and K1735/16S derived tumors regressed spontaneously in 90–100% of mice. TUNEL analysis revealed significantly higher number of apoptotic cells in K1735/16S and K1735/M4 cell line-derived tumors compared to K1735/16 tumors (P<0.001). The models we have examined here raised the possibility, that cells with high-tumorigenic activity may be more immunogenic and hence are more susceptible to immune-regulation.     

Effects of factors derived from a tumor clonal cell line on DNA synthesis of transformed and non transformed cells

Conditioned medium from neoplastic thyroid cell cultures, extracts of tumors developed by identical cells in isogeneic Fisher 344 rats and serum from those tumor-bearing animals, were tested in pulse thymidine labelled experiments on a transformed and two non transformed cell lines. Tumor extract and conditioned medium inhibited DNA synthesis. Tumor-bearing rat serum increased DNA synthesis in a cerebellar transformed cell line, but no in chick embryo fibroblasts or in aorta non transformed cells.     

Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools and differential thymidine sensitivities of cultured mouse lymphoma and myeloma cells

The effects of various concentrations of thymidine on DNA synthesis and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate contents of a highly thymidine-sensitive cultured mouse lymphoma cell line (WEHI-7) and a relatively resistant mouse myeloma cell line (HPC-108) have been studied by 32P-labelling techniques. DNA synthesis in the myeloma cells was inhibited by thymidine at concentrations of 10(-3) M or greater, while DNA synthesis in the lymphoma cells was inhibited by concentrations 30-fold lower, consistent with the 25-fold difference between the two cell lines in sensitivity to growth inhibition by thymidine. Thymidine caused marked elevation of the dTTP and dGTP pools, slight elevation or no change in the dATP pool and a marked decrease in the dCTP pool in cells of both lines. The greater resistance of HPC-108 cells to thymidine inhibition was related to the finding that they normally contained a much higher concentration of dCTP than did the WEHI-7 cells. Pool size measurements on thymidine-treated (10(-4) M) cells of an additional seven sensitive lymphoma and six relatively resistant myeloma cell lines indicated that in all 15 lines studied, with one exception, a critical concentration of dCTP of about 32 nmol per ml of cell volume was required for the maintenance of normal rates of DNA synthesis. The dCTP content found normally in the lymphoma cells was only a little above this concentration. Amongst the myeloma lines, three contained similarly low levels of dCTP, but were more resistant to thymidine inhibition probably because of their inefficient production of dTTP from thymidine. Cells of the other four myeloma lines (including HPC-108) normally contained much higher dCTP concentrations. The mechanism of thymidine action was explained by reference to the known allosteric properties of ribonucleotide reductase.     

Establishment and characterization of a human ureteral cancer cell line producing carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen

We established a new cell line (FU-UrC-1) derived from a human primary ureteral carcinoma xenografted in a nude mouse. This cell line exhibited epithelial characteristics and formed clusters in monolayer cultures. The cells were subcultured in vitro for more than 20 passages and had a doubling time of 53 hours. The modal number of chromosomes was 66. The cell line, which was xenografted again to nude mice, produced tumors essentially identical to the original tumor. Furthermore, the cultured cells expressed carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) that were secreted in the culture media. This cell line appears to provide a useful system for studying ureteral carcinoma in vivo and in vitro.     

Arrest of Chinese hamster cells in G 2 following treatment with the anti-tumor drug bleomycin

Upon addition of bleomycin (BLM) to suspension cultures of Chinese hamster cells (line CHO), cells closer to prophase than 56 minutes continue dividing at the normal rate, whereas cells at earlier positions in the cell cycle either fail to reach mitosis altogether (at 200 μg/ml) or enter mitosis and divide at a reduced rate at lower drug concentrations. At 100 μg/ml of BLM (the rate of cell division slowed to a doubling time of 167 hours), initiation and termination of DNA synthesis occur at normal rates, resulting in an accumulation of cells with a G₂ DNA content in the first 130 minutes of G₂. Bleomycin effects are not readily reversible. The rates of incorporation of leucine, uridine, or thymidine into cells treated for six hours with 100 μg/ml of BLM were 90, 85, and 80%, respectively, of the values obtained in control cultures, suggesting that the effects of BLM on cell-cycle traverse cannot be correlated with gross inhibition of macromolecular synthesis.     

Differential proliferation of rat aortic and mesenteric smooth muscle cells in culture.

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) from various arterial origins have been successfully maintained in culture. The present study evaluates the proliferative activity of aortic and mesenteric SMC in culture. Aortic and mesenteric SMC were obtained from male Wistar rats by explant and enzyme digestion techniques, respectively. Vascular SMC obtained by either method exhibited a characteristic hill-and-valley growth pattern in culture after confluence and were positively labelled with either anti-smooth muscle actin or myosin by an indirect immunofluorescent method. The rate of incorporation of thymidine into DNA and cell number counting were used as indices of proliferation in vitro. Vascular SMC from passages 4-33 were first synchronized with either Dullbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DME) or Ham's F-12 medium, supplemented with insulin-transferring-selenium (ITS), for 72 hours. SMC were then stimulated with 10% bovine serum for either 24 or 72 hours with the former processed for scintillation counting, the latter for cell number determination. The incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA following a 2 hour incubation was determined by scintillation counting after perchloric acid extraction. In terms of cell numbers, proliferative responses to bovine serum were determined by Coulter counting. Autoradiography was also carried out in some cultures to determine both thymidine and mitotic labelling indices. The rate of thymidine incorporation in aortic cells was 2-3 fold higher than in mesenteric cells. Aortic and mesenteric SMC lines exhibited similar cell cycle intervals in terms of total duration and individuals cycle parameters. However, the total thymidine index was higher in the aortic than mesenteric SMC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rat esophageal and epidermal keratinocytes: intrinsic differences in culture and derivation of continuous lines

Serially cultivated with 3T3 feeder layer support as colonies of stratified squamous epithelium, rat epidermal and esophageal epithelial cells were readily distinguishable by three criteria. First, the epidermal colonies, exhibiting extensive piling up of squames in the centers, were more stratified than esophageal colonies. Second, in sparse culture 70 to 90% of the esophageal cells but as few as 1 to 5% of the epidermal cells were competent in cross-linked envelope formation upon treatment with the ionophore X537A. After reaching confluence, up to 90% of the cells of both types formed envelopes upon ionophore treatment. Third, epidermal cells in suspension culture reached maximal levels of spontaneously cross-linked envelopes in 1 day or less, while esophageal cells required about 4 days in suspension to reach maximal levels. A reproducible finding with both cell types was that initial colony-forming efficiencies of less than 1% increased to about 40% upon serial passage with consequent derivation of continuous lines. Sparse cultures of esophageal cells with high colony-forming ability retained a high degree of envelope competence (70 to 90%), indicating these two properties are not mutually exclusive. The derived lines exhibited reduced dependence upon feeder layer support at clonal density, but in suspension culture the cells did not grow and lost colony-forming ability with a half-time of several hours. We conclude that cells from these keratinized rat epithelia exhibit intrinsic differences in culture and become continuous lines expressing characteristic regulation of envelope competence and loss of germinative capability in suspension.     

Thymidylate nucleotide supply for mitochondrial DNA synthesis in mouse L-cells. Effect of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and methotrexate in thymidine kinase plus and thymidine kinase minus cells.

The effects of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and methotrexate on [3H]thymidine and 32P labeling of mtDNA were studied in two lines of mouse L-cells. LMTK- cells, which lack the major cellular thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) but contain a genetically distinct mitochondrial enzyme, were compared to LA9 cells, which contain both thymidine kinase activities. LMTK- cells were resistant to 5-flurodeoxyuridine by a factor of 200 in comparison to LA9 cells. In both cells lines appropriate drug treatment increased utilization of exogenous thymidine for mtDNA synthesis. The maximum enhancement was 10- to 12-fold for LA9 cells and approximately 20-fold for LMTK- cells when treated with 10 muM methotrexate. The rates of mtDNA and nuclear DNA synthesis during drug treatment were analyzed with 32P labeling and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine density labeling experiments. Synthesis of both mtDNA and nuclear DNA were strongly inhibited by drug treatment of either LA9 or LMTK- cells in the absence of exogenous thymidine. The rate of mtDNA synthesis substantially exceeded that of nuclear DNA in LA9 cells treated with 4 muM 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and less than 5 muM thymidine. Both synthetic rates approached those of untreated LA9 control cultures if 20 muM thymidine was present during 5-fluorodeoxyuridine treatment. In contrast, in LMTK- cells treated with 10 muM methotrexate and 20 muM thymidine, mtDNA synthesis continued at 50 to 60% of the control rate for at least 10 hours while nuclear DNA synthesis was 96% inhibited. Synthesis of mtDNA mass-labeled in both strands with 5-bromouracil occurred when LMTK- cells were incubated for 30 hours with 10 muM methotrexate and 20 muM 5-bromodeoxyuridine. These results indicate that mtDNA synthesis is resistant to a limitation of the thymidine triphosphate supply and is not strictly dependent upon concomitant nuclear DNA synthesis in these cells.     

Mitogenic activity of pituitary hormones on cell cultures of normal and carcinogen-induced tumor epithelium from rat mammary glands

Cell suspension containing normal or tumor epithelium were readily obtained by enzymatically digesting rat mammary glands from perphenazine-treated (prolactin-hypersecreting) cycling, female virgin animals or hormone- responsive mammary tumors from animal treated with dimethylbenzanthracene. Cell suspensions were fractioned into predominantly epithelial and predominantly stromal cells by their differential rates of attachment to culture dishes. Both normal mammary and tumor epithelial cells were characterized by the presence of specific cell-junctional complexes, desmosome-like structures, surface microvilli, and their ability to synthesize casein. Serum-dependent protease activity was greater in cultures derived from tumors, and cells from such cultures grew in agarose whereas those from the non-neoplastic gland did not. The addition of prolactin to the culture medium stimulated DNA synthesis in primary or secondary epithelial cultures from tumors, whereas additional insulin and hydrocortisone with prolactin were required for similar levels of DNA synthesis in cultures from non-neoplastic glands. The fraction of cells synthesizing DNA was, however, smaller than that with 10 percent serum measured in the same time period. Both growth hormone and epidermal growth factor stimulated DNA synthesis but to a lesser extent than did prolactin. Prolactin with hydrocortisone and insulin were relatively inactive in promoting DNA synthesis of the nonepithelial cells whereas pituitary fibroblast growth factor was more active. These mitogenic effects were obtained when the hormones were added to the medium at near physiological concentrations, and paralleled the known activities of the hormones in control of mammary gland growth and development in the rat.     

Effects of retinoic acid on the growth and morphology of hamster tracheal epithelial cells in primary culture

Hamster tracheal epithelial cells were grown in primary culture on a collagen gel substrate in hormone-supplemented serum-free Ham's F12 medium with 10(-8) M retinoic acid (RA+), or without retinoic acid (RA-). On days 1 and 2, the colonies were composed of large (secretory) cells and lesser numbers of small (basal) cells; ciliated cells were rare. At these times, cell number, thymidine incorporation, and total labelling indices (small and large cells, combined) were similar in RA+ and RA- cultures, but the large cells became flat in RA- medium on day 2. On days 3-5, thymidine incorporation and total labelling indices were less in RA- than RA+ cultures, and on days 4-6, cell numbers were decreased in RA- cultures. On day 3, the large cells of the RA- colonies had flattened further and clusters of small basal cells had formed. On day 4, the RA+ colonies were composed of densely-packed cuboidal secretory cells, small basal cells were inconspicuous; the total labelling index was about 27%. The RA- colonies were composed of large flat secretory cells and numerous small basal cells which were clustered in groups; the total labelling index was about 7%. Since large and small cells could be discriminated by size in RA- colonies, a labelling index was generated based on cell size. On days 2, 3 and 4, the labelling index of the small basal cells in the RA- colonies was 44%, 43% and 24% respectively, whereas the labelling index of the large secretory cells fell rapidly over the same period (56%, 14% and 2%). On days 5 and 6, the cuboidal secretory cells in the RA+ cultures had differentiated further and the cells were stratified focally. Some new ciliated cells had formed on day 6. In RA- cultures, mucous granules were not observed in the large flat cells and ciliated cells were not seen. The total labelling indices were 11% and 0.35% in RA+ cultures, and 0.5% and 0.25% in RA- cultures on days 5 and 6, respectively. The study shows that the target cell for vitamin A in the hamster tracheal epithelium is the secretory (mucous) cell. When retinoic acid was deficient, the secretory cells flattened and their capacity to divide was greatly diminished. Since the basal cells continued to replicate when the secretory cells did not, the population density of the basal cells increased disproportionally, which could be interpreted erroneously as a "basal cell hyperplasia".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Human Breast Tumor Cells Are More Resistant to Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity Than Non-Tumorigenic Breast Cells

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS), specific inhibitors of Na,K-ATPase activity, have been widely used for treating cardiac insufficiency. Recent studies suggest that low levels of endogenous CTS do not inhibit Na,K-ATPase activity but play a role in regulating blood pressure, inducing cellular kinase activity, and promoting cell viability. Higher CTS concentrations inhibit Na,K-ATPase activity and can induce reactive oxygen species, growth arrest, and cell death. CTS are being considered as potential novel therapies in cancer treatment, as they have been shown to limit tumor cell growth. However, there is a lack of information on the relative toxicity of tumor cells and comparable non-tumor cells. We have investigated the effects of CTS compounds, ouabain, digitoxin, and bufalin, on cell growth and survival in cell lines exhibiting the full spectrum of non-cancerous to malignant phenotypes. We show that CTS inhibit membrane Na,K-ATPase activity equally well in all cell lines tested regardless of metastatic potential. In contrast, the cellular responses to the drugs are different in non-tumor and tumor cells. Ouabain causes greater inhibition of proliferation and more extensive apoptosis in non-tumor breast cells compared to malignant or oncogene-transfected cells. In tumor cells, the effects of ouabain are accompanied by activation of anti-apoptotic ERK1/2. However, ERK1/2 or Src inhibition does not sensitize tumor cells to CTS cytotoxicity, suggesting that other mechanisms provide protection to the tumor cells. Reduced CTS-sensitivity in breast tumor cells compared to non-tumor cells indicates that CTS are not good candidates as cancer therapies.