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Neoplastic transformation of mouse fibroblasts by murine sarcoma virus: a multi-step process.

Infection of cultures of three different normal rodent cell lines with murine sarcoma virus (MSV) resulted in very rapid loss of contact inhibition of growth and morphological transformation. In the case of two of these lines, anchorage dependence of growth was also rapidly lost but with the 3rd, C3H10T1/2 C1.8, an established line of mouse embryo fibroblasts, there was a delay of many cell generations before the cells became anchorage independent. This was despite 100% successful infection, as assessed by focus assays of the infected cells. The acquisition of anchorage independence was correlated with a substantial increase in tumorigenicity. A number of MSV-infected clones, isolated at random from C3H10T1/2 C1.8 cultures immediately after infection with MSV, also showed a progressive increase in anchorage independence and tumorigenicity, indicating that the progressive transformation of the uncloned cells could not be entirely due to selection of rare anchorage-independent, tumorigenic clones. It was concluded that neoplastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 C1.8 cells by MSV is a multi-step process.

Animals↗

Neoplastic transformation of human diploid fibroblast cells by chemical carcinogens.

Cultured fibroblast cells derived from a skin biopsy sample taken from normal human adult were exposed to a potent carcinogen, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. Alterations of cell growth pattern such as higher density and piling up of cells were noticed in some fractions of cultures that were successively subcultured after nitroquinoline oxide treatment. Morphologically altered cells retained this growth pattern and became established lines of transformed cells without showing the limited life-span characteristic of normal cells in culture. The transformed cells showed a higher saturation density and the ability to grow in soft agar, properties that are usually correlated with neoplastic transformation of cells in culture. Selection of preexisting transformed human cells as a mechanism of this observed transformation seemed unlikely because clones of these normal cells could also be used to assess the transforming effect of nitroquinoline oxide. Preliminary results suggest that numerous cell divisions were required for the development of the transformation after nitroquinoline oxide treatment of these human cells. When the transformed cell lines were injected subcutaneously into nude (athymic) mice, solid tumors were produced at the site of inoculation. Treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine also induced cell transformation, in a manner similar to treatment with nitroquinoline oxide. However, transformation was not induced with (i) 4-aminoquinoline 1-oxide (a noncarcinogenic derivative of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide), (ii) 3-methylcholanthrene (a carcinogen that cannot be metabolically activated by the target cells employed), or (iii) the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Uninfected vertebrate cells contain a protein that is closely related to the product of the avian sarcoma virus transforming gene (src).

Neoplastic transformation of cell by avian sarcoma virus is mediated by a single viral gene (src), which encodes a phosphoprotein (pp60src) with the enzymatic activity of a protein kinase. The DNAs of vertebrate species contain a highly conserved homologue of src that is also represented in the polysomal RNA of uninfected cells and, hence, may specify a normal cellular protein. We have used antisera directed against pp60src to isolate a closely related phosphoprotein (denoted vertebrate pp60) from uninfected chicken, quail, rat, and human cells. Our data indicate that vertebrate pp60 is a homologue of pp60src, highly conserved both antigenically and chemically. Moreover, the cellular protein may possess protein kinase activity similar to that associated with pp60src. We conclude that the product of src is a slightly modified analogue of a normal cellular protein.

Alpharetrovirus↗

Human epidermal keratinocytes retain radiation resistance following in vitro immortalization and malignant transformation.

The radiobiology of human tumors suggests that multiple factors are involved in clinical radioresponsiveness. To date, no direct experimental evidence is available to correlate intrinsic cellular radiosensitivity with the steps of malignant transformation. We developed an in vitro multistage model of epithelial neoplasia using human epidermal keratinocytes to examine the effects of malignant transformation on radiation response. These cells were first immortalized as a result of infection with a hybrid virus (adenovirus 12 and simian virus 40) and subsequently transformed either by infection with a second virus (Kirsten murine sarcoma virus) or by treatment with a chemical carcinogen (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide). We demonstrate that primary human epidermal keratinocytes were radiation resistant (D0 = 2.24 Gy) as compared with human fibroblasts (D0 = 1.45 Gy) and that this resistance was retained in the immortalized as well as the transformed cell lines. These findings present direct experimental evidence that radiation sensitivity of malignant human keratinocytes is an intrinsic property of the precursor cell that may be conserved through the stages of neoplastic transformation.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Separately expressed T cell receptor alpha and beta chain transgenes exert opposite effects on T cell differentiation and neoplastic transformation.

Two aspects of T cell differentiation in T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mice, the generation of an unusual population of CD4-CD8-TCR+ thymocytes and the absence of gamma delta cells, have been the focus of extensive investigation. To examine the basis for these phenomena, we investigated the effects of separate expression of a transgenic TCR alpha chain and a transgenic TCR beta chain on thymocyte differentiation. Our data indicate that expression of a transgenic TCR alpha chain causes thymocytes to differentiate into a CD4-CD8-TCR+ lineage at an early developmental stage, depleting the number of thymocytes that differentiate into the alpha beta lineage. Surprisingly, expression of the TCR alpha chain transgene is also associated with the development of T cell lymphosarcoma. In contrast, expression of the transgenic TCR beta chain causes immature T cells to accelerate differentiation into the alpha beta lineage and thus inhibits the generation of gamma delta cells. Our observations provide a model for understanding T cell differentiation in TCR-transgenic mice.

Animals↗

Malignant transformation of human diploid fibroblasts and suppression of their anchorage independence by introduction of chromosome 13.

Isolation of cell lines that display various degrees of transformed phenotypes may be very useful to clarify multistep mechanisms of oncogenesis, but malignant transformation of human diploid fibroblasts in culture is a very rare event. We attempted to isolate variously transformed cell lines from human diploid fibroblasts (RB) of a patient with hereditary retinoblastoma. The RB cells exhibited normal karyotypes with the exception of one copy of chromosome 13, which contained a large deletion at the q14-22 region, where the RB1 gene is located. By transfection with SV40 early genes and repeated passage, we succeeded in obtaining SV40-transfected mortal, immortalized, anchorage-independent, and tumorigenic RB cell lines. DNA fingerprinting showed that these cell lines were not contaminants, but derivatives of the original RB cells. The remaining RB1 allele may be wild-type even in the malignant cell lines, because the expression and the LT-binding ability were normal. Furthermore, we did not find any homozygous loss in 16 polymorphic markers located in the 13q14-22 region in the transformed cell lines. However, introduction of a copy of a normal chromosome 13 into the anchorage-independent cell line suppressed its anchorage-independent growth ability. All these data, together with the fact that the RB cells containing the deletion progressed to a tumorigenic state spontaneously, but normal fibroblasts did not, raise the possibility that a new tumor suppressor gene, located at 13q14-22, may play a critical role in neoplastic transformation. We conclude that these RB cell lines provide an excellent system for identification of genes involved in malignant transformation of human cells. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 26:47-53, 1999.

Cell Adhesion↗

Effect of Moloney murine leukemia virus on the carcinogenicity of 3-methylcholanthrene in normal rat kidney cells.

Normal rat kidney (NRK) cell were found to be resistant to neoplastic transformation by diverse carcinogenic chemicals. To study chemical-retroviral co-carcinogenesis in this cells they were infected with a low multiplicity of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MLV). Using a single cell cloning procedure, a virus-producing clone was isolated from the infected cells, which was shown to carry only one integrated M-MLV provirus per cell. It was found that this single provirus was sufficient to render the clone susceptible to transformation by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC). However this clone responded differently to the carcinogen at different passages after infection. When exposed to 3-MC at a low passage postinfection (passage 5), cell transformation was evident only after 11 subsequent subcultures. On the other hand when it was chemically treated at a high passage postinfection (passage 29), cell transformation could clearly be detected already at the next subculture after the chemical treatment. It is suggested that an M-MLV-mediated cumulative effect is necessary to complement the action of the carcinogen in order to complete the carcinogenic process in these cells. This cumulative viral effect appeared to be associated with a change in the control of the virus expression, since 3-MC was found to stimulate virus replication in this clone also only at the high passage postinfection. Indeed virus release by cells of isolated transformed foci, produced by the chemical-M-MLV co-carcinogenesis, was extremely higher than by untransformed cells.

Animals↗

Fluctuation of simian virus 40 (SV40) super T-antigen expression in tumors induced by SV40-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cells.

Higher-molecular-weight forms of the simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (T-Ag), designated super T-Ag, are commonly found in SV40-transformed rodent cells. We examined the potential role of super T-Ag in neoplastic progression by using a series of clonal SV40-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cell lines. We confirmed an association between the presence of super T-Ag and cellular anchorage-independent growth in methylcellulose. However, tumorigenicity in nude mice did not correlate with the expression of super T-Ag. In the tumors that developed in nude mice, super T-Ag expression fluctuated almost randomly. Cell surface iodination showed that super T-Ag molecules were transported to the epithelial cell surface. The biological functions of super T-Ag remain obscure, but it is clear that it is not important for tumorigenicity by SV40-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cells. Super T-Ag may be most important as a marker of genomic rearrangements by the resident viral genes in transformed cells.

Animals↗

Repair processes and radiation quality in neoplastic transformation of mammalian cells.

Appropriate in vitro mammalian cell systems facilitate the study of cellular mechanisms of radiation oncogenesis. C3H 10T1/2 cells derived from mouse embryo have been used to study the effects of protracted irradiation on cell killing and incidence of neoplastic transformation. Neoplastic transformation in these cells results in the appearance of colonies of densely piled up, disorganized cells that grow on top of the contact inhibited monolayer of nontransformed cells. Protracted exposures of 60Co gamma rays or fission-spectrum neutrons (from the JANUS reactor at the Argonne National Laboratory) were given either at low dose rates or as multifractionated regimens using high dose rates. Dose protraction of gamma rays by multifractionation at a high dose rate (50 rad/min) results in appreciable reduction in cell killing and also significantly reduces the incidence of neoplastic transformation. Irradiation at a low dose rate has the same qualitative effect. In contrast, protracted exposures of fission-spectrum neutrons, given at a low dose rate (0.086 or 0.43 rad/min), result in significant enhancement of the frequency of transformation in the dose region of up to 80 rad. However, the survival of cells is essentially the same as that for the same single dose of neutrons given at a high dose rate. These observations are consistent with net "error-free" repair of transformational damage following protracted exposure of a low LET radiation and possibly a net "error-prone" repair of transformational damage after protracted irradiations with fission-spectrum neutrons.

Animals↗

Neoplastic transformation of cultured mammalian cells by estrogens and estrogenlike chemicals.

Estrogens are clearly carcinogenic in humans and rodents but the mechanisms by which these hormones induce cancer are only partially understood. Stimulation of cell proliferation and gene expression by binding to the estrogen receptor is one important mechanism in hormonal carcinogenesis; however, estrogenicity is not sufficient to explain the carcinogenic activity of all estrogens because some estrogens are not carcinogenic. Estrogens are nonmutagenic in many assays but exhibit specific types of genotoxic activity under certain conditions. We have studied extensively the mechanisms by which estrogens induce neoplastic transformation in a model in vitro system and our findings are summarized in this review. 17beta-Estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) and their metabolites induce morphological and neoplastic transformation of Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells that express no measurable levels of estrogen receptor. Treatment of the cells with E2 or DES fails to induce DNA damage, chromosome aberrations and gene mutations in SHE cells but results in numerical chromosome aberrations (aneuploidy) that could arise from microtubule disruption or disfunction of mitotic apparatus. Estrogen-induced genotoxicity is detected in cells following treatment with estrogen metabolites or following exogenous metabolic activation of estrogens. The estrogens induce DNA adduct formation that is detected by 32P-postlabeling. Both aneuploidy induction and DNA damage caused by DNA adduct formation correlate with the estrogen-induced cell transformation and may be important in hormonal carcinogenesis. We propose that multiple effects of estrogens acting together cause genetic alterations leading to cell transformation.

Aneuploidy↗

Reversibility of the transformed and neoplastic phenotype. I. Progressive reversion of the phenotype of X-ray-transformed C3H/10T1/2 cells under prolonged treatment with interferon.

X-ray transformed mouse C3H/10T1/2 cells were cultivated and passaged in the continuous presence of partially purified mouse interferon. This prolonged interferon treatment resulted in a stepwise progressive reversion of the transformed phenotype to the non-transformed phenotype. Thus interferon-treated cells displayed an epithelioid morphology, grew to a lower cell density, and were no longer tumorigenic. Reversion to the non-transformed phenotype was, however, stable only as long as interferon was continuously present in the culture medium. When interferon was removed, the cells "back reverted" to the transformed phenotype. Our results suggest that interferon induced a reversion of the transformed phenotype in the entire cell population rather than a selection of an interferon resistant cell population. C-type viral particles and significant levels of reverse transcriptase were present in transformed cells, but neither present in the parental 10T1/2 cells nor in interferon-treated cells. When interferon was removed form the culture medium, viral particles and reverse transcriptase activity were again detected. It is possible, therefore, that interferon induces reversion through its antiviral activity, or that it induces reversion by its effects on cell function and structure, independently of any antiviral effect. Inhibition of cell multiplication per se does no appear to be sufficient to induce reversion, since cycloheximide inhibited cell multiplication; however, even after ten passages, it did not affect tumorigenicity. Our results suggest the possibility that interferon may act in vivo not only by inhibiting tumor cell multiplication but also by inducing a reversion. Patients with some tumors may therefore benefit from long-term interferon treatment.

Animals↗

Alterations in the localization of F-actin, fibronectin, and thrombospondin occur prior to neoplastic transformation in rat tracheal epithelial cells.

Structural glycoproteins and cytoskeletal proteins play a major role in the regulation of cellular organization and function. Changes in the structure and function of these proteins are involved in the cascade of events which lead to neoplastic transformation. We evaluated RNA levels, protein localization, and organization of selected proteins in an in vitro model system of respiratory carcinogenesis to examine alterations in cell architecture. Localization of fibronectin (Fn), thrombospondin (Tsp), and F-actin was examined in (1) primary rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells; (2) spontaneously immortalized nonneoplastic cells (SPOC-1); and (3) neoplastic cells (EGV5T) derived from tumors arising following transplantation of an N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-transformed RTE cell line into nude mice. Proteins were stained with fluorescein-labeled antibodies or phalloidin compound and analysis was performed with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Primary RTE cells display organized F-actin stress fibers, perinuclear Fn and Tsp, and pericellular Fn in fibrillar arrays. In larger colonies, Tsp occurs between cells and occasionally in fibrillar arrays. SPOC-1 cells, unlike primary RTE cells and neoplastic EGV5T cells, seldom form junctions and exhibit few cell surface extensions. F-actin stress fibers are reduced in these immortalized cells. F-actin in SPOC-1 cells occurs in the perinuclear region, scattered diffusely throughout the cell and in punctate adhesions. Fn and Tsp are localized to the perinuclear region with Fn staining more intensely. EGV5T neoplastic cells also display a dramatic loss of stress fibers and F-actin is concentrated mainly near the cell periphery. Perinuclear staining of Fn and Tsp occurs in some cells within the colony. Levels of Tsp RNA and Fn RNA and protein are significantly reduced in both cell lines compared to primary RTE cells. We conclude that structural protein disruptions are early events in the transformation of these respiratory epithelial cells.

Actins↗

The adenovirus E4orf6 protein contributes to malignant transformation by antagonizing E1A-induced accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein p53.

The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 protein promotes focus formation of primary baby rat kidney (BRK) cells in cooperation with Ad5 E1 proteins. This activity is most likely related to the ability of the E4orf6 protein to bind to p53 and modulate its tumor suppressor functions. In this study we report that transformed BRK cells that stably express E4orf6 in addition to E1A and E1B (ABS cells) displayed multiple additional properties commonly associated with a high grade of oncogenic transformation compared to cells expressing only E1A and E1B (AB cells). These properties included morphological alterations, markedly enhanced growth rates and growth to much higher saturation densities. Following injection into nude mice ABS-derived tumors exhibited accelerated growth and, based on histopathological criteria, proofed to be much more malignant compared to tumors generated by AB cells. Interestingly, these highly transformed properties of ABS cells correlated with a dramatic reduction of p53 steady-state levels which inversely correlated with E4orf6 expression. From these results we conclude that expression of the Ad5 E4orf6 protein (i) confers additional transformed in vitro properties to primary rat cells expressing the Ad5 E1 proteins, and (ii) increases the tumorigenic and malignant potential of these cells in vivo. Our data suggest that the Ad5 E4orf6 protein enhances the intrinsic ability of E1-transformed rat cells to grow in a neoplastic state by completely inactivating p53 tumor suppressor function in combination with the E1A and E1B proteins.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Neoplastic transformation of C3H 10T1/2 cells: a study with fractionated doses of monoenergetic neutrons.

As most occupational and environmental exposures to ionizing radiation are at low dose rates or in small dose fractions, risk estimation requires that the effects of the temporal distribution of dose are taken into account. Previous in vitro studies of oncogenic transformation, as well as in vivo studies of carcinogenesis induced by high-LET radiation, yielded controversial results concerning the presence of an inverse dose-rate effect. The present study tested the influence of one scheme of dose fractionation of monoenergetic neutrons on neoplastic transformation of C3H 10T1/2 cells. Neutrons of 0.5, 1.0 and 6.0 MeV were used. Cells were exposed to doses of 0.25 and 0.5 Gy, given acutely or in five fractions at 2-h intervals. The acute and fractionated irradiations with each energy were done on the same day. No significant difference between the two irradiation modes was found for both cell inactivation and neoplastic transformation at all energies. These results are in agreement with our data for fractionated fission-spectrum neutrons from the RSV-TAPIRO reactor.

Animals↗

Persistence of sister chromatid exchanges and in vitro morphological transformation of Syrian hamster fetal cells by chemical and physical carcinogens.

The induction of neoplastic cell transformation is closely associated with DNA alterations which occur shortly after carcinogen exposure. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) formation is a sensitive indicator of carcinogen-DNA interaction and correlates with the induction of morphological cell transformation. The persistence of lesions generating SCE produced by chemical and physical carcinogens and its relevance to the induction of morphologic transformation was evaluated in coordinated experiments with cultured Syrian hamster fetal cells (HFC). Exponentially growing HFC were exposed for 1 h to benzo[a]pyrene (BP), methyl-methanesulfonate (MMS), cis-platinum (II) diaminedichloride (cis Pt II), N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea (MNU), mitomycin C (MMC), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), N-acetoxy-2-fluorenyl-acetamide (AcAAF) or u.v. light irradiated. Cells were incubated for 24 h with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) required for SCE visualization at 1, 24 and 48 h after carcinogen exposure. The induction of morphological transformation was determined on the quantitative colony assay at 6 days after carcinogen treatment. SCE analysis demonstrates that for a period of 48 h after carcinogen exposure, during which time the cells undergo at least four replicative cycles, DNA damage generating SCE induced by all chemical carcinogens either persisted or was partially removed, whereas u.v.-induced lesions were completely removed. An elevated SCE frequency persisted after two additional cell cycles after treatment with BP, AcAAF or MMC without increased cell lethality as compared to other carcinogens whose lesions were completely eliminated during the same period. Although a correlation between the persistence of SCE and the induction of transformation was not observed for all carcinogens, this study illustrates that DNA damage generating SCE can persist over several replicative cycles, thus raising the possibility that lasting DNA alterations are important for the induction of neoplastic cell transformation.

Animals↗

Changing responsiveness to all-trans retinoic acid of rat tracheal epithelial cells at different stages of neoplastic transformation.

Retinoic acid (RA) treatment of rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells, pre-exposed to the direct-acting carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), inhibited transformation in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with RA at concentrations ranging from 3-33 nM reduced the MNNG-induced transformation frequencies by 13-81% and in some experiments by greater than 90%. RA treatment for only 3 days caused 65-75% inhibition of transformation; treatments of longer duration resulted in greater inhibition of transformation. Delaying the onset of RA treatment reduced its effectiveness, but even when RA treatment was delayed for 3 weeks following MNNG exposure, 60% inhibition still occurred. The inhibition of transformation appeared to be irreversible. The colony forming efficiency of cells isolated from transformed colonies 5 weeks after MNNG exposure was drastically reduced when the replated cells were treated with RA either 1 day or 4 days after plating, indicating that RA blocked cell replication. However, cells isolated from transformed colonies at later times after MNNG exposure were increasingly resistant to the antiproliferative effects of RA. The RA concentration causing 50% inhibition (RA-IC50) of colony formation was 0.1-0.3 nM for cells isolated from 3-5 week-old transformed colonies; it increased greater than 100-fold for cells isolated from 12-week-old transformants. Five established RTE cell lines also showed a much increased resistance to the antiproliferative effects of RA; two of these cell lines were even slightly stimulated in their colony forming ability by RA. The RA-IC50 of colony forming efficiency of normal RTE cells was also determined and compared to that of cells isolated from 5-week-old transformed colonies. Since the normal RTE cells require 3T3 feeder layers for clonal growth, both cell types were grown on feeders. For both cell types, the RA-IC50 was similar (150-300 nM); the requirement for relatively high RA concentrations was attributed in part to the rapid RA metabolism by the feeder cells. These experiments show that early RTE cell transformants are growth-inhibited by RA; however, they increasingly lose their sensitivity to the growth controlling effects of RA as they progress to a more advanced stage of transformation. The inhibition of tracheal cell transformation by RA is probably due to the antiproliferative effects of the retinoid.

Animals↗

Overexpression of the AML1 proto-oncoprotein in NIH3T3 cells leads to neoplastic transformation depending on the DNA-binding and transactivational potencies.

The AML1 gene encodes DNA-binding proteins that contain the runt homology domain and is found at the breakpoints of t(8;21) and t(3;21) translocations associated with myelogenous leukemias. From the AML1 gene, two representative forms of proteins, AML1a and AML1b, are generated by alternative splicing. Both forms have the runt homology domain that possesses the DNA-binding ability but, unlike AML1b, AML1a lacks a putative transcriptional activation domain downstream of the runt homology domain. By using retroviral infection, we demonstrated that AML1b causes neoplastic transformation of NIH3T3 cells. AML1b-expressing cells form macroscopic colonies in soft agar and induce tumors in nude mice, indicating that AML1 can be a transforming gene when overexpressed in fibroblasts. Both the runt homology domain and the transactivational domain were required to transform NIH3T3 cells. By analysis of deletion mutants, it was shown that an element determining the transactivational potency exists between amino acids 288 and 396 within the region downstream of the runt homology domain. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this region was also required for fibroblast transformation, indicating that the transforming activity of AML1 is correlated with the transactivational potencies. These results suggest a role of AML1 in the regulation of cellular proliferation, as well as myeloid cell differentiation.

3T3 Cells↗