Expression of p53 after sv40 virus-infection of quiescent cells

SV40 infection of quiescent mouse cells leads to a re-entry of the cells into the cell cycle and to cellular DNA synthesis. At about 2 hours after virus infection the p53 protein becomes detectable. By using the p53 specific monoclonal antibody PAb246 we were able to demonstrate that p53 is expressed in wild-type conformation. At late time after virus infection wild-type p53 is complexed to the SV40 large T antigen. SV40 infection of quiescent cells in the presence of an elevated level of cAMP does not result in cellular DNA synthesis and not in expression of elevated levels of p53 suggesting that p53 is implicated in stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis. Phosphorylation of p53 increases with time after SV40 infection of quiescent cells indicating that phosphorylation of p53 varies during cell cycle progression.     

Increase in cellular RNA in cells infected with DNA oncogenic viruses

The amount of RNA per cell has been measured by flow microfluorometry in cultured cells stimulated by serum or infected with DNA oncogenic viruses (SV40, polyoma virus, and adenovirus). While all four agents stimulate, although to a different extent, cellular DNA synthesis in quiescent cells, the accumulation of cellular RNA varies. Serum, SV40, and polyoma virus cause a marked increase in total cellular RNA that is already apparent in G1 cells before entry into S. On the other hand, adenovirus 2, while capable of stimulating cellular DNA synthesis, fails to detectably increase the amount of RNA per cell. These results suggest that adenovirus 2 may act on quiescent cells through mechanisms different from those of serum, SV40, or polyoma virus.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis, independent of DNA adduct formation, by benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide in mammalian cells

Treatment of SV40-infected CV-1 cells with the ultimate carcinogenanti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) at 1 x 10 ^–4 mg/mlor higher reduced the rate of viral DNA synthesis to an extentdependent on the BPDE concentration; similar reductions in cellularDNA synthesis were produced in infected and uninfected cells.Treatment of cells with BPDE, followed by removal of BPDE, atvarious times before infection with SV40 gave the same results.Recovery or partial recovery of DNA synthesis occurred whenthe BPDE concentration was below 6 x 10 ^–4 mg/ml; at higherconcentrations the cells were killed. Simultaneously replicatingviral DNA's from viruses infecting the same cells before andafter BPDE treatment of the cells exhibited the same reducedrate of synthesis. The evidence indicates that covalent adductsin viral DNA are not responsible for its reduced replicationrate; moreover, it is probable that an insignificant numberof adducts is produced in intracellular viral DNA at BPDE concentrationsthat do not kill CV-1 cells. Rather, it appears likely thatBPDE inhibits viral DNA synthesis by attacking cellular DNAor non-DNA targets. Caution is therefore required in relatingthe effects of BPDE and other carcinogens to DNA adduct formation.     

Selective killing of simian virus 40-transformed human fibroblasts by parvovirus H-1

A normal strain of human foreskin fibroblasts, two SV40-transformed derivatives with finite and infinite life spans, and an established line of SV40-transformed newborn human kidney cells are compared for their susceptibility to infection with parvovirus H-1. H-1 inocula, which do not detectably alter the growth of normal cells, cause a progressive degeneration of all three SV40-transformed cultures. The resistance of normal cells is not a membrane phenomenon since they adsorb and take up H-1 as efficiently as the transformants. Moreover, the fraction of infected cells supporting the synthesis and nuclear migration of H-1 proteins is similar in normal and SV40-transformed cultures. On the other hand, the enhanced H-1 sensitivity of transformed cells correlates with a 5- to 30-fold increase in their accumulation of newly synthesized parvoviral DNA, as compared with normal cultures. This stimulation of H-1 DNA replication is most pronounced for the amplification of duplex replicative forms, although the conversion of parental single-stranded DNA to replicative forms is also enhanced to a smaller extent. In addition, SV40-transformed cells support productive H-1 infection and release a burst of infectious virus, whereas no H-1 production can be detected in the normal cell strain. The latter difference was confirmed for another series of 7 normal and 16 SV40-transformed strains of human skin fibroblasts. Altogether, these results indicate that intracellular limitations on H-1 DNA replication are associated with the abortive nature of the parvoviral life cycle in normal human fibroblasts and are overcome after SV40 transformation, resulting in the selective killing of the transformants. This observation raises the possibility that oncolysis might contribute to the oncosuppressive activity displayed by parvoviruses in vivo.     

Intracistronic complementation reveals a new function of SV40 T antigen that co-operates with Rb and p53 binding to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent cells.

The ability of the oncogene products of DNA tumor viruses to induce DNA synthesis in quiescent cells is thought to depend on their capacity to bind to cellular proteins such as the retinoblastoma-suppressor protein Rb and the tumor suppressor p53, thereby abolishing the growth-arresting properties of these proteins. We have tested this hypothesis using SV40 T antigens carrying lesions that affect Rb binding, p53 binding or other functions involved in cell transformation. The results demonstrate that Rb binding is not essential for growth stimulation by T antigen. However, detailed analysis, including intracistronic complementation, suggests that at least three functions, Rb binding, a novel second activity localized to the DNA-binding domain and a function residing in the carboxy terminus, probably p53 binding, cooperate to generate the full growth induction potential of T antigen.     

SV40 infection induces telomerase activity in human mesothelial cells

Mesotheliomas are malignant tumors of the pleural and peritoneal membranes which are often associated with asbestos exposure and with Simian virus 40 (SV40) infection. Telomerase activity is repressed in somatic cells and tissues but is activated in immortal and malignant cells. We evaluated telomerase activity in seven primary malignant mesothelioma biopsies and matched lung specimens and 20 mesothelioma cell lines and eight corresponding primary tumor cultures. All the tumor biopsies, and nearly all primary cell mesothelioma cultures and cell lines were telomerase positive. The findings in cell lines paralleled those observed in primary cultures in cases where paired samples were available. Next, we found that SV40, a DNA tumor virus present in approximately 50% of mesothelioma biopsies in the USA, induced telomerase activity in primary human mesothelial cells, but not in primary fibroblasts. Telomerase activity became detectable as early as 72 h following wild-type (strain 776) SV40 infection, and a clear DNA ladder was detectable 1 week after infection. The amount of telomerase activity increased during passage in cell culture and appeared to parallel increases in the cellular amounts of the SV40 large T-antigen. Thus, SV40 infection leads to telomerase activity before the infected mesothelial cells become transformed and immortalized. SV40 infection of human fibroblasts did not cause detectable telomerase activity. We also determined that the SV40 small t-antigen (tag) plays an important role in inducing telomerase activity because this activity was undetectable or minimal in mesothelial cells infected and/or transformed by SV40 tag mutants. Asbestos alone did not induce telomerase activity, and asbestos did not influence telomerase activity in mesothelial cells infected with SV40. Induction of telomerase activity by SV40 may be related to the very high rate of mesothelial cell immortalization that is characteristically associated with SV40 infection of mesothelial cells.     

Effects of adenosine cyclic nucleotides on the synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin in transformed human placental cells

The synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and its subunits was studied in simian virus 40 (SV40) tsA mutant-transformed human first-trimester and term placental cells at 33 degrees (the temperature at which the cells have the transformed phenotype) and at 40 degrees (the temperature at which the tsA transformants regain their nontransformed phenotype). 8-Bromo cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (8BrcAMP) and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (Bt2cAMP) greatly induced the synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin alpha (HCG alpha) with little or no stimulation of the synthesis of HCG in transformed placental cells grown at 33 degrees or 40 degrees. The ratio of HCG alpha to HCG in these cells, therefore, increased in the presence of either nucleotide. 8BrcAMP and Bt2cAMP also greatly induced the synthesis of HCG alpha in nontransformed secondary placental cells (at 6th to 20th passage), although the synthesis of HCG was not detectable in these cells under the experimental conditions used. The synthesis of HCG as well as HCG alpha was stimulated in choriocarcinoma cells by 8BrcAMP and Bt2cAMP. The ratio of HCG alpha to HCG in uninduced choriocarcinoma cells increased during growth in culture. 8BrcAMP stimulated the synthesis of HCG preferentially in these cells, thus decreasing the ratio of HCG alpha to HCG. Our data indicate that adenosine cyclic nucleotides have different effects on the production of HCG but not on HCG alpha in SV40 tsA-transformed placental cells and choriocarcinoma cells.     

N-myc proto-oncogene expression can induce DNA replication in Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts

N-myc and c-myc are structurally and functionally related proto-oncogenes. C-myc expression plays an essential role towards the induction of DNA replication following mitogen stimulation of quiescent cells. We have examined whether N-myc expression can stimulate cellular DNA synthesis. When growth factor-deprived quiescent Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts harboring a glucocorticoid-inducible N-myc gene were stimulated with dexamethasone, the resultant N-myc expression induced S-phase DNA synthesis. Hence, functional homology between N-myc and c-myc extends to their joint ability to stimulate DNA replication.     

Strategies to circumvent SV40 oncoprotein expression in malignant pleural mesotheliomas

Although nearly 60% of mesotheliomas contain SV40 early region DNA sequences, the role of T/t antigens in initiating and maintaining the transformed state of mesothelioma cells remains unclear. The majority of mesothelioma cells which contain SV40 early region sequences exhibit extremely low basal expression of SV40 oncoproteins; however, T/t antigen expression can be induced under conditions of cellular stress. Abrogation of SV40 T/t expression by antisense techniques induces apoptosis in part via restoration of p53 function, and enhances chemosensitivity in SV40 (+) MPM cells by mechanisms which have not been fully elucidated. This review briefly summarizes our ongoing efforts to define the role of SV40 oncoproteins in modulating the malignant phenotype of mesothelioma cells, and highlights strategies which may prove efficacious in vivo for circumventing SV40 T/t antigen expression in mesotheliomas.     

Detection of virus-specific DNA sequences by quantitative in situ hybridization during infection with SV40.

In situ hybridization has been used as a quantitative method to study the replication of SV40 during lytic infection. Various parameters have been defined such as fixation and denaturation of cytological preparations, concentration of complementary (3H)-cRNA and volume of buffer used for the hybridization reaction. When all these parameters are carefully controlled, a reproducibility of +/-10% can be obtained for the quantitative study of the system SV40-monkey kidney cells (CV-1). In this system, it is evident that the synthesis of viral DNA is not synchronized in confluent cells. Moreover, a proportion of 20 to 30% of cells are not labelled whatever the multiplicity of infection. In SV40-transformed cells, it was not possible to detect significantly the integrated genome due either to the small size of the genome or to the fact that the number of genome-equivalents integrated at the same place is too low to yield a radioactivitity superior to background level for long periods of exposure.     

Simian virus 40 and malignant mesothelioma (Review)

Simian virus 40 (SV40) was recognized as a contaminant of early poliovirus vaccines that were provided to millions of individuals in Europe and in the USA between 1955 and 1963. SV40, a DNA virus of the family of papovaviridae, was proven to be oncogenic in rodents and able to transform human and animal cells in vitro. In 1993 SV40 was accidentally discovered to produce mesotheliomas in hamsters when it was injected in visceral cavities. Afterwards, SV40 DNA sequences were detected with significative frequency in human pleural mesotheliomas by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then SV40 DNA oncogenicity was associated with its large T antigen (Tag). This finding was confirmed by many laboratories, while a few research groups failed to replicate these data and argued that the SV40 DNA detection might be a PCR contamination artefact. In this review the dispute is examined in the light of recent experiments performed to identify molecular and cellular aspects of carcinogenicity and/or co-carcinogenicity of SV40 in human mesothelioma.     

Dependency of the efficiency of transformation by simian-virus-40 on the proliferative state of cultured fibroblasts at the time of virus inoculation

We previously demonstrated that the efficiency of cell transformation by simian virus 40 (SV40) is reduced when proliferating rat 3Y1 cells are inoculated with SV40 as compared with when density-arrested cells are inoculated. In this study, we characterized in more detail the cellular state at the time of virus inoculation that affects the susceptibility to SV40 transformation. When density-arrested 3Y1 cells were stimulated to progress one round of cell cycle by refeeding with medium containing high serum, they began to reduce the susceptibility to SV40 transformation before entering S phase. After re-entry into the non-proliferative state, prolonged maintenance of cells in the non-proliferative state was necessary for restoration of the susceptibility to SV40 transformation. Such dependency of the transformation efficiency on the cellular state at the time of SV40 inoculation paralleled with that of the expression of T antigen in nuclei, while virus adsorption and degradation of the DNA of the adsorbed virus was not dependent on the cellular state. We conclude that after inoculation of proliferating cells with SV40, an unidentified event between the virus adsorption and the accumulation of T antigen protein in nuclei is blocked and that this blockage causes the inhibition of the initiation of transformation.     

Partial characterization of nuclear matrix attachment regions from human fibroblast DNA using Alu-polymerase chain reaction.

The proteinaceous nuclear matrix of mammalian cell nuclei has been suggested to be involved in the regulation of chromatin structure, DNA replication, and gene expression. Interaction between cellular DNA and the nuclear matrix is mediated by putative DNA binding sequences, matrix attachment regions (MARs), which may become altered during early events in cellular transformation. Among the cellular changes occurring during the development of neoplasia, all of which may potentially involve the nuclear matrix, are alterations in nuclear structure, loss of control of DNA replication, and significant modifications of cellular gene expression. Therefore, a better understanding of the interaction between DNA and the nuclear matrix is needed. Isolated matrix associated DNA from pulse labeled SV40 transformed human fibroblasts was shown to be enriched in newly replicated DNA, confirming the association of DNA replication with the nuclear matrix as observed by others. Subgenomic fractions of matrix associated DNA enriched in putative MARs sites were prepared from quiescent and logarithmically growing normal human fibroblasts and SV40 transformed human fibroblasts. These fractions of DNA were analyzed by Alu-polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis, revealing complex and unique patterns of DNA products for each cell type investigated. A number of prominent DNA fragments with similar molecular size were found to be present in the amplified DNA products of each DNA source, suggesting that these DNA fragments may represent common DNA sequences which contain MARs sites or which are associated with MARs sites. The application of Alu-polymerase chain reaction to the molecular analysis of nuclear matrix associated DNA may facilitate the isolation and characterization of potentially new human MARs sequences.     

Arrest of replication forks by drug-stabilized topoisomerase I-DNA cleavable complexes as a mechanism of cell killing by camptothecin

Camptothecin, which induces an unusual type of DNA damage by trapping cellular topoisomerase I on chromosomal DNA in the form of drug-enzyme-DNA cleavable complexes, inhibits DNA synthesis and specifically kills S-phase cells. Cotreatment of L1210 cells with aphidicolin, which is an inhibitor of replicative DNA polymerases, completely abolished camptothecin cytotoxicity, suggesting the involvement of DNA replication in camptothecin cytotoxicity. In order to study the role of DNA replication in drug action, a cell-free SV40 DNA replication system was used in the present study. Camptothecin inhibited SV40 DNA replication in this cell-free system only in the presence of topoisomerase I. Addition of excess purified calf thymus DNA topoisomerase I to this extract system in the presence of camptothecin resulted in severe inhibition of SV40 DNA replication and the accumulation of linearized replication products, which contained covalently bound DNA topoisomerase I. We propose that the collision between moving replication forks and camptothecin-stabilized topoisomerase I-DNA cleavable complexes results in fork arrest and possibly fork breakage, which are lethal to proliferating cells.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis and alteration of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels in RSa cells by human leukocyte interferon.

Human leukocyte interferon inhibits the proliferation of the virus-transformed human embryonic cells RSa. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine (TdR) into an intracellular pool and the activity of TdR kinase were reduced in the interferon-treated RSa cell culture. High-degree (90%) inhibition of [3H]TdR incorporation was associated with concentrations of added interferon that produced more than a twofold increase in the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level, and low-degree inhibition was associated with smaller increases in cAMP. In the IFr cell culture, which is relatively resistant to the anticellular action of interferon, considerably less inhibition of TdR incorporation and a slight increase in cAMP were observed. Extracellularly added dibutyryl-cAMP inhibited the proliferation of both RSa and IFr cells to almost the same degree. A decrease in cAMP level and the initiation of DNA synthesis of G1-phase-arrested RSa cells by serum addition were prevented when cells were pretreated with interferon. These results indicated that intracellular cAMP may mediate the inhibitory effect of interferon on DNA synthesis and cell growth.