Immortalization of murine primary spleen cells by v-myc, v-ras, and v-raf.

Growth factor-independent cell lines, including four lines characterized as macrophages, were isolated by infection of BALB/c mouse primary spleen cells with combinations of three retroviruses encoding v-myc, v-ras, and v-myc/v-raf. Proliferating cell lines were isolated only rarely, and after long crisis periods, following the introduction of myc and raf by infection with J2 virus, or of myc and ras by coinfection with myc309 and raszip6 viruses. However, sequential infections with all three viruses--myc plus ras cells reinfected with J2, or J2 followed by myc plus ras coinfection--resulted in rapid outgrowth of cell lines which grew at high growth rates to high densities. When cells were treated with anti-IgG F(ab')2/IL-4/IL-5 to specifically stimulate B cells, cell lines were isolated readily by infection with myc plus ras alone, J2 alone, or all three viruses. These cell lines arose after shorter crisis times and all grew at high growth rates and to high densities. Analysis of cell surface markers and immunoglobulin gene arrangement revealed no lymphoid characteristics in any of the lines. Four cell lines express all three macrophage markers analyzed (F4/80, Mac1, FcR), and many others are Mac1+ and/or FcR+. Out of 20 immortalized cell lines tested, 13 show clonal growth in soft agar, and 3/6 of these produced tumors in BALB/c mice, indicating that fully transformed cells may be isolated by these procedures. In at least one of the cell lines, integration of all three infecting viruses has occurred.     

Different regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by the ERK and p38 kinase pathways in v-ras, v-raf, and v-myc transformed cells

Here we show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression is up-regulated in oncogene transformed rat liver epithelial (RLE) cell lines and that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase differentially regulate the oncogene-mediated stimulation of VEGF. The highest level of VEGF mRNA expression was observed in the v-H-ras transformed RLE cell line, followed by the v-raf and v-myc transformed lines. The PD98059 MEK inhibitor was used to block the ERK pathway and SB203580 inhibitor to block the p38 pathway. The parent and the v-H-ras transformed RLE cell lines showed up-regulation of VEGF RNA expression through the ERK pathway and down-regulation of VEGF through the p38 pathway. VEGF was regulated in a comparable manner in a human breast carcinoma cell line. In the v-raf and v-myc transformed RLE lines, positive regulation of VEGF was transduced through the p38 pathway. These findings suggest that (1) oncogenic ras differs from raf and myc in the recruitment of the MAPK signaling pathways for VEGF regulation; (2) that VEGF is regulated in ras transformed and human cancer cell lines in a positive and negative manner by the ERK and p38 signaling pathways.     

Radiosensitivity of normal human epidermal cells in culture

Using an in vitro culture system we have derived radiation survival curves for the clonogenic cells of normal human epidermis. The culture system used allows the epidermal cells to stratify and form a multi-layered sheet of keratinizing cells. The cultures appear to be a very good model for epidermis in vivo. The survival curves show a population which is apparently more sensitive than murine epidermis in vivo. It remains unclear whether this is an intrinsic difference between the species or is a consequence of the in vitro cultivation of the human cells.     

Hemopoietic lineage switch: v-raf oncogene converts Emu-myc transgenic B cells into macrophages

Hemopoietic lineage commitment can be breached by concomitant expression of the c-myc and v-raf oncogenes. Switching to the myeloid lineage occurred frequently when B lineage cells, from either lymphomas or preleukemia bone marrow cells of Emu-myc transgenic mice, were infected with a retrovirus bearing v-raf. Cloned pre-B and B cell lines changed into either mature or immature macrophages as assessed by morphology, adherence, phagocytic activity, surface markers, and lysozyme production, but retained clonotypic immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Although expression of the Emu-myc transgene was reduced or abolished in the more differentiated lines, the lines remained tumorigenic. The converted lines produced the myeloid growth factor GM-CSF, and most had karyotypic alterations. These results suggest that constitutive myc plus raf expression can provoke genetic reprogramming in lymphocytes.     

Ultraviolet light-resistant primary transfectants of xeroderma pigmentosum cells are also DNA repair-proficient

In a previous work, an immortal xeroderma pigmentosum cell line belonging to complementation group C was complemented to a UV-resistant phenotype by transfection with a human cDNA clone library. We now report that the primary transformants selected for UV-resistance also acquired normal levels of DNA repair. This was assessed both by measurement of UV-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation and by equilibrium sedimentation analysis of repair-DNA synthesis. Therefore, the transduced DNA element which confers normal UV-resistance also corrects the excision repair defect of the xeroderma pigmentosum group C cell line.     

Specificity of gap junction communication among human mammary cells and connexin transfectants in culture

In a previous paper (Lee et al., 1992), it was shown that normal human mammary epithelial cells (NMEC) express two connexin genes, Cx26 and Cx43, whereas neither gene is transcribed in a series of mammary tumor cell lines (TMEC). In this paper it is shown that normal human mammary fibroblasts (NMF) communicate and express Cx43 mRNA and protein. Transfection of either Cx26 or Cx43 genes into a tumor line, 21MT-2, induced the expression of the corresponding mRNAs and proteins as well as communication via gap junctions (GJs), although immunofluorescence demonstrated that the majority of Cx26 and Cx43 proteins present in transfected TMEC was largely cytoplasmic. Immunoblotting demonstrated that NMEC, NMF, and transfected TMEC each displayed a unique pattern of posttranslationally modified forms of Cx43 protein. The role of different connexins in regulating gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) was examined using a novel two-dye method to assess homologous and heterologous communication quantitatively. The recipient cell population was prestained with a permanent non-toxic lipophilic dye that binds to membranes irreversibly (PKH26, Zynaxis); and the donor population is treated with a GJ-permeable dye Calcein, a derivative of fluorescein diacetate (Molecular Probes). After mixing the two cell populations under conditions promoting GJ formation, cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the percentage of cells containing both dyes. It is shown here that Cx26 and Cx43 transfectants display strong homologous communication, as do NMEC and NMF. Furthermore, NMEC mixed with NMF communicate efficiently, Cx26 transfectants communicate with NMEC but not with NMF, and Cx43 transfectants communicate with NMF. Communication between Cx26 TMEC transfectants and NMEC was asymetrical with preferential movement of calcein from TMEC to NMEC. Despite the presence of Cx43 as well as Cx26 encoded proteins in the GJs of NMEC, few Cx43 transfectants communicated with NMEC. No heterologous GJIC was observed between Cx26- and Cx43-transfected TMEC suggesting that heterotypic GJs do not form or that Cx26/Cx43 channels do not permit dye transfer.     

Radiosensitivity and thermosensitization of thermotolerant Chinese hamster cells and RIF-1 tumors

CHO cells subline HA-1 were made thermotolerant by a priming heat treatment (43 degrees C, 30 min). Later, 4, 16, or 24 hr, they were either irradiated or heated (43 degrees C, 30 min) and irradiated. Thermotolerance had no effect on the radiation sensitivity of the cells as measured by the D0 value of the clonogenic survival curve. However, the N value of the curve (width of shoulder) showed a significant increase at 24 hr, indicating an increased capacity to accumulate sublethal damage. This indicates that the fractionation schedule 43 degrees C, 30 min + 37 degrees C, 24 hr + 43 degrees C, 30 min + X ray required approximately 100 rad more radiation than 43 degrees C, 30 min + X ray to reduce survival to the same level. The same priming treatment was given to RIF-1 tumors growing in C3H mice. Later, 24 hr, when the tumors were either irradiated or heated (43 degrees C, 30 min) and irradiated, it was found that thermotolerance had no effect on the radiosensitivity of the cells as measured by in vitro assay. However, thermal radiosensitization was not apparent 24 hr after the priming treatment.     

Protein kinase C activities are increased in rat thyroid epithelial cells expressing v-ras genes

Both cytoplasmic and membrane-bound protein kinase C activities are increased in: Harvey-Sarcoma Virus, infected thyroid epithelial cells. The cytoplasmic kinase C increase is found in the chromatographic fraction eluted at lower salt concentration (100 mM NaCl-S100), while the more acidic protein fraction eluted at higher salt concentration (35 mM NaCl-S350) is virtually absent. Although the cytoplasmic S100 fraction from the control and ras-virus infected cells display a comparable PBt2 binding activity, they are different in the Ca+2-dependence and the TPA down regulation. In addition, the membranes from the control and ras-virus infected cells are different phosphate acceptors in place of the H1 histones.     

Radiosensitivity and recovery of mouse L cells during the cell cycle

Summary Mouse fibroblasts, subline L-929 F were synchronized by mitotic detachment. The synchronized cell cultures were irradiated with 200 kVp X-rays at different time after mitosis, and age reponse functions and dose effect curves were determined using the colony test. The cell age in the mitotic cycle was obtained from a computer analysis of flow cytometric DNA histograms. Both intrinsic radiosensitivity 1/D ₀ and extrapolation numbern were found to vary during the cell cycle. TheD ₀ has a maximum value of 176 ± 1 rad in the middle ofG ₁ phase and a minimum of 71 ± 1 rad at theS/G ₂ transition, while the extrapolation number is rather constant from the beginning ofG ₁ phase (1.9 ± 0.1) to the middle ofS phase (2.3 ± 0.1) and reaches a steep maximum of 9.3 ± 1.1 atS/G ₂ transition. The values ofn in the various phases of cell cycle are compared with the respective values of the recovery factor determined after fractionated irradiation. - Cell survival after a single dose of 616 rad has minima for irradiation atG ₁/S transition and in earlyG ₂ phase; the survival in earlyG ₂ being about 40 times smaller than in earlyG ₁ phase. Implications for a cell cycle specific therapy are discussed.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn-Bad Godesberg