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J L Jorcano

Publications and source records attributed to J L Jorcano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PTEN tumour suppressor is linked to the cell cycle control through the retinoblastoma protein.

The tumour suppressor PTEN, also named MMAC1 or TEP1, is associated with a number of malignancies in human populations. This protein has a dual protein phosphatase activity, being also capable to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 triphosphate. We have studied the mechanism of growth suppression attributable to PTEN. We observed that PTEN overexpression inhibits cell growth in a variety of normal and transformed, human and murine cells. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and TUNEL labelling experiments in transiently transfected cells demonstrate that this inhibition is due to a cell cycle arrest rather than induction of apoptosis. Given that PTEN is unable to cause cell growth arrest in retinoblastoma (Rb)-deficient cell lines, we have explored the possible requirement for pRb in the PTEN-induced inhibition of cell proliferation. We found that the co-expression of SV40 antigen, but not a mutant form (which binds exclusively to p53), and cyclin D1/cdk4 are able to overcome the PTEN-mediated growth suppression. In addition, the reintroduction of a functional pRb, but not its relatives p107 or p130, in Rb-deficient cells restores the sensitivity to PTEN-induced arrest. Finally, the hyperphosphorylation of transfected pRb is inhibited by PTEN co-expression and restored by PI-3K co-expression. Accordingly, PTEN gene is mostly expressed, in parallel to Akt, in mid-late G1 phase during cell cycle progression prior to pRb hyperphosphorylation. Finally, we have studied the signal transduction pathways modulated by PTEN expression. We found that PTEN-induced growth arrest can be rescued by the co-expression of active PI-3K and downstream effectors such as Akt or PDK1, and also certain small GTPases such as Rac1 and Cdc42, but not by active Ha-ras, raf or RhoA. Collectively, our data link the tumour suppressor activities of PTEN to the machinery controlling cell cycle through the modulation of signalling molecules whose final target is the functional inactivation of the retinoblastoma gene product.

3T3 Cells↗

The use of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction in cancer research.

There is a great need for techniques that detect the genome alterations present in cancer cells. Here, we present a review of the arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR), a genomic mutation detection method with some unique advantages: (i) It can detect most types of mutations that usually occur in tumors (except point mutations). (ii) It is especially useful to detect moderate gains in DNA, which most methods currently in use cannot detect. (iii) It allows detection and cloning of alterations in a single experiment. (iv) It is inexpensive and does not require special equipment. We discuss some characteristics of this method and review some of its achievements in cancer research.

Acrylic Resins↗

Modulation of cell proliferation by cytokeratins K10 and K16.

The members of the large keratin family of cytoskeletal proteins are expressed in a carefully regulated tissue- and differentiation-specific manner. Although these proteins are thought to be involved in imparting mechanical integrity to epithelial cells, the functional significance of their complex differential expression is still unclear. Here we provide new data suggesting that the expression of particular keratins may influence cell proliferation. Specifically, we demonstrate that the ectopic expression of K10 inhibits the proliferation of human keratinocytes in culture, while K16 expression appears to promote the proliferation of these cells. Other keratins, such as K13 or K14, do not significantly alter this parameter. K10-induced inhibition is reversed by the coexpression of K16 but not that of K14. These results are coherent with the observed expression pattern of these proteins in the epidermis: basal, proliferative keratinocytes express K14; when they terminally differentiate, keratinocytes switch off K14 and start K10 expression, whereas in response to hyperproliferative stimuli, K16 replaces K10. The characteristics of this process indicate that K10 and K16 act on the retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway, as (i) K10-induced inhibition is hampered by cotransfection with viral oncoproteins which interfere with pRb but not with p53; (ii) K10-mediated cell growth arrest is rescued by the coexpression of specific cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), or cyclin-CDK complexes; (iii) K10-induced inhibition does not take place in Rb-deficient cells but is restored in these cells by cotransfection with pRb or p107 but not p130; (iv) K16 efficiently rescues the cell growth arrest induced by pRb in HaCaT cells but not that induced by p107 or p130; and (v) pRb phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression are reduced in K10-transfected cells and increased in K16-transfected cells. Finally, using K10 deletion mutants, we map this inhibitory function to the nonhelical terminal domains of K10, hypervariable regions in which keratin-specific functions are thought to reside, and demonstrate that the presence of one of these domains is sufficient to promote cell growth arrest.

Binding Sites↗

Exocrine pancreatic disorders in transsgenic mice expressing human keratin 8.

Keratins K8 and K18 are the major components of the intermediate-filament cytoskeleton of simple epithelia. Increased levels of these keratins have been correlated with various tumor cell characteristics, including progression to malignancy, invasive behavior, and drug sensitivity, although a role for K8/K18 in tumorigenesis has not yet been demonstrated. To examine the function of these keratins, we generated mice expressing the human K8 (hk8) gene, which leads to a moderate keratin-content increase in their simple epithelia. These mice displayed progressive exocrine pancreas alterations, including dysplasia and loss of acinar architecture, redifferentiation of acinar to ductal cells, inflammation, fibrosis, and substitution of exocrine by adipose tissue, as well as increased cell proliferation and apoptosis. Histological changes were not observed in other simple epithelia, such as the liver. Electron microscopy showed that transgenic acinar cells have keratins organized in abundant filament bundles dispersed throughout the cytoplasm, in contrast to control acinar cells, which have scarce and apically concentrated filaments. The phenotype found was very similar to that reported for transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative mutant TGF-beta type II receptor (TGFbetaRII mice). We show that these TGFbetaRII mutant mice also have elevated K8/K18 levels. These results indicate that simple epithelial keratins play a relevant role in the regulation of exocrine pancreas homeostasis and support the idea that disruption of mechanisms that normally regulate keratin expression in vivo could be related to inflammatory and neoplastic pancreatic disorders.

Animals↗

Differential expression and functionally co-operative roles for the retinoblastoma family of proteins in epidermal differentiation.

Terminal differentiation requires cell cycle withdrawal, suggesting the involvement of negative cell cycle controllers in the process. We have analysed the involvement of the retinoblastoma family of proteins (pRb, p107 and p130) in epidermal proliferation and differentiation. These proteins play key roles as inhibitors of cell cycle progression and are involved in muscle and neuron differentiation. We found that during in vitro differentiation of human HaCaT keratinocytes, pRb, p107 and p130 are sequentially expressed, in contrast to the co-expression observed during cell cycle progression in the same cells. Immunofluorescence studies on skin sections revealed the presence of pRb and p107 in basal and suprabasal cell layers, whilst p130 is restricted to cells already committed to differentiation in the suprabasal compartments. To explore the functional significance of the differential expression of these proteins, transfection experiments were performed in HaCaT keratinocytes. We observed that the forced over-expression of pRb, p107 or p130 individually did not induce differentiation of the transfected cells. However, the co-transfection of pRb and p107 induced the expression of early differentiation markers (keratin k10) and triple transfectants pRb+p107+p130 expressed markers representative of later stages of epidermal differentiation (involucrin). Finally, we observed that these three proteins repress keratinocyte proliferation, although to a different extent (p107>pRb> or =p130). These results indicate that the members of the pRb family play specific, yet coordinated roles during epidermal differentiation, and that the ordered progression along the different stages of this process results from the effects of different combinations of these proteins.

Cell Differentiation↗

VEGF/VPF overexpression in skin of transgenic mice induces angiogenesis, vascular hyperpermeability and accelerated tumor development.

Upregulation of keratinocyte-derived VEGF-A expression has recently been established in non-neoplastic processes of skin such as wound healing, blistering diseases and psoriasis, as well as in skin neoplasia. To further characterize the effects of VEGF-A in skin in vivo, we have developed transgenic mice expressing the mouse VEGF120 under the control of a 2.4 kb 5' fragment of keratin K6 gene regulatory sequences that confers transgene inducibility upon hyperproliferative stimuli. As expected from the inducible nature of the transgene, two of the three founder mice obtained (V27 and V208), showed no apparent phenotype. However, one founder (V2), mosaic for transgene integration, developed scattered red spots throughout the skin at birth. The transgenic offspring derived from this founder developed a striking phenotype characterized by swelling and erythema, resulting in early postnatal lethality. Histological examination of the skin of these transgenics demonstrated highly increased vascularization and edema leading to disruption of skin architecture. Expression of the transgene was silent in adult animals of lines derived from founders V27 and V208. Phorbol ester-induced hyperplasia resulted in transgene induction and increased cutaneous vascularization in adult transgenic mice of these lines. Skin carcinogenesis experiments performed on hemizygous crosses of V208 mice with activated H-ras-carrying transgenic mice (TG.AC) resulted in accelerated papilloma development and increased tumor burden. Previous results from our laboratory showed that VEGF upregulation is a major angiogenic stimulus in mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. By overexpressing VEGF in the skin of transgenic mice we now move a step further toward showing that VEGF-mediated angiogenesis is a rate-limiting step in the genesis of premalignant lesions, such as mouse skin papilloma. Our transgenic mice constitute an interesting model system for in vivo study of the cutaneous angiogenic process and its relevance in tumorigenesis and other skin diseases.

Animals↗

Analysis of sequences controlling tissue-specific and hyperproliferation-related keratin 6 gene expression in transgenic mice.

Keratin 6 (K6) is an intermediate filament protein found in hair follicles and in several internal stratified epithelia. This keratin has been the focus of special attention because it is also strongly induced in epidermal interfollicular keratinocytes in hyperproliferative situations and in certain conditions leading to abnormal differentiation. To localize and identify the sequences controlling this complex expression pattern, and because of their potential use in transgenic mouse models and gene therapy strategies for epidermal hyperproliferative disorders, we have thoroughly analyzed a 9 kbp region of this gene previously shown to direct proper tissue-specific and inducible expression in transgenic mice. To reproduce the K6 constitutive expression pattern, cooperation is necessary between elements located in at least two different regions, one distal between -9 and -4 kbp and one proximal between -830 and -125 bp with respect to the CAP site. The ability to induce expression under hyperproliferative conditions resides in the 2.4 kbp fragment preceding the transcription start site. When this DNA fragment was analyzed in more detail, we found that all subfragments tested contained regulatory elements necessary for inducible expression. Thus, a complex organization of K6 regulatory elements emerges, as both the constitutive and the inducible expressions of this gene are under the control of multiple elements dispersed throughout relatively large 5' flanking DNA fragments. These findings will allow the expression of cloned genes in transgenic mouse skin in response to pathological or applied hyperproliferative stimuli, avoiding the effects of their constitutive expression in other epithelia.

Animals↗

Selective suppression of CD44 in keratinocytes of mice bearing an antisense CD44 transgene driven by a tissue-specific promoter disrupts hyaluronate metabolism in the skin and impairs keratinocyte proliferation.

CD44 is a broadly distributed polymorphic glycoprotein that serves as the principal cell-surface receptor for hyaluronate. Although CD44-mediated cell interaction with hyaluronate has been implicated in a variety of physiologic events, including cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesion, cell migration, proliferation, and activation, as well as hyaluronate uptake and degradation, the biologic role of CD44 in vivo in various tissues remains to be determined. In the present work we have developed transgenic mice that express an antisense CD44 cDNA driven by the keratin-5 promoter. These mice lack detectable CD44 expression in skin keratinocytes and corneal epithelium and display abnormal hyaluronate accumulation in the superficial dermis and corneal stroma, distinct morphologic alterations of basal keratinocytes and cornea, and defective keratinocyte proliferation in response to mitogen and growth factors. These alterations are reflected by a decrease in skin elasticity, impaired local inflammatory response and tissue repair, delayed hair regrowth, and failure of the epidermis to undergo hyperplasia in response to carcinogen. Our observations indicate that two major functions of CD44 in skin are the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation in response to extracellular stimuli and the maintenance of local hyaluronate homeostasis.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Delays in malignant tumor development in transgenic mice by forced epidermal keratin 10 expression in mouse skin carcinomas.

The keratin cytoskeleton is formed in different epidermal compartments by distinct polypeptides. Basal, proliferative keratinocytes express keratin (K) 5 and K14, whereas, suprabasal, post-mitotic keratinocytes express K1 and K10. Changes in this keratin pattern have been found to occur in hyperproliferative skin disorders and, in particular, throughout mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. Whereas some keratins not found in normal epidermis (K6, K16, K13, and K8) are induced at different stages of tumor development, K1 and K10 expression is lost. To determine whether K1 and K10 loss is just a consequence of the altered differentiation program or an event required for tumor progression, we generated transgenic mice carrying the human keratin 10 gene (hK10) under the control of a bovine keratin 6 gene regulatory region, which is silent in normal skin but is induced and drives transgene expression in hyperproliferative skin keratinocytes and, therefore, in skin tumors. Transgenic animals subjected to a complete carcinogenesis protocol developed tumors that contained various amounts of transgenic hK10. Although no significant difference was found in tumor number or malignancy, tumor onset was significantly delayed in transgenic mice, indicating that the presence of K10 actually impairs tumor development.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Keratin intermediate filament dynamics in cell heterokaryons reveals diverse behaviour of different keratins.

To study the dynamics of keratin intermediate filaments, we fused two different types of epithelial cells (PtK2 and BMGE+H) and studied how the keratins from the parental cells recombine and copolymerize to form the heterokaryon cytoskeleton. The behaviour of the keratins during this process was followed by immunofluorescence using specific antibodies. After fusion, the parental cytoskeletons undergo a depolymerization process most apparent in the region adjacent to the fusion area. The depolymerized subunits spread throughout the heterokaryon and copolymerize into a new hybrid cytoskeleton. The complete process is very rapid, occurring in 3-4 hours, thus demonstrating the highly dynamic nature of the keratin cytoskeleton. Although newly synthesised subunits contribute to the formation of the hybrid cytoskeleton, the process takes place with similar kinetics in the absence of protein synthesis, showing the dynamic nature of the keratins from pre-existing cytoskeletons. During this process, specific keratins behave differently. Keratins K8, K18, K5 and K10 are mobilised from the parental cytoskeletons and reassemble rapidly into the hybrid cytoskeleton (3-6 hours), whereas K14 requires a substantially longer period (9-24 hours). Thus, different keratins, even when they form part of the same heterodimeric/tetrameric complexes, as is the case for K5 and K14, exhibit different dynamics. This suggests that individual polypeptides or homopolymeric complexes rather than exclusively heterodimeric/ tetrameric subunits, as is currently thought, can also take part in keratin intermediate filament assembly and dynamics. Biochemical analysis performed in the absence of protein synthesis revealed greater amounts of K5 than of K14 in the soluble pool of BMGE+H cells. Crosslinking and immunoprecipitation experiments indicated an excess of monomeric K5, as well as of K5/K14 heterodimers and K5 homodimers in the soluble pool. These results are in agreement with the different dynamic behaviour of these keratins observed in immunofluorescence. On the contrary, the phosphorylation levels of K5 and K14 are similar in both the soluble pool and the polymerized fraction, suggesting that phosphorylation does not play an important role in the different dynamics displayed by these two proteins. In summary, our results demonstrate that, following fusion, the keratin intermediate filament network reshapes rather rapidly and that keratins are highly dynamic proteins, although this mobility depends on each particular polypeptide.

Animals↗

Role of protein kinases in the in vitro differentiation of human epidermal HaCaT cells.

Different chemicals that specifically and selectively inhibit or activate protein kinases have been used to define the possible roles of these enzymes in the different steps of epidermal differentiation. Using HaCaT keratinocytes as a model, and under conditions in which cell proliferation is minimally affected, we found that tyrosine kinase inhibition leads to an inhibition of early (spinous; keratin k10 expression) and late (granulosum; involucrin expression) differentiation processes. cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases appear to modulate the transition from spinous to granular differentiation, a process which seems to be negatively controlled by protein phosphatases. Finally, enzymes belonging to the protein kinase C family appear to facilitate the transition from spinous to granular differentiation programmes while inhibiting the early steps of epidermal differentiation.

Adenine↗

Up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in mouse skin carcinogenesis correlates with malignant progression state and activated H-ras expression levels.

Angiogenesis is a crucial process for tumor growth and metastasis regulated by the balance of positive and negative factors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF/VPF) is a specific mitogen for endothelial cells that has been shown to be overexpressed in a variety of tumors and other inflammatory diseases. To analyze the implication of VEGF/VPF during tumorigenesis, we have studied its expression at different stages of tumor development using the mouse skin carcinogenesis model. VEGF/VPF mRNA was induced in skin in vivo after 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment. Constitutive up-regulation of VEGF/VPF at the mRNA and protein levels was also observed in premalignant papillomas and, at a higher level, in squamous carcinomas, suggesting a correlation between VEGF/VPF expression and tumor progression. A direct positive correlation between VEGF/VPF mRNA expression and the level of activated H-ras gene was found in a series of cell lines representing different stages of epidermal tumor development. Consequently, a clone of one of these cell lines, HaCa4, which has lost most of its v-ras expression, down-regulated VEGF mRNA expression concomitantly with its metastatic potential. Direct evidence of H-ras involvement in VEGF induction was obtained when an immortalized mouse keratinocyte cell line transduced with a retrovirus carrying v-H-ras showed highly increased VEGF/VPF mRNA levels. These data show that in mouse skin carcinogenesis, the VEGF/VPF angiogenic stimulus occurs early during premalignant papilloma development and further increases at later stages. Moreover, we demonstrate that increasing the activated H-ras dose, a phenomenon that takes place sequentially throughout mouse skin tumor development, may play an additional role by facilitating malignant in vivo progression through the modulation of VEGF/VPF-mediated angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Expression of cyclin D1 in epithelial tissues of transgenic mice results in epidermal hyperproliferation and severe thymic hyperplasia.

To study the involvement of cyclin D1 in epithelial growth and differentiation and its putative role as an oncogene in skin, transgenic mice were developed carrying the human cyclin D1 gene driven by a bovine keratin 5 promoter. As expected, all squamous epithelia including skin, oral mucosa, trachea, vaginal epithelium, and the epithelial compartment of the thymus expressed aberrant levels of cyclin D1. The rate of epidermal proliferation increased dramatically in transgenic mice, which also showed basal cell hyperplasia. However, epidermal differentiation was unaffected, as shown by normal growth arrest of newborn primary keratinocytes in response to high extracellular calcium. Moreover, an unexpected phenotype was observed in the thymus. Transgenic mice developed a severe thymic hyperplasia that caused premature death due to cardio-respiratory failure within 4 months of age. By 14 weeks, the thymi of transgenic mice increased in weight up to 40-fold, representing 10% of total body weight. The hyperplastic thymi had normal histology revealing a well-differentiated cortex and medulla, which supported an apparently normal T-cell developmental program based on the distribution of thymocyte subsets. These results suggest that proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells are under independent genetic controls in these organs and that cyclin D1 can modulate epithelial proliferation without altering the initiation of differentiation programs. No spontaneous development of epithelial tumors or thymic lymphomas was perceived in transgenic mice during their first 8 months of life, although they continue under observation. This model provides in vivo evidence of the action of cyclin D1 as a pure mediator of proliferation in epithelial cells.

Aging↗

Expression of a dominant negative mutant of epidermal growth factor receptor in the epidermis of transgenic mice elicits striking alterations in hair follicle development and skin structure.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key regulator of keratinocyte biology. However, the physiological role of EGFR in vivo has not been well established. To analyze the role of EGFR in skin, we have generated transgenic mice expressing an EGFR dominant negative mutant in the basal layer of epidermis and outer root sheath of hair follicles. Mice expressing the mutant receptor display short and waved pelage hair and curly whiskers during the first weeks of age, but subsequently pelage and vibrissa hairs become progressively sparser and atrophic. Eventually, most mice present severe alopecia. Histological examination of the skin of transgenic mice shows striking alterations in the development of hair follicles, which fail to enter into catagen stage. These alterations eventually lead to necrosis and disappearance of the follicles, accompanied by strong infiltration of the skin with inflammatory elements. The interfollicular epidermis of these mice shows marked hyperplasia, expression of hyperproliferation-associated keratin K6 and increased 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. EGFR function was inhibited in transgenic skin keratinocytes, since in vivo and in vitro autophosphorylation of EGFR was almost completely abolished on EGF stimulation. These results implicate EGFR in the control of hair cycle progression, and provide new information about its role in epidermal growth and differentiation.

Animals↗

Elements controlling the expression and induction of the skin hyperproliferation-associated keratin K6.

The suprabasal keratin 6 (K6) is remarkable among the keratins as, in addition to being constitutively expressed in different stratified epithelia, it is induced in epidermis under hyperproliferative conditions, such as benign or malignant tumors, psoriasis, and wound healing. In addition, this keratin is also induced in skin treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or retinoic acid (RA). These characteristics make the study of K6 regulatory elements an especially interesting issue, in particular because these elements could be useful in designing gene constructs for the therapy of skin diseases. We have analyzed by mobility shift and footprinting experiments the cell type-specific enhancer of the bovine K6 beta gene (Blessing, M., Jorcano, J. L., and Franke, W. W. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 117-126) and have identified an AP-2-like element, two AP-1 elements (one of them composite), and a retinoic acid-responsive element (RARE). Mutagenesis experiments and cotransfections with retinoic acid receptors show that the RARE mediates enhancer activation by RA. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays show that under normal culture conditions, the AP-1 element retains most of the enhancer transcriptional activity, while the RARE and AP-2 are weakly active. However, following RA treatment, the AP-1 element is repressed and the RARE is activated, resulting in an overall stimulation of the enhancer by RA in the BMGE+H cells used in our study. These results explain in part the complex and sometimes contradictory response of keratin 6 to hyperproliferative stimuli.

Animals↗

A 5'-upstream region of a bovine keratin 6 gene confers tissue-specific expression and hyperproliferation-related induction in transgenic mice.

Keratins, the constituents of epithelial intermediate filaments, are precisely regulated in a tissue- and development-specific manner, although little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation. The expression pattern of keratin 6 is particularly complex, since besides being constitutively expressed in hair follicles and in suprabasal cells of a variety of internal stratified epithelia, it is induced in epidermis in both natural and artificially caused hyperproliferative situations. Therefore, the regulatory sequences controlling keratin 6 gene activity are particularly suitable for target gene expression in a tissue-specific manner. More interestingly, they can be skin-induced in transgenic animals or in gene therapy protocols, particularly those addressing epidermal hyperproliferative disorders. To delimit the regions containing these regulatory elements, different parts of the bovine keratin 6 gene linked to a beta-galactosidase reporter gene have been assayed in transgenic mice. A 9-kbp fragment from the 5' upstream region was able to provide both suprabasal tissue-specific and inducible reporter expression.

Animals↗

Analysis of the control of expression and tissue specificity of the keratin 5 gene, characteristic of basal keratinocytes. Fundamental role of an AP-1 element.

The keratin 5 gene presents a complex regulation, since it is expressed at different rates in the basal cells of most, if not all, stratified epithelia. We have analyzed the 5'-upstream region of the bovine keratin 5 (BK5) gene and found that the 5.2 kilobases preceding the gene mimic in vitro the cell type-specific expression of BK5. Most of the transcriptional activity maps to an enhancer located between positions -762 and -1009. The only regulatory element found in this enhancer by electrophoretic mobility shift, competition, and footprinting experiments is a consensus AP-1 site. Mutation of this site abolishes the activity of the enhancer and reduces to 25% the activity of the 5.2-kilobase upstream promoter region. Surprisingly, although the AP-1 presents indistinguishable footprints in all cell types tested, the enhancer is active only in some of them. Even an oligonucleotide containing the AP-1 region protected from DNase I is active in epithelial cells lines but not in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, suggesting that this region could constitute an epithelium-specific AP-1 element. We also show that BK5 does not respond to phorbol ester induction, which suggests that the regulation of this gene by AP-1 must be complex and probably different from several other suprabasal, AP-1-regulated cellular and viral genes.

3T3 Cells↗