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A clonal derivative of mammary epithelial cell line COMMA-D retains stem cell characteristics of unique morphological and functional heterogeneity.

The COMMA-D cell line derived from mammary epithelial cells of midpregnant mice was shown previously to be heterogeneous as determined by phase-contrast microscopy, immunocytochemical staining, DNA content, and oncogenic potential (K.D. Danielson et al. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 3756; D. Medina et al. (1986) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 76, 1143). Clonal subpopulations of COMMA-D cells have now been isolated by both transfection and selection using a dominant-selectable gene transfer vector and by limiting dilution. Despite their clonal origin, these subpopulations in many cases retained the heterogeneity of the parental COMMA-D line. Of 18 clonal lines assayed, only 5 were able to express beta-casein mRNA. Pooled populations of G418-resistant cells expressed substantially higher levels of beta-casein mRNA than the clonal lines. One of the expressing clonal lines, BNW-7, was characterized further, using immunocytochemical techniques. Approximately 10% of BNW-7 cells expressed casein under the appropriate hormonal and cell-substratum conditions by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Casein immunoperoxidase staining of BNW-7 cells on floating collagen gels revealed that casein-producing cells were localized in small alveolar structures, which were formed in a non-hormone-dependent fashion. The cells in these alveolar structures were cuboidal with basally located nuclei, expressed keratin intermediate filament proteins preferentially, and comprised approximately 18% of the total cells. Cells elsewhere on the surface of the gel displayed a flattened morphology, and expressed vimentin intermediate filament proteins preferentially. A proportion of COMMA-D cells, therefore, appeared to have some of the characteristics of mammary stem cells, and retained the ability to differentiate and form phenotypically heterogeneous cell populations in vitro.

Animals↗

Tubular lysosomes and their drug reactivity in cultured resident macrophages and in cell-free medium.

Lysosomes were assessed in normal living resident mouse peritoneal macrophages, using mainly phase-contrast microscopy (PCM), darkfield microscopy (DFM), and fluorescence microscopy (FM) after terminal acridine orange (AO) staining; these procedures avoided dyes during experimentation. After a few hours of culture a variable proportion of the normal spherical lysosomes began to assemble in a linear fashion. Fully formed tubular structures, with appearances generally recognized as characteristic of tubular lysosomes (TL), could be seen by PCM or, after labeling, by FM, at 2-5 days (best usually at 4-5 days). This peak was followed by a reduction, and at 8-10 days most of the TL had disappeared, leaving only spherical lysosomes. Renewal of the medium at this stage was followed by a temporary reappearance of TL, suggesting that the medium was a major factor in their initial development also. Formation of TL was enhanced by chloroquine (Cq), though to a lesser degree than by phorbol ester (PMA); in contrast NH4Cl (like Cq a weakly basic amine) caused their disassembly into spherical lysosomes. Manual disruption of the monolayer macrophages enabled TL to be transferred to a cell-free medium, in which they remained apparently stable for several hours. Two known microtubule depolymerizers caused disassembly of TL in the intact cells, reinforcing the idea that the TL are associated with the cytoplasmic microtubule (MT) system; but these agents were inactive in vitro, suggesting that disorganization of the system was responsible for this change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ammonium Chloride↗

Association of topoisomerase II with the hepatoma cell nuclear matrix: the role of intermolecular disulfide bond formation.

Previous studies have resulted in conflicting data regarding the recovery of the nuclear enzymes topoisomerase (topo) II and topo I in the nuclear matrix fraction. In the present study we have assessed the effect of systematically altering a single extraction procedure on the distribution of these enzymes during the subfractionation of nuclei from HTC hepatoma tissue culture cells. When nuclear monolayers (prepared by treating attached cells in situ with the neutral detergent Nonidet-P40 at 4 degrees C) were isolated in the presence of the irreversible sulfhydryl blocking reagent iodoacetamide, subsequent treatment with DNase I and RNase A followed by 1.6 M NaCl resulted in structures which were extensively depleted of intranuclear components as assessed by phase contrast microscopy and conventional transmission electron microscopy. These structures contained 12 +/- 4% of the total protein present in the original nuclear monolayers. The lamins and polypeptides with molecular weights comparable to those of actin and vimentin were the predominant polypeptides present on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Western blotting revealed that less than 5% of the total nuclear topo II molecules were present in these structures. In contrast, when the sulfhydryl cross-linking reagent sodium tetrathionate (NaTT) was substituted for iodoacetamide, the same extraction procedure yielded structures containing components of the nucleolus and an extensive intranuclear network. These structures contained a wide variety of nonlamin, nonhistone nuclear polypeptides including 23 +/- 4% of the total nuclear topo II. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed under nonreducing conditions revealed that topo II in these nuclear matrices was present as part of a large disulfide cross-linked complex. Treatment of these structures with reducing agents in 1.6 M NaCl released the topo II. In contrast, topo I did not form disulfide cross-linked oligomers and was not detectable in any of these nuclease- and salt-resistant structures prepared at 4 degrees C. To assess the effect of in vitro heat treatment on the distribution of the topoisomerases, nuclear monolayers (isolated in the absence of iodoacetamide and NaTT) were heated to 37 degrees C for 1 h prior to treatment with nucleases and 1.6 M NaCl. The resulting structures (which retained 26 +/- 5% of the total nuclear protein) were morphologically similar to the NaTT-stabilized nuclear matrices and contained 15 +/- 4% of the total nuclear topo II. High-molecular-weight disulfide cross-linked oligomers of topo II were again demonstrated. Attempts to demonstrate these disulfide cross-linked oligomers in intact cells were unsuccessful.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

The topoisomerase II inhibitor teniposide (VM-26) induces apoptosis in unstimulated mature murine lymphocytes.

This study shows that not only concanavalin A-stimulated proliferating lymphocytes but also unstimulated mouse splenic lymphocytes are sensitive to the topoisomerase II (topo II) inhibitor teniposide (VM-26). When unstimulated lymphocytes are pretreated with VM-26 for a 2-h period and are then incubated in drug-free medium, cell viability, as determined by trypan blue exclusion, decreases to 40% of the control by 6 h. The drug-treated cultures show two to three times the level of detergent soluble DNA than the control cultures and agarose gel electrophoresis of the soluble DNA shows the presence of oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, a feature considered to be a hallmark of apoptosis. Phase contrast microscopy, Hoechst staining for DNA, and immunofluorescence microscopy of various nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens (nucleolar fibrillarin, snRNP, ubiquitin, vimentin, tubulin) in the VM-26-treated cells characterize the morphological changes during apoptosis of these cells. The role of topo II as the mediator of the VM-26 effects is supported by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, which shows the typical topo II-induced cleavage of supercoiled DNA into loop-sized 300- and 50-kbp fragments. We conclude that the cancer chemotherapeutic agent VM-26 interacts with topo II and induces apoptosis in unstimulated lymphocytes.

Animals↗

Hydrocortisone-induced DNA endoreplication in human trabecular cells in vitro.

Primary monolayer cultures of trabecular cells and organ cultures of trabecular meshwork, obtained from normal eyes of human subjects (age range, 40 to 70 yr) were exposed to hydrocortisone at concentrations ranging from 10(-4) M to 10(-6) M for periods up to 4 weeks. Phase-contrast microscopy of cultured cells showed an increase in the size of the nuclei (up to three times) and in the extent of the cell cytoplasm compared to those in control cultures, and vesicular structures frequently accumulated in the cytoplasm. Microdensitometry of Feulgen-stained cell nuclei indicated that the cells of the trabecular meshwork in vivo have predominantly diploid levels (2C) of DNA. Many nuclei in the trabecular cell cultures were polyploid and contained DNA values of 4C, 8C, and 16C. Cultures which had been exposed to hydrocortisone showed a significant shift toward the higher DNA classes, in contrast to the untreated control cultures; the average increase in the amount of DNA per nucleus was 36%. We discuss the relevance of these findings to the disease glaucoma in man.

Adult↗

Electrical and morphological evidence for heterogeneous populations of cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells.

Although trabecular meshwork cells are presumed to play an important role in determining ocular aqueous outflow resistance, little is known about their membrane transport characteristics. As in vivo access by microelectrodes is difficult, we used cell culture techniques to facilitate membrane voltage recording from cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells. Phase-contrast microscopy revealed the presence of epithelial-like and spindle-shaped cell types. The mean membrane voltage for epithelial cells was -49.7 +/- 0.8 mV (S.E.M., n = 143) and for spindle cells was -70.9 +/- 1.9 mV (S.E.M., n = 48). These cells possess an electrogenic Na+/K(+)-ATPase and a K+ conductance. K transference numbers (tk) for [K+] from 5 to 80 mM were 0.50 for epithelial cells and 0.71 for spindle cells. The epithelial cells lack the electrogenic Na+/HCO3-symport, thereby enabling their differentiation from corneal endothelial cells and confirming previous reports of differences between these cell types. A proportion of spindle cells demonstrated spontaneous and induced fluctuations of membrane voltage. One millimolar Ba2+ (n = 9) induced an immediate depolarization of membrane voltage, with the onset of 'overshooting' action potentials, which were dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and Na+ but were not blocked by tetrodotoxin, 10(-6) M. Spindle cells showed parallel alignment of intracellular smooth muscle specific alpha-isoactin filaments, whereas epithelial cells showed specks of non-fibrous staining. Electron microscopy revealed that epithelial cells had the characteristics of metabolically active cells, with few intermediate filaments (10-12 nm) and microfilaments (6-7 nm) and short cytoplasmic processes. Spindle cells had long cytoplasmic processes and abundant intermediate- and microfilaments. These data provide further evidence for multiple bovine trabecular cell types. The smooth muscle-like spindle cell may represent the previously proposed contractile element of the angle and its action could conceivably alter ocular outflow resistance.

Actins↗

Differential sensitivity of neural cells to bilirubin toxicity.

Two established neural cell lines were used to examine the cytotoxicity of bilirubin in vitro. N2AB-1 is a subclone of Neuro 2a from the original C1300 mouse neuroblastoma and C6 glioma is a rat astrocytoma cell line. These cells were grown in monolayer cultures in medium with 10% fetal calf serum containing doses of 5 to 42 microM bilirubin. Morphologic and biochemical characteristics of cell viability were monitored for 72 h. Additional cultures of N2AB-1 were differentiated by treatment with prostaglandin E1/cyclic adenosine monophosphate before exposure to various bilirubin concentrations. The cells were examined every 24 h by phase contrast microscopy and protein synthesis was measured by incorporation of tritiated leucine for appropriate times. N2AB-1 cells were extremely sensitive to bilirubin within 24 h at doses greater than 11 microM. Cells showed swelling, vacuole formation, pigment accumulation, and lift off from the growing surface. Growth of N2AB-1 over 3 days was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, protein synthesis 6 h after bilirubin exposure and 24 h after bilirubin exposure was inhibited in the same dose dependency as cell growth. In contrast, N2AB-1 cells morphologically differentiated by drug treatment showed no effect of bilirubin exposure. Also, mitotically active rat glial cells were resistant to bilirubin toxicity under similar conditions. This study demonstrates that marked differences exist among neural cells in susceptibility in vitro to bilirubin toxicity and that mitotically active neuronal cells are more sensitive to bilirubin treatment than "mature" neurons.

Animals↗

Potential environmental neurotoxins related to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium: selective toxicity of 1-methyl-4-(4'-acetamidophenyl)-pyridinium and 1-methyl-4-cyclohexylpyridinium for dopaminergic neurons in culture.

Mesencephalic cells in culture were exposed to various compounds which we hypothesized to be selective toxins for dopaminergic neurons. The culture system was previously shown suitable for assessing selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity, since 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+), the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinium, destroyed dopaminergic neurons without affecting other cells. Some compounds tested were selected to fulfill two criteria believed to underly the selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPP+, i.e., to be a potential substrate for the uptake carrier for dopamine and to possess a strong delocalized positive charge to inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory system. Other compounds were chosen on the basis of clinical or anecdotal evidence linking them to Parkinson's disease. Among the tested compounds two pyridinium analogs, 1-methyl-4-(4'-acetamidophenyl)pyridinium (MACPP+) and 1-methyl-4-cyclohexylpyridinium (MCP+) were found to be selectively toxic toward dopaminergic neurons. Incubation of cultures with both MACPP+ and MCP+ produced a dramatic reduction in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and the uptake of [3H]dopamine without reducing the number of cells visualized by phase-contrast microscopy or the uptake of [3H]aminobutyric acid. Besides MACPP+ and MCP+ none of the tested compounds exhibited any selective dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Together with earlier findings, these data suggest that the structural requirements are rather strict for a chemical to be a selective dopaminergic neurotoxin and make it unlikely that there is a wide spectrum of environmental dopaminergic toxins.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗

Apoptotic hepatocytes become insoluble in detergents and chaotropic agents as a result of transglutaminase action.

Physiological deletion of cells ensues programmed death which involves formation of apoptotic bodies with fragmented DNA. Here we report that apoptotic hepatocytes are insoluble in detergents, urea, guanidine hydrochloride, reducing agents and thereby can be isolated from rat liver following collagenase treatment. They are wrinkled, spherical structures similar to cornified envelopes of epidermis by phase-contrast microscopy and show irregular, globular morphology by scanning-electron microscopy. Part of their DNA content is cleaved into nucleosomal and oligonucleosomal fragments. Their insolubility, like that of the cornified envelope, is evoked by epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine and N1,N8-bis(gamma-glutamyl)spermidine protein cross-linking bonds formed by transglutaminase.

Animals↗

How culture conditions modulate the morphofunctional differentiation of the human estradiol-sensitive mammary cell line (MCF-7).

The MCF-7 cell line grown on plastic surfaces is widely accepted as a model for hormone sensitivity in molecular biology. However, in vitro results concerning estrogen sensitivity remain controversial. In search of culture conditions most closely simulating the in vivo microenvironment we cultured MCF-7 cells on diverse substrates and in suspension culture. The different factors of the contact environment: (A) influence of diffusive medium, (B) influence of cell to cell contacts, and (C) influence of cell to substrate contacts were considered. Using morphological criteria:phase contrast microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy we observed MCF-7 morphofunctional differentiation under the different culture conditions. Plastic, corneal endothelial cell extracellular matrix, and attached collagen gels imposed a planar medium-aggregate interface. The impermeability of the free surface and the intense basal tension antagonized epithelial polarization. Only at post-confluence did domes and clusters appear above the monolayer. On floating collagen gels and in suspension culture the cells established intimate cell-cell contacts over large surfaces and reconstituted tissular architecture. Three-dimensional growth conditions which approach the in vivo contact environment of epithelial cells should be used instead of the traditional monolayer cultures for assessing hormonal and pharmacological responses of human breast carcinomas.

Breast Neoplasms↗

In vitro toxicity of topical antimicrobial agents to human fibroblasts.

Topical antimicrobial agents are essential to optimal burn care. However, exposure of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts (ATCC CCL 75) and fresh donor human dermal fibroblasts to silver sulfadiazine and mafenide acetate results in a significant reduction in cell proliferation, as determined by hemocytometer cell counts and total matrix protein assays, within 48 hr of exposure. Changes in cellular morphology and progressive deterioration of cytoplasmic organelles and the nucleus are seen with phase-contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These findings may explain the clinical observation of delayed wound healing after the use of topical antimicrobial agents.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗

Accumulation of CK-MM is impaired in innervated and contracting cultured muscle fibers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

No specific abnormalities have been reproducibly manifested in aneurally cultured muscle of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. We now report that the accumulation of the muscle-"specific" isozyme of creatine kinase (CK-MM) was significantly and preferentially impaired in long-term innervated contracting muscle fibers cultured from 4 DMD patients (DMD-InnCMFs) compared to: i) their noninnervated sister-cultured muscle fibers, and ii) innervated contracting control cultured human muscle fibers (Control-InnCHMFs). Accumulation of other muscle-"specific" isozymes (MSIs), viz. glycogen phosphorylase, phosphoglycerate mutase, and lactic dehydrogenase, was not significantly impaired. We have not observed preferentially-impaired CK-MM accumulation in any Control-InnCHMFs from 22 patients (children and adults) with a variety of neuromuscular diseases. There was no apparent difference between DMD-InnCMFs and Control InnCHMFs regarding: acceptance of innervation; neuronally-driven, virtually continuous muscle-fiber contractions; characteristic myofiber organization by phase-contrast microscopy, and increased longevity of the innervated fibers.

Animals↗

Morphological evidence for the ability of eosinophils to damage antibody-coated schistosomula.

Schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni were incubated with preparations from human peripheral blood containing up to 98% eosinophils, in the presence or absence of anti-schistosomular antibody. It was found that there was a correlation between damage to the schistosomula, as judged by phase-contrast microscopy, and release of 51chromium from labelled organisms. The proportion of schistosomula showing damage did not increase over the times tested (two to six hours), but the release of chromium was progressive over the same period. This suggested that the chromium within damaged schistosomula was not all released immediately after the initial damage. A small proportion of the schistosomula appeared not to be susceptible to antibody-dependent, eosinophil-mediated damage. Antibody alone, in the absence of eosinophils, did not have any detectable damaging effect. Electron microscopy showed that, in the presence of antibody, the interaction between eosinophils and schistosomula, which results in damage to the schistosomula, is initiated by an intimate contact between the eosinophils and the schistosomular surface.

Animals↗

Effects of the rodenticide Vacor on cultured rat pancreatic beta cells.

Human ingestion of the rodenticide Vacor has been implicated in the onset of diabetes mellitus. We report here studies of the effects of Vacor on cultured rat pancreatic beta cells and fibroblasts to determine if this agent preferentially intoxicates insulin-producing beta cells. Cytotoxicity in beta cells was monitored both by phase contrast microscopy and the release of insulin into the culture medium. Changes in cellular protein were correlated with morphologic observations to determine fibroblast viability. Beta cells were 10-fold more sensitive to the toxic effects of Vacor than were fibroblasts. Vacor toxicity was reduced by treatment with nicotinamide but was unchanged by 3-O-methyl glucose. Both of these agents reduced the toxic effects of the known beta cell poison streptozotocin. The present studies indicate that Vacor possesses a toxic affinity for pancreatic beta cells and that its mechanism of toxicity may be similar but not identical to that of streptozotocin.

Animals↗

Eseroline, a metabolite of physostigmine, induces neuronal cell death.

The toxic effects of physostigmine, an anticholinesterase drug, and its metabolite eseroline were investigated in three neuronal cell culture systems, mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115, rat glioma C6, and neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid NG 108-15. Physostigmine and eseroline (0.5 nM) elicited a time-dependent leakage of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) from all three cell types. An increased release of [14C]adenine nucleotides was also detected from cells when they were prelabeled with [14C]adenine. Eseroline was comparatively more toxic than the parent compound, physostigmine. Eseroline elicited a dose- and time-dependent leakage of LDH and release of adenine nucleotides from the neuronal cells. A nonneuronal cell line, rat liver ARL-15, was comparatively the most resistant cell type to eseroline toxicity. The concentrations of eseroline needed for 50% release of adenine nucleotides or 50% leakage of LDH from NG-108-15 and N1E-115 cells in 24 hr ranged from 40 to 75 microM. The concentrations of eseroline needed to obtain similar responses in C6 and ARL-15 cells were much higher and ranged from 80 to 120 microM. Phase contrast microscopy showed extensive damage to three neuronal cell lines at concentrations of eseroline as low as 75 microM. The loss of ATP from N1E-115 cells exceeded 50% when they were treated with 0.3 mM eseroline for 1 hr--at which time the leakage of LDH was not detectable. It seems that eseroline causes neuronal cell death by a mechanism involving loss of cell ATP. Thus, the formation of eseroline may contribute to the toxic effect of physostigmine.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Mechanism of action of fire ant (Solenopsis) venoms. I. Lytic release of histamine from mast cells.

The mechanism of histamine release from rat mast cells by whole venom from Solenopsis geminata and S. invicta or by 2-methyl-6-undecylpiperidine HCl (C11) was investigated. Histamine release stimulated by one or more of these agents (1) occurred in normal and metabolically inactivated cells, (2) had a biphasic time course in normal and inactivated cells, (3) was temperature dependent and did not occur at 0 degrees C, (4) was accompanied by concomitant cytoplasmic enzyme release, (5) was accomplished by substantial cell swelling, and (6) was correlated with a loss of cell refractility in phase contrast microscopy. These results indicate that C11 causes initial permeability changes in the plasma membrane followed by lytic release of histamine and other cell components. The nonspecific nature of this action of the dialkylpiperidine component of the venoms provides the fire ants with a defense of general applicability.

Animals↗

Free radicals and aging. Electron spin resonance studies on neuronal lipopigments and cells grown in vitro.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy has been used in an attempt to observe free radicals which may be connected to the aging processes. Isolated lipofuscin particles from the human brain, which may act as traps for reactive ESR centers, have been studied. The lipopigments exhibit ESR signals which were attributed to metal ions. Both high-spin ferric iron and copper (II) complexes were observed. The copper resonance showed axial symmetry and the observed ESR parameters (A parallel = 185 gauss, g parallel = 2.25 and g perpendicular = 2.066) indicate that the copper ions are of the "non-blue" type (so-called "type 2"). The data suggest that the copper ions might be ligated to two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms. Ceroid particles from the brains of dogs with end-stage "canine ceroid lipofuscinosis" yield similar resonances involving metal complexes. The concentration of the copper ions in the lipopigments seems to increase slightly towards the end stage of life. Retinal pigment epithelial cells from the eyes of dogs with canine ceroid lipofuscinosis were grown in vitro and examined with ESR when the cells reached confluency and then after being maintained confluent for 2 weeks. The spectra indicate an accumulation of metal ions due to this "aging". Phase-contrast microscopy reveals an increase in perinuclear dense bodies during the time in confluency. A weak ESR signal, compatible with an "oxygen-centered" radical, was also found to increase slightly during the "aging" period.

Adolescent↗

Unusual properties of platelet shape in coronary and cerebral artery disease.

Platelet shape was examined in freshly fixed whole blood, using phase contrast microscopy, from 7 patients post-myocardial infarction, 9 patients undergoing elective angiography for the investigation of angina, and 17 patients with stroke. Platelet shape was abnormal in 29/33 patients and in 20 of them the distribution of platelet shape did not resemble that produced by known platelet activators, by venipuncture techniques known to produce platelet activation, nor by shearing platelet-rich plasma. In particular, the proportion of spherical platelets is too high relative to the proportion of smooth discoid shaped platelets. Addition of platelet-poor plasma from a patient post-myocardial infarction to normal platelet-rich plasma did not reproduce the abnormality in platelet shape. In contrast, for patients post-myocardial infarction platelet shape was normal in platelet-rich plasma, but the platelets were hypersensitive to ADP-induced aggregation. Incubation of citrated whole blood at 37 degrees C resulted in an incomplete disappearance of the spherical platelets suggesting that the abnormal distribution of platelet shape consists of both a reversible and a more persistent abnormality. The reversible portion of the platelet shape abnormality seen in patients with stroke and coronary artery disease may be related to venipuncture-induced platelet activation; however, the nature of the persistent abnormality in platelet shape is presently unknown.

Angina Pectoris↗