SV40 early region oncoproteins and human cell transformation

We now understand neoplastic transformation to be the consequence of multiple acquired genetic alterations. The combination of these acquired changes confer the various phenotypes that constitute the clinical features of cancer. Although only rare human cancers derive from a viral etiology, the study of DNA tumor viruses that transform rodent and human cells has led to a greater understanding of the molecular events that program the malignant state. In particular, investigation of the viral oncoproteins specified by the Simian Virus 40 Early Region (SV40 ER) has revealed critical host cell pathways, whose perturbation play an essential role in the experimental transformation of mammalian cells. Recent work has re-investigated the roles of two SV40 ER oncoproteins, the large T antigen (LT) and the small t antigen (ST), in human cell transformation. Co-expression of these two oncoproteins, together with the telomerase catalytic subunit, hTERT, and an oncogenic version of the H-Ras oncoprotein, suffices to transform human cells. LT inactivates two key tumor suppressor pathways by binding to the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and p53. The ability of ST to transform human cells requires interactions with PP2A, an abundant family of serine-threonine phosphatases. Here we review recent developments in our understanding of how these two viral oncoproteins facilitate human cell transformation.     

PP2A inactivation is a crucial step in triggering apoptin-induced tumor-selective cell killing

Apoptin (apoptosis-inducing protein) harbors tumor-selective characteristics making it a potential safe and effective anticancer agent. Apoptin becomes phosphorylated and induces apoptosis in a large panel of human tumor but not normal cells. Here, we used an in vitro oncogenic transformation assay to explore minimal cellular factors required for the activation of apoptin. Flag-apoptin was introduced into normal fibroblasts together with the transforming SV40 large T antigen (SV40 LT) and SV40 small t antigen (SV40 ST) antigens. We found that nuclear expression of SV40 ST in normal cells was sufficient to induce phosphorylation of apoptin. Mutational analysis showed that mutations disrupting the binding of ST to protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) counteracted this effect. Knockdown of the ST-interacting PP2A–B56γ subunit in normal fibroblasts mimicked the effect of nuclear ST expression, resulting in induction of apoptin phosphorylation. The same effect was observed upon downregulation of the PP2A–B56δ subunit, which is targeted by protein kinase A (PKA). Apoptin interacts with the PKA-associating protein BCA3/AKIP1, and inhibition of PKA in tumor cells by treatment with H89 increased the phosphorylation of apoptin, whereas the PKA activator cAMP partially reduced it. We infer that inactivation of PP2A, in particular, of the B56γ and B56δ subunits is a crucial step in triggering apoptin-induced tumor-selective cell death.     

Unraveling Human Tumor Suppressor Pathways: A Tale of the INK4A Locus

Research on tumor suppressors has for a long time run on two tracks: analysis of the mutations found in human tumor material, and active genetic manipulation in mice. As primary human cells were not easily amenable to genetic alterations, the proof to designate a suspected gene as a tumor suppressor was often by generation of knockout mice and analysis of their phenotypes. In this way, a vast amount of information has been gathered on the actions of major players in carcinogenesis. However, it has recently become apparent that there are major differences in the requirements for oncogenic transformation between human and mouse cells. Among these are the expression of hTERT, SV40 small t, and the response to Ras induced growth arrest by the tumor suppressor pathways involving p53, pRb and the INK4A locus. The potential contribution of these tumor suppressors to the prevention of transformation of human cells can now begin to be unraveled by the recent emergence of novel RNA interference genetic tools.     

Unraveling human tumor suppressor pathways: a tale of the INK4A locus

Research on tumor suppressors has for a long time run on two tracks: analysis of the mutations found in human tumor material, and active genetic manipulation in mice. As primary human cells were not easily amenable to genetic alterations, the proof to designate a suspected gene as a tumor suppressor was often by generation of knockout mice and analysis of their phenotypes. In this way, a vast amount of information has been gathered on the actions of major players in carcinogenesis. However, it has recently become apparent that there are major differences in the requirements for oncogenic transformation between human and mouse cells. Among these are the expression of hTERT, SV40 small t, and the response to Ras induced growth arrest by the tumor suppressor pathways involving p53, pRb and the INK4A locus. The potential contribution of these tumor suppressors to the prevention of transformation of human cells can now begin to be unraveled by the recent emergence of novel RNA interference genetic tools.     

Differential Oncogenic Ras Signaling and Senescence in Tumor Cells

Several studies have shown that forced expression of oncogenic H-ras can induce a senescence-like permanent growth arrest in normal cells. Here we report that expression of oncogenic H-ras in human osteosarcoma U2OS cells also resulted in a senescence-like flat and enlarged cell morphology and permanent growth arrest. In contrast to normal human fibroblasts, U2OS cells were arrested independently of the p16 and ARF tumor suppressors. Treatment with a MEK inhibitor or a p38MAPK inhibitor interrupted oncogenic H-ras-induced growth arrest in U2OS cells, suggesting that activation of MAPK pathways is important. To further determine whether this process is unique to oncogenic H-ras signaling, we examined the effect of oncogenic K-ras on normal cells and human osteosarcoma cells. Similar to oncogenic H-ras, oncogenic K-ras also induced senescence in normal fibroblasts, while transforming immortalized mouse fibroblasts. However, in contrast to oncogenic H-ras, oncogenic K-ras failed to induce a permanent growth arrest in osteosarcoma U2OS cells. Additionally, cells transduced with oncogenic K-ras exhibited distinguishable cellular changes compared to those transduced with oncogenic H-ras. In summary, we report for the first time that oncogenic H-ras signaling can trigger a senescence-like growth arrest in tumor cells, independent of the p16 and ARF tumor suppressors. This result suggests that tumor cells may harbor a senescence-like program that can be activated by ras signaling. Moreover, our study uncovered a cell type-dependent differential response to oncogenic K-ras, as compared to oncogenic H-ras.     

PP2A: the expected tumor suppressor

PP2A is one of the few serine/threonine-specific phosphatases in the cell, and its complex structure and regulation guarantees its many different functions. Some viruses have chosen to target this enzyme system in order to manage the host cell machinery for their own profit and to program cells into a malignant state. Suppression of PR61/B'gamma, a specific third regulatory subunit of PP2A, can substitute for the viral SV40 protein small t antigen in causing tumorigenic transformation of several human cell lines -- provided that telomerase, SV40 large T antigen and oncogenic Ras are also present. Accumulation of c-Myc seems to be the common denominator.     

Synergy between Apc min and an activated ras mutation is sufficient to induce colon carcinomas.

Colon carcinomas appear to arise from the cumulative effect of mutations to several genes (APC, DCC, p53, ras, hMLH1, and hMSH2). By using novel colonic epithelial cell lines derived from the Immorto mouse, named the YAMC (young adult mouse colon) cell line, and an Immorto-Min mouse hybrid, named the IMCE (Immorto-Min colonic epithelial) cell line, carrying the Apc min mutation, we investigated the effect of an activated v-Ha-ras gene on tumor progression. The YAMC and IMCE cell lines are normal colonic epithelial cell lines which are conditionally immortalized by virtue of expression of a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen. Under conditions which permit expression of a functional SV40 large T antigen (33 degrees C plus gamma interferon), neither the YAMC nor the IMCE cell line grows in soft agar or is tumorigenic in nude mice. In vitro, when the SV40 large T antigen is inactivated (39 degrees C without gamma interferon), the cells stop proliferating and die. By infecting the YAMC and IMCE cell lines with a replication-defective psi2-v-Ha-ras virus, we derived cell lines which overexpress the v-Ha-ras gene (YAMC-Ras and IMCE-Ras). In contrast to the parental cell lines, under conditions in which the SV40 large T antigen is inactive, both the YAMC-Ras and IMCE-Ras cell lines continue to proliferate. Initally YAMC-Ras cells do not form tumors; however, tumors are visible after 90 days of incubation. IMCE-Ras cells form colonies in soft agar under both permissive and nonpermissive culture conditions. Furthermore, IMCE-Ras cells form tumors in nude mice within 3 weeks. The phenotype of the IMCE-Ras cell line thus clearly demonstrates that a defective Apc allele and an activated ras gene are sufficient to transform normal colonic epithelial cells and render them tumorigenic.     

Transforming growth factor alpha production and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in normal and oncogene transformed human mammary epithelial cells

We have characterized the expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) and its receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), in normal and malignantly transformed human mammary epithelial cells. Human mammary epithelial cells were derived from a reduction mammoplasty (184), immortalized by benzo-a-pyrene (184A 1N4), and further transformed by the oncogenes simian virus 40 T (SV40 T), v-Ha-ras, and v-mos alone or in combination using retroviral vectors. 184 and 184A 1N4 cells require EGF for anchorage-dependent clonal growth. In mass culture, they secrete TGF alpha at high concentrations and exhibit an attenuated requirement for exogenous EGF/TGF alpha. SV40 T transformed cells have 4-fold increased EGF-R, have acquired the ability to clone in soft agar with EGF/TGF alpha supplementation, but are not tumorigenic. Cells transformed by v-mos or v-Ha-ras are weakly tumorigenic and capable of both anchorage dependent and independent growth in the absence of EGF/TGF alpha. Cells transformed by both SV40 T and v-Ha-ras are highly tumorigenic, are refractory to EGF/TGF alpha, and clone with high efficiency in soft agar. The expression of v-Ha-ras is associated with a loss of the high (but not low) affinity binding component of the EGF-R. Malignant transformation and loss of TGF alpha/EGF responsiveness did not correlate with an increase in TGF alpha production. Thus, TGF alpha production does not appear to be a tumor specific marker for human mammary epithelial cells. Differential growth responses to EGF/TGF alpha, rather than enhanced production of TGF alpha, may determine the transition from normal to malignant human breast epithelium.     

Simian Virus 40 Small T Antigen Activates AMPK and Triggers Autophagy To Protect Cancer Cells from Nutrient Deprivation

As tumors grow larger, they often experience an insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. Hence, cancer cells must develop mechanisms to overcome these stresses. Using an in vitro transformation model where the presence of the simian virus 40 (SV40) small T (ST) antigen has been shown to be critical for tumorigenic transformation, we investigated whether the ST antigen has a role to play in regulating the energy homeostasis of cancer cells. We find that cells expressing the SV40 ST antigen (+ST cells) are more resistant to glucose deprivation-induced cell death than cells lacking the SV40 ST antigen (−ST cells). Mechanistically, we find that the ST antigen mediates this effect by activating a nutrient-sensing kinase, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The basal level of active, phosphorylated AMPK was higher in +ST cells than in −ST cells, and these levels increased further in response to glucose deprivation. Additionally, inhibition of AMPK in +ST cells increased the rate of cell death, while activation of AMPK in −ST cells decreased the rate of cell death, under conditions of glucose deprivation. We further show that AMPK mediates its effects, at least in part, by inhibiting mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), thereby shutting down protein translation. Finally, we show that +ST cells exhibit a higher percentage of autophagy than −ST cells upon glucose deprivation. Thus, we demonstrate a novel role for the SV40 ST antigen in cancers, where it functions to maintain energy homeostasis during glucose deprivation by activating AMPK, inhibiting mTOR, and inducing autophagy as an alternate energy source.The localization of most mammalian cells within a 100- to 150-μm distance from blood vessels ensures a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients, a prerequisite for cell survival. However, tumors often grow beyond this limit, thereby experiencing oxygen and nutrient deprivation (28). Tumors overcome this barrier by initiating neoangiogenesis, a process that supplies new blood vessels (44). However, before neoangiogenesis can set in, incipient tumors must survive the stresses of nutrient deprivation. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate cancer cell survival under conditions of nutrient deprivation is fundamental in cancer biology. Additionally, targeting the ability of cancer cells to survive under nutrient-deprived conditions can be exploited for designing novel cancer therapeutics.Glucose is the major source of energy for mammalian cells. Several types of cancer cells exhibit marked resistance to cell death upon glucose deprivation (22). In this study we have attempted to delineate the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to survive under conditions of glucose deprivation by using human foreskin fibroblasts that have been transformed by the serial introduction of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early region (coding for the large T [LT] and small T [ST] antigens), the catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT), and an oncogenic allele of H-Ras (H-Ras V12) (referred to below as +ST cells) (32). In this model, human cells lacking the ST antigen but expressing the rest of these genetic elements (referred to below as −ST cells) are nontumorigenic (16, 32), highlighting the importance of the ST antigen in human cell transformation. However, little is known about the specific cellular functions moderated by the ST antigen that aid in transformation (3).Since glucose is the major source of energy for mammalian cells, and cancer cells experience glucose deprivation when they are beyond the diffusion limit, we investigated whether the ST antigen has any role to play under conditions of glucose deprivation. We report here a novel link between the ST antigen and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation that enables cancer cell survival under glucose deprivation via inhibition of protein synthesis and activation of autophagy as an alternate energy source.     

Overexpression of simian virus 40 small-T antigen blocks centrosome function and mitotic progression in human fibroblasts

Recombinant adenoviruses that express high levels of the simian virus 40 (SV40) small-t (ST) antigen have been used to study the requirement for ST to drive cell cycle proliferation of confluent human diploid fibroblasts. This occurs when either large-T (LT) antigen or serum is added to provide a second signal. While cells readily completed S phase in these experiments, they were found to accumulate with 4N DNA content. Cellular and nuclear morphology, as well as the biochemical status of cyclin B complexes, showed that these cells entered mitosis but were blocked prior to mitotic metaphase. The defect appears to reflect an inability of cells overexpressing ST to form organized centrosomes that duplicate and separate normally during the cell cycle and, therefore, the absence of a mitotic spindle. The ability of ST to bind protein phosphatase 2A was required for this pattern, suggesting that altered phosphorylation of key centrosomal components may occur when ST is overexpressed. Although the possible significance of ST effects on the centrosome cycle is not fully understood, these findings suggest that ST could influence chromosomal instability patterns that are a hallmark of SV40-transformed cells and LT expression.     

Tumor formation by SV40-transformed human cells in nude mice: the role of SV40 T antigens

Human cells transformed in vitro by SV40 rarely form tumors in nude mice. We examined whether these cells as a group are inherently nontumorigenic or whether they are potentially tumorigenic but rejected by the athymic host, possibly by nonspecific immune mechanisms. SV80 and NG8 are SV40-transformed human cell lines that express all of the transformed properties, including anchorage-independent growth, but do not form tumors in adult nude mice after injection of as many as 10(8) cells. Both the SV80 and NG8 cell lines have SV40-specific transplantation antigens which crossreact with those present on SV40-transformed (but tumorigenic) rodent cells. We found that SV80 cells, though not NG8 cells, induced progressively growing lethal tumors if the cells are injected repeatedly into neonatal nude mice. Somatic cell hybrids between SV80 or NG8 cells and a highly tumorigenic cell line derived from a human tumor continue to express the virus-induced antigens and fail to form tumors in adult nude mice. These results strongly suggest that at least for some SV40-transformed human cells, the failure to form tumors in nude mice may be due to their expression of virus-induced transplantation antigens rather than the absence of tumorigenic potential.     

Efficient immortalization and morphological transformation of human fibroblasts by transfection with SV40 DNA linked to a dominant marker

Immortal cell lines are essential for genetic and biochemical studies. Unlike rodent cells, which will form continuously growing cultures either spontaneously or after infection with an oncogenic virus (e.g., Simian Virus 40 (SV40)), human cells fail to form continuous cell lines spontaneously and in only rare cases from cell lines after oncogenic virus infection. We have used a plasmid (pSV3gpt) containing both the SV40 early region encoding T antigen and the bacterial gene xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (gpt) to achieve high efficiency morphological transformation and immortalization of primary human skin fibroblasts. Transfection of this plasmid into primary human skin fibroblasts derived from a normal individual, two Cockayne's syndrome patients, and an immuno-deficient patient and selection for the gpt gene resulted in an altered cell morphology and growth properties characteristic of previously described SV40-transformed cells. Transfected cultures subsequently senesced, entered crisis and in each case formed a rapidly growing culture. The high efficiency of immunortalization described here (four out of four cell strains) is in contrast to previously described procedures utilizing focal overgrowth. We suggest that the use of a dominant selectable marker linked to the SV40 early region increases the probability of establishing an immortal human cell line.     

The induction of growth arrest in fibroblasts by SV40 T antigen

DNA tumor viruses such as SV40, Ras and papillomaviruses are the most commonly used agents in immortalization of non-hematopoietic cells, but the results are quite different. Some of them even lead instead to a senescence-like state. To verify the potential of SV40 T antigen-mediated immortalization or properties and functions of it to regulate cell growth, human dermal fibroblasts were cultured and then transfected with eukaryotic expressing plasmid psv3-neo which containing SV40 T DNA. We found that expression of oncogenic SV40 T in human dermal fibroblasts resulted in growth, arrest, earlier than the occurrence of control cell senescence, although telomerase was positive and cells grew faster than control ones in early stage following transfection. These observations suggest that SV40 T antigen can activate growth arrest in human dermal fibroblasts under normal growth condition instead of always prolonging the lifespan of fibroblasts. Moreover, high rate of cell division in early stage after transfection may be associated with the expression of telomerase activity.     

Quantitative Characteristics of the Transformation of Hamster Cells by PARA (Defective Simian Virus 40)-Adenovirus 7

An in vitro method for the quantitative measurement of transformation in hamster embryo fibroblasts by the PARA [defective simian virus 40 (SV40)]-adenovirus 7 hybrid has been developed. Transformation by PARA particles followed one-hit kinetics with a ratio of 1 focus-forming unit per 250 plaque-forming units. The method of viral adsorption had a direct effect upon the total number of foci which developed but not on the quantitative aspects of this assay. A fluorescent-focus assay was developed which provided a direct correlation of the observed morphological transformation and the presence of the PARA genome. This fluorescent-focus assay utilized detection of the SV40 tumor antigen, which was present in all foci transformed by PARA. Single foci induced by PARA were isolated and grown into cell lines. Two types of foci were observed and isolated; the first contained cells having a cuboidal or SV40-type morphology, and the second consisted of epithelial or adenovirus-type transformed cells. Both types contained the SV40 tumor and SV40 surface antigens as determined by the indirect fluorescence technique; however, only the epithelial cells contained the adenovirus 7 tumor antigen. All five cell lines which were injected into weanling Syrian hamsters were found to be oncogenic. These cell lines induced antibodies to both SV40 and adenovirus 7 tumor antigens in tumor-bearing animals.     

Telomerase induces immortalization of human esophageal keratinocytes without p16INK4a inactivation

Normal human somatic cells have a finite life span and undergo replicative senescence after a limited number of cell divisions. Erosion of telomeric DNA has emerged as a key factor in senescence, which is antagonized during cell immortalization and transformation. To clarify the involvement of telomerase in the immortalization of keratinocytes, catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) expression was restored in normal human esophageal epithelial cells (EPC2). EPC2-hTERT cells overcame senescence and were immortalized without p16INK4a genetic or epigenetic alterations. p16INK4a was expressed at moderate levels and remained functional as evidenced by induction with UV treatment and binding to cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6. There were no mutations in the p53 gene, and p53 was functionally intact. Importantly, senescence could be activated in the immortalized EPC2-hTERT cells by overexpression of oncogenic H-ras or p16INK4a. Furthermore, the EPC2-hTERT cells yielded basal cell hyperplasia in an innovative organotypic culture system in contrast to a normal epithelium from parental cells. These comprehensive results indicate that the expression of telomerase induces immortalization of normal human esophageal keratinocytes without inactivation of p16INK4a/pRb pathway or abrogation of the p53 pathway.     

Simian virus 40 small tumor antigen activates AKT and telomerase and induces anchorage-independent growth of human epithelial cells

Human keratinocytes immortalized by full-length or early-region simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA grow in agarose and form tumors in nude mice, in contrast to keratinocytes immortalized by the E6/E7 genes of human papillomaviruses. To determine the molecular basis for this biological difference in growth, we have used the individual SV40 oncogenes (large T antigen [LT] and small t antigen [st]) and human papillomavirus oncogenes (E6/E7) to study the progression of human epithelial cells from the nonimmortal to the immortal state as well as from the immortal to the anchorage-independent state. Transfection of primary human foreskin keratinocytes with LT did not immortalize cells but did extend the in vitro life span and produced cells that were resistant to calcium- and serum-induced terminal differentiation. Cells transfected with st alone did not passage beyond vector-transfected keratinocytes. The simultaneous expression of LT- and st-immortalized keratinocytes occurred without evidence of crisis and, as anticipated, these immortal cells were anchorage- independent for growth. Interestingly, we found that keratinocytes expressing both LT and st, but not keratinocytes with LT alone, exhibited increased phosphorylation of the protein kinase AKT. In addition, AKT activation was paralleled by an increase in telomerase activity. Addition of st to anchorage-dependent keratinocytes, expressing either LT (nonimmortal) or E6/E7 (immortal), converted the cells to anchorage independence, with similar accompanying increases in AKT phosphorylation and telomerase activity. However, it was not possible to induce keratinocyte growth in agarose with activated AKT and/or overexpressed hTERT, indicating that these newly defined st-induced activities are not sufficient for progression to the anchorage-independent state.