High c-myc amplification level contributes to the tumorigenic phenotype of the human breast carcinoma cell line SW 613-S

The c-myc gene is amplified in the SW 613-S cell line which was established from a human breast carcinoma. This line is heterogeneous: it contains cells with a high level of amplification and carrying the extra copies of the c-myc gene in double minute chromosomes (DMs) and cells with few c-myc genes integrated into chromosomes. Clones with different levels of amplification and different cytological localization of the c-myc copies were isolated from the SW 613-S cell population. Those with a high level of amplification and expression of the c-myc gene were highly tumorigenic in nude mice whereas those with a low level were not. Introduction of c-myc gene copies by transfection into the cells of several non-tumorigenic clones restored the tumorigenic phenotype. Our results indicate that a high level of amplification of the c-myc gene is a requirement for the tumorigenicity of SW 613-S cells in animals.     

The human breast carcinoma cell line SW 613-S: an experimental system to study tumor heterogeneity in relation to c-myc amplification, growth factor production and other markers (review)

Amplification of the c-myc gene has been frequently reported in breast carcinomas. However the precise function of the c-myc protein is still unknown and the nature of the selective advantage offered to a cell by an overexpression of such a protein is unclear. We are addressing this question using the SW 613-S human breast carcinoma cell line as a model system. This cell line harbours an amplified c-myc gene and a mutated c-Ki-ras gene. By various criteria the amplified c-myc gene of SW613-S cells appears undistinguishable from a normal human c-myc gene. The SW613-S cell line is heterogeneous: it contains cells with a high level of amplification and carrying the extra copies of the c-myc gene in double minute chromosomes (DMs) and cells with few c-myc genes integrated into chromosomes. DM-containing cells are progressively lost upon in vitro cultivation but are selected for during in vivo growth, as tumors in nude mice, or by cultivating the cells in a chemically defined, serum-free medium or under conditions preventing anchorage. Clones with different levels of amplification and different chromosomal localization of the c-myc copies were isolated from the SW 613-S cell population. Those with a high level of amplification and expression of the c-myc gene are tumorigenic in nude mice, whereas those with a low level are not. Introduction of c-myc gene copies by transfection confers tumorigenicity to the nontumorigenic clones, indicating that a high level of amplification of the c-myc gene contributes to the tumorigenic phenotype of SW 613-S cells. Tumorigenic clones grow unattached, are able to proliferate in a chemically defined medium, and produce high levels of several growth factors (e.g. TGF-alpha, IGF2). Nontumorigenic clones are more dependent upon anchorage for growth, show a restricted growth in defined medium, and produce low or undetectable level of the growth factors tested. We have identified several genes, besides c-myc, the expression level of which is markedly different in the two types of clones. TGF-alpha, IGF2, PDGF-A, int-2, cytokeratins K8 and K18 and ferritin H chain are overexpressed in tumorigenic clones. In contrast, c-erbB1 (EGF receptor), c-jun, vimentin and p53 are expressed at a higher level in the nontumorigenic clones. Finally the major histocompatibility class I antigens, ferritin L chain, TGF-beta and c-Ki-ras, are examples of genes expressed at the same level in both types of clones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Expression of TGF-alpha/EGF and TGF-beta receptors in human colon carcinoma cell lines

Previous studies have established that colon carcinoma cells secrete several polypeptide growth factors, including TGF-alpha/EGF and TGF-beta, suggesting that these and related molecules function in an autocrine/paracrine fashion to modulate tumor-cell growth. To investigate this possibility, we have studied the expression of transforming growth factor receptors in a panel of human colon carcinoma cell lines and in several untransformed epithelial cell populations. The results have revealed that neoplastic colon cells express receptors for both TGF-alpha/EGF and TGF-beta. Immunoprecipitation identified the TGF-alpha/EGF receptor as a structurally intact 170-kDa protein. No evidence for over-expression was found. TGF-alpha (and EGF) enhanced receptor autophosphorylation, indicating that these receptors were biochemically functional. TGF-beta blocked DNA synthesis in non-neoplastic epithelial cells but not in tumorigenic colon populations. There was no correlation with TGF-beta receptor number or dissociation constant. However, chemical cross-linking studies revealed a TGF-beta receptor subtype of 75 kDa in 3 of the 4 colon carcinoma cells which was undetectable in normal IEC epithelial cultures, suggesting a possible association between 75-kDa receptor expression and refractoriness to growth inhibition of TGF-beta. Together, these data support the concept that locally-produced growth regulators can function in an autocrine or paracrine manner to influence the proliferation of colon carcinoma cells.     

Tumorigenicity, mucin production and AM-3 epitope expression in clones selected from the HT-29 colon carcinoma cell line.

Two mucin-producing cell clones (16.2 and 12.2) and a mucin-deficient clone (15.2) were selected from the established human adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 by limiting dilution and Alcian blue staining. The amounts of the mucin antigen detectable on the cell surface with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) AM-3 decreased in the order HT-29 greater than 16.2 greater than 12.2 greater than 15.2 = 0. The binding avidity of AM-3 antibody to cells as well as to mucin extracts from each cell line decreased in the same order, indicating that the epitope density on the cell-bound mucins was highest in HT-29 and lowest in 12.2 cells. The parental line and the mucin-producing cell clones 16.2 and 12.2 showed no contact inhibition and grew as aggregates, while the 15.2 cells were well spread and formed a regular monolayer. The mucin-producing cell lines injected into nude mice yielded solid tumors with different growth rates (HT-29 greater than 16.2 greater than 12.2), while the 15.2 cell clone was not tumorigenic at all. The relative amounts of total mucin-bound hexoses and of the mucin epitope AM-3 decreased in the xenografts in the order HT-29 greater than 16.2 greater than 12.2. The present system is suitable for investigating the role of mucins in growth of colon carcinoma cells and indicates that increased tumorigenicity in nude mice coincides with the increase in total mucin expression and the expression of the AM-3 mucin epitope in tumor tissue.     

Genes upregulated in a metastasizing human colon carcinoma cell line

Differential gene expression between the metastatic human colon cancer cell line HT29p and its nonmetastatic counterpart HT29-MTX was revealed by suppression subtractive hybridization. Fifty-eight individual genes showed increased mRNA levels in HT29p cells. Only 15 of these genes had been related to transformation in previous studies; the majority of genes are new candidates encoding proteins relevant for the metastatic process. Cancer profiling arrays as well as in situ hybridization study revealed that at least some of the genes obtained in the SSH screen are also differentially expressed in human tumors.     

Isolation and characterization of a highly malignant variant of the SW480 human colon cancer cell line.

We found that the human colon cancer cell line SW480 consists of two distinct subpopulations which we have designated E-type (epithelial) and R-type (round). Pure cultures of each type were obtained by subcloning, and both have maintained their characteristic phenotypes for at least 1 year (40 passages). E-type cells are the major (> 98%) type in the parental SW480 cell line. They form flat epithelial-like colonies. In contrast, R-type cells, which constitute a minor fraction (< 2%) of the parental cell line, have a rounded shape and grow in clusters of piled-up cells. Compared to E-type cells or the parental SW480 cells, isolated R-type cells display decreased doubling time, loss of contact inhibition, less adhesiveness to culture plates, higher anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and a much more aneuploid karyotype. When injected s.c. into nude mice, R-type cells produce much larger tumors within the same period of time than E-type cells, and the tumors are less differentiated than those produced by the E-type cells. Cell fusion experiments between R-type and E-type cells revealed that the R-type phenotype is dominant, and the results suggest that this is due to one or a few genetic changes. Taken together, these findings suggest that the R-type cells represent a more malignant variant of the E-type cells. They may be useful, therefore, for studying mechanisms involved in tumor progression.     

Tumorigenicity in athymic mice of the human colon carcinoma cell line SW1116 expressing the tumor-associated antigenic determinant CA 19-9

The human colorectal carcinoma cell line SW1116 under optimal growth conditions synthesized and shed antigens bearing the monoclonal antibody-defined carbohydrate determinant CA 19-9. Antigen expressing CA 19-9 in cell culture supernatant was quantitated by an immunoradiometric assay for CA 19-9. Injection of SW1116 cells s.c. into athymic BALB/c mice resulted in the growth of moderately differentiated tumors possessing a distinct morphological resemblance to a typical adenocarcinoma of the colon. Intervals to tumor appearance were dependent on inoculum dose, but 95% of mice at both 5 X 10(6) and 10(7) cells/mouse developed tumors within 14 to 21 days. CA 19-9 antigen was detected in the sera of all nude mice with SW1116 tumors, and antigen concentration correlated (r = 0.77) with tumor volume throughout the 9-week study. The half-life of this antigen in serum following tumor excision from nude mice was 6.5 +/- 1.5 (S.D.) hr. Carcinoembryonic antigen was also detected in serum from mice bearing SW1116 tumors by an immunoradiometric assay for carcinoembryonic antigen, but its concentration correlated (r = 0.86) with tumor volume for only the first 4 weeks of tumor growth. Significant levels of endogenous immunoglobulin G1 and immunoglobulin G3 antibodies to CA 19-9 antigen were found in the serum of nude mice with SW1116 tumors by radioimmunodiffusion, but no apparent relationship between antibody titer and tumor growth or CA 19-9 antigen level in serum was evident. This tumor model may be useful in devising radioimmunodetection and immunotherapeutic strategies for primary and metastatic human colon carcinomas.     

人结肠癌SW620细胞表面抗原CD133的表达具有可塑性

目的:探讨CD133抗原在人结肠癌细胞SW620中表达是否具有可塑性。方法:对SW620细胞进行流式细胞活化荧光分析,分选出CD133-和CD133+细胞亚群。对这2种亚群细胞进行单层培养传代、悬吊法三维球培养及无糖或无血清培养液培养后,应用免疫染色与荧光定量PCR法检测CD133表达变化。结果:结肠癌SW620细胞中存在CD133-与CD133+两种亚群。分选后的CD133-与CD133+亚群细胞在单层培养时CD133表达无明显变化;在三维球培养时,CD133-亚群细胞中出现明显的CD133抗原及mRNA表达(P<0.05);而在无血清培养时,CD133-与CD133+两亚群细胞的CD133表达无变化;在无糖培养时,CD133-亚群细胞中出现CD133阳性表达。结论:人结肠癌SW620细胞中表面抗原CD133表达具有可塑性,可受不同培养条件的调节。     

Effects on proliferation and migration of the human colon carcinoma cell line SW620 by silencing of hepatocyte growth factor expression

Objective  

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression is closely related to the progression and poor prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the effects on proliferation and migration of the human colon carcinoma cell line SW620 by silencing HGF expression.     

Growth factor production by human colon carcinoma cell lines

Conditioned media collected under serum-free conditions over 24 to 48 h from 18 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines were analyzed for transforming growth factor, types alpha and beta (TGF-alpha and -beta), and platelet-derived growth factor in assays for anchorage-independent growth and radioreceptor competition. Detectable levels of TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, and platelet-derived growth factor were produced by 17, 16, and 6 cell lines, respectively. Three liters of conditioned medium from highly tumorigenic (HT-29, DLD-1, and SW620) and nontumorigenic (SKCO-1) colon cell lines and from nonneoplastic rat kidney (NRK-52E) and small intestinal (IEC-6) epithelial cells were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and assayed for TGF-alpha- and TGF-beta-like activity. The highly tumorigenic colon cell lines produced 10- to 45-fold (soft agar), 19- to 90-fold (radioreceptor), and 4- to 35-fold (radioimmunoassay) more TGF-alpha activity compared to the nonneoplastic rat intestinal (IEC) epithelial cells. NRK-52E did not produce detectable TGF-alpha activity. Radioimmunoassay analysis of peak fractions revealed only TGF-alpha immunoreactivity; epidermal growth factor was not detected. Levels of TGF-beta-like material in the colon carcinoma populations were comparable (HT-29) or elevated (DLD-1, SW620) only 3- to 4-fold (soft agar) or 1- to 3-fold (radioreceptor binding) compared to IEC cells or NRK-52E. Growth factor production is an ubiquitous property of colon carcinoma cell lines maintained in vitro and is consistent with this class of molecule, playing a contributory role in regulating cell growth.     

siRNA干扰Id-1表达对人结肠癌SW480细胞株生长与侵袭能力影响研究

目的 DNA结合分化抑制因子-1(inhibitor-1 0f DNA binding/differentiation-1,Id-1)对结肠肿瘤细胞侵袭行为影响的研究较少,本研究探讨siRNA转染下调Id-1表达对人结肠癌SW480细胞侵袭和转移行为的影响.方法 将合成Id-1干扰序列(siRNA)转染至SW480细胞作为实验组(抑制组),并以Id 1表达干扰空白组、空载体组作为对照,应用反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和蛋白质印迹法检测各组细胞中Id-1和基质金属蛋白酶-9(matrix metalloprotein,MMP-9)的表达情况,四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法检测细胞的增殖能力;划痕损伤实验、Transwell小室和Matrigel侵袭模型评价Id-1对细胞侵袭和转移能力的影响.结果 抑制组Id-1 mRNA表达水平为(0.14±0.02),与空白组(1.27±0.03)和空载体组(1.25±0.06)比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;抑制组Id-1蛋白表达水平为0.25±0.02,与空白组(1.18±0.03)和空载体组(1.16±0.04)比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;抑制组MMP-9 mRNA表达水平为0.19±0.02,与空白组(1.33±0.04)和空载体组(1.38±0.03)比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;抑制组MMP-9蛋白表达水平为0.12±0.02,与空白组(0.89±0.04)和空载体组(0.91±0.02)比较明显降低,差异有统计学意义,P＜0.001;生长曲线表明,从第3天起抑制组细胞增殖明显减弱,与空白组和空载体组差异明显;划痕损伤实验结果显示,空白组和空载体组向划痕处的迁移速度明显快于抑制组;迁移试验显示,抑制组迁移细胞数为75±12,明显少于空白组(201±12)和空载体组(206±15);抑制组侵袭细胞数为51±10,明显少于空白组(121±17)和空载体组(126±14),差异均有统计学意义,P＜0.001.结论 Id-1促进SW480细胞的侵袭和转移,其机制可能与诱导MMP-9的表达有关.     

白藜芦醇对人结肠癌SW480瘤株作用的研究

目的研究白藜芦醇对人结肠癌细胞株SW480生长和细胞周期的影响,并探讨其作用机制。方法采用光镜及电子显微镜观察用药前后细胞形态结构的改变;采用四唑盐(MTT)比色法检测细胞增殖,采用流式细胞术测定细胞周期。结果白藜芦醇呈时间和剂量依赖性抑制人结肠癌细胞株SW480的生长并诱导凋亡,IC50为80μmol/L;白藜芦醇使SW480处于S期细胞增多。结论白藜芦醇能有效的抑制人结肠癌细胞株SW480的生长并诱导其凋亡;白藜芦醇对结肠癌可能是一种有效的化学治疗和化学预防药物。     

N,N-dimethylformamide-induced alteration of cell culture characteristics and loss of tumorigenicity in cultured human colon carcinoma cells.

Human colon carcinoma cell lines established in this laboratory were treated in vitro with N,N-dimethylformamide. This polar solvent caused morphological changes in the cells as well as alterations in their growth properties. Untreated cells had cloning efficiencies of up to 77% in soft agar; treatment with N,N-dimethylformamide resulted in a complete loss of clonogenicity in semisolid medium. Growth in the presence of the polar solvent also effected a marked reduction in the tumorigenicity of the cells. Ten of ten nude mice that received a s.c. inoculum of 1 X 10(6) untreated cells developed tumors histologically similar to colonic adenocarcinomas in 10 to 14 days, whereas nine of ten nude mice inoculated with 1 X 10(6) treated cells have shown no sign of tumor 3 to 6 months postinjection. Removal of the polar solvent from the culture medium was accompanied by the reappearance of tumorigenicity and the original cell culture characteristics. Therefore, it appears that N,N-dimethylformamide can reversibly effect the reversion of cultured human colon carcinoma cells to less malignant cell types.     

Phenotypic instability of drug sensitivity in a human colon carcinoma cell line

Colon cancer is one of the tumors most refractory to treatment by chemotherapy, and this may be due to inherent phenotypic instability of such tumor cells with respect to the biochemical determinants of drug sensitivity. To test this hypothesis, a clonal human colon carcinoma cell line, clone A, was passaged in culture in the absence of selection conditions or mutagens. During this time, sensitivity to several drugs was examined, and was found to decrease 4-fold during 30 weeks of culture. Five randomly selected subclones, having never been exposed to drug or mutagen, displayed a range of sensitivities to etoposide (50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 4.9 microM) and to vincristine (9-fold range), but all had the same sensitivity to methotrexate. With time these sensitivities also changed, and subsequent subclones were chosen from the lines with highest and lowest drug sensitivity. Again a wide range of phenotypes was observed. Sensitivity to vincristine ranged 14-fold and to doxorubicin 3-fold. Several biochemical determinants of drug sensitivity had a broad range of expression between cell lines. Cellular accumulation of [3H]vincristine, as well as expression of multidrug resistance protein P170 and glutathione transferase activity all varied significantly between subclonal lines. This suggests that some human colon tumors may be phenotypically unstable with respect to drug sensitivity, and this could contribute to clinical resistance to chemotherapeutic compounds.     

Introduction of normal chromosome 3p modulates the tumorigenicity of a human renal cell carcinoma cell line YCR

It has been suggested that loss and/or mutational inactivation of a gene or genes on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) may play a crucial role in the development of human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). If it is correct, the normal allele may carry suppressor activity for a tumor-associated phenotype(s). In order to test the hypothesis, we introduced a single chromosome containing 3p into a human renal cell carcinoma cell line YCR via microcell fusion, and examined tumorigenicity in nude mice and in vitro growth-properties. The following chromosomes derived from normal human fibroblasts were transferred to YCR or 6-thioguanine-resistant YCR cells: t(X;3) consisting of Xpter greater than Xq26::3p12 greater than 3pter, X, pSV2neo-tagged chromosome 11, and 3/t consisting of pSV2neo-tagged 3p and unknown segments. The introduction of t(X;3) or 3/t resulted in suppression of tumorigenicity or modulation of tumor-growth rate, whereas transfer of other chromosomes, i.e., X and 11, had no effect on tumorigenicity or tumor-growth rate of the cells. In vitro growth properties, i.e., cell-growth in medium containing 1% or 10% serum, growth in soft-agar and saturation density, were not correlated with the tumor-growth. In addition, the tumor-growth rate of 6-thioguanine-resistant segregants which have lost the t(X;3) became similar to that of the parental YCR cells. Thus, the introduction of 3p modulated at least the tumor-growth, indicating the presence on the 3p of a putative tumor-suppressor gene(s) for human RCC.     

Overexpression of ras in mucus-secreting human colon carcinoma cells of low tumorigenicity

We have investigated the expression of the protooncogenes of the myc and ras family in HT29 cells and in three differentiated clonal cell lines derived from this colon carcinoma cell line. In contrast to the decrease in myc expression seen when leukemia cells are induced to differentiate, we have found no changes in expression of the myc gene family in differentiated colon carcinoma cells. However, a greater than 5-fold increase in expression of sequences which hybridize to Ha-ras was observed in cells which secrete mucin, with a smaller increase seen in expression of Ki-ras in the same cells. This increase was not seen in cells which exhibit vectorial transport of water and ions, and which are not mucus-secreting. All differentiated lines were less tumorigenic in nude mice than the parental HT29 cells, irrespective of the level of ras expression. These results are consistent with the reports that ras expression is highest in the most differentiated cells of the colon and is substantially decreased in metastatic human colon tumors as compared to primary colon tumors. The data also suggest that a high level of ras gene expression is a marker for a particular differentiated state in colon cells rather than being directly equated with transformation or tumorigenicity. Hence, the results may reflect on some of the discrepancies concerning ras gene expression in human colon and other tumors which appear in the literature.     

Studies on transformation markers and tumorigenicity in segregant clones from a human hybrid line

Thirty segregant clones were back-selected in 8AG or 5BUdR media from a non-tumorigenic human intraspecific hybrid line (HeLa TK⁻ × fibroblasts HPRT⁻) displaying a high plasminogen activator (PA) level, a disorganized fibronectin (FN) matrix and anchorage-independence. These clones exhibited a widely modulated expression of the above markers concomitantly with different degrees of chromosome loss. Out of six representative segregant clones tested in nude mice, two were found to re-express tumorigenicity. No significant correlation was observed between PA or FN levels and anchorage-independence, as well as between these markers and tumorigenicity.     

Quinone-induced DNA single strand breaks in a human colon carcinoma cell line

It has been demonstrated that synthetic quinones, such as menadione, cause DNA damage in different cell systems, possibly being mediated by free radicals generated during redox cycling. It has been suggested that the damage caused could be related to tumor induction in different sites. To our knowledge it has not yet been demonstrated that the natural quinones, vitamin K1 and K2, exert the same activity. Using a colon carcinoma cell line, HT-29, we examined the extent of DNA damage induced by menadione, vitamin K1 and K2. Menadione caused significant DNA damage at low concentrations (25-200 microM) with a linear correlation of r = 0.95. In the presence of dicoumarol, a DT-diaphorase inhibitor, the damage was detected at concentrations five times lower indicating that free radicals generated during the redox cycling play a key role. Neither vitamin K1, incorporated in micelles, nor K2 caused detectable single strand breaks with respect to the controls either in the presence or in absence of dicoumarol. Our results demonstrate that, despite their redox cycling properties, the natural forms of vitamin K do not cause DNA damage in HT-29 cells as menadione does in the experimental conditions used.      

Transduction and expression of the human carcinoembryonic antigen gene in a murine colon carcinoma cell line.

A cell line derived from the mouse colon adenocarcinoma, MC-38, has been transduced with a retroviral construct containing complementary DNA encoding the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene. MC-38, which forms tumors in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, has been extensively studied as a target for active immunotherapy. Individual transduced clones that express high levels of cell surface CEA were isolated, and two clones, termed MC-38-ceal and MC-38-cea2, were extensively characterized. The levels of CEA found on the surface of these clones were considerably higher than that found in a moderately differentiated human colon carcinoma cell line (WiDr) and were comparable to those found on the human colon carcinoma cell lines GEO and CBS (among the highest CEA-expressing cells reported). Further analysis demonstrated that the CEA expressed in the MC-38-cea1 clone had a similar molecular weight to native CEA (Mr 180,000), but the MC-38-cea2 cell line expressed a single Mr 70,000 glycosylated immunoreactive product. Seven anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies were found to react with both clones. The CEA gene present in the MC-38-cea2 clone was partially sequenced and was found to contain a deletion of two of the three repeated domains present in CEA. These results provide a basis for future studies to map immunodominant epitopes of CEA and to develop a syngeneic model system that may aid in the design of reagents and protocols to study active and passive immunotherapy directed against a carcinoma expressing human CEA.