Chondrocytic differentiation of peripheral neuroectodermal tumor cell line in nude mouse xenograft.

We have established a cell line (KU-SN) from a peripheral neuroectodermal tumor originating in the left scapula of a 4-year-old girl. The original tumor was immunoreactive with antibodies for neurofilament proteins, neuron-specific enolase, vimentin, S100 protein, and beta 2-microglobulin. Dense core granules, 50-150 nm in diameter, were identified by electron microscopy. The cell line was established from tumor cells in metastatic lung fluid. KU-SN cells were immunoreactive with the antibodies for neurofilament proteins, vimentin, neuron-specific enolase, S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, cytokeratin, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Besides these neuronal features, KU-SN cells express type 2 collagen and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. The addition of insulin-like growth factor 1 (100 ng/ml) increased the growth rate of KU-SN cells 2.1-fold over control. Some cells were positive for Alcian blue and alkaline phosphatase staining. Cytogenetic analysis of KU-SN cells disclosed a reciprocal chromosomal translocation [t(11,22)]. Northern blot analysis of KU-SN cells demonstrated amplified expression of the c-myc gene but not the N-myc gene. When tumor cells were transplanted into nude mice, cartilage was formed. The cartilage was immunoreactive with the antibody for HLA-ABC, indicating that it was derived from the tumor cells, not from mouse tissue. Chondrocytic differentiation was not observed in xenografts of Ewing's sarcoma cell lines SK-ES or RD-ES or the peripheral neuroectodermal tumor cell line SK-N-MC. These results indicate that KU-SN cells represent primitive neural crest cells having the potential for chondrocytic differentiation.     

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma. A tumor of facultative histiocytes showing mesenchymal differentiation in cultured cell lines.

The histogenesis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is controversial. To elucidate the cellular origin and characteristics of this neoplasm, the authors analyzed cell lines grown from 17 patients (15 soft tissue MFH and 2 bone MFH) by using light and electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, enzyme cytochemistry, and functional tests for receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Fc receptors) and immunophagocytosis. Each culture exhibited a storiform/pleomorphic pattern with mixed cellular populations consisting of spindle cells, polygonal cells, and bizarre giant cells; these morphologic features corresponded to the histologic characteristics of the primary tumors. The cells in each MFH line displayed histiocytic functional markers such as lysosomal enzymes, Fc receptors and immunophagocytosis. However, these cells differed from monocyte-derived macrophages (histiocytes) in immunoreactivity; the MFH cells expressed a mesenchymal antigen (FU3) distributed among perivascular cells and fibroblasts but demonstrated no positive reactions with Leu-M1 (CD15) and Leu-M3 (CD14), which recognize the cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MFH is not a tumor of true histiocytes but of facultative histiocytes showing mesenchymal differentiation in vitro. Chromosomal analysis performed in one MFH line demonstrated abnormal karyotypes; the modal chromosome number was 58, with 5 marker chromosomes.     

唑来膦酸诱导骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞向成骨细胞分化的实验研究

目的　探讨唑来膦酸诱导骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞向成骨细胞分化的可行性。方法　取我院收治的７例唑来膦酸治疗前后的患者肿瘤组织切片行ＨＥ染色、茜素红染色、碱性磷酸酶（ＡＬＰ）染色以及成骨前因子Ⅰ型胶原和骨唾液蛋白（ＢＳＰ）的免疫组化染色。取１０例未予唑来膦酸治疗的患者术中切除的骨巨细胞瘤新鲜组织进行原代培养,待骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞贴壁生长后分别给予１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ唑来膦酸诱导１２天后行ＡＬＰ染色、免疫组化法检测Ⅰ型胶原和ＲＴ-ＰＣＲ检测Ｃｂｆａ-１的表达。结果　（１）唑来膦酸治疗前,肿瘤组织切片中骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞ＢＳＰ染色阴性或低至中度阳性、Ⅰ型胶原染色阴性或轻度阳性,茜素红和ＡＬＰ染色均为阴性;治疗后,茜素红染色阳性,ＡＬＰ染色弱阳性,ＢＳＰ和Ⅰ型胶原染色均转为强阳性,３例患者组织切片中ＨＥ染色发现类骨质或骨矿化的增加。（２）原代培养的骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞中予１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ唑来膦酸诱导１２天,空白对照组ＡＬＰ和Ⅰ型胶原染色均为弱阳性表达,唑来膦酸诱导组呈阳性表达。ＲＴ-ＰＣＲ检测发现唑来膦酸诱导组骨巨细胞癌基质细胞中Ｃｂｆａ-１表达,而空白对照组未见Ｃｂｆａ-１表达。结论　体内外研究初步证实,骨巨细胞瘤基质细胞具有向成骨细胞分化的潜能并在唑来膦酸的诱导下向成骨细胞分化,这从细胞和分子生物学水平部分解释了临床上长期应用唑来膦酸治疗后肿瘤病灶和术后残留囊壁中的明显骨生成的现象。     

Characterization of factors stimulating differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells from a Yoshida sarcoma cell line cultured in serum-free medium.

A clone, YS-T22, of cells from Yoshida sarcoma cell line, YSSF-212T, grown in "serum-free" culture medium produced factors stimulating differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1) to macrophages and granulocytes. The formation of macrophages and granulocytes was accompanied by induction of phagocytosis, locomotive activity, and lysosomal enzyme activities. The rates of induction of these differentiated phenotypes were proportional to the concentration of the factor added and the period of treatment. The factor stimulating differentiation of M1 cells was a heat-labile, nondialyzable proteinaceous substance that was inactivated by trypsin but not by ribonuclease or glycosidases. On diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography, the factor stimulating differentiation of M1 cells from conditioned medium of YS-T22 cells was eluted in various fractions with or without activity of the colony-stimulating factor.     

In vitro differentiation of a Hodgkin's disease derived cell line.

We have examined the Hodgkin's disease derived cell line Co in terms of its capacity to differentiate in vitro. Co cells show the characteristics of immature T cells and express CD3 molecules in the cytoplasm. On activation with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) these cells express the CD3 antigen and the T cell receptor alpha beta (TCR alpha beta) on the cell surface. Surface expression of the activation marker CD25 (IL2 receptor) was also greatly increased, whereas CD4 and CD8 levels were not altered. Supernatants of TPA-stimulated Co cells contained the cytokines IL2, IL3, IL4 and IL8, whereas these cytokines were not detected in the supernatants of untreated cells. Different subclones of the Co cell line differed in their response to TPA with respect to the induced CD3 and TCR expression. Our data demonstrate that a Hodgkin's disease derived cell line can be induced to differentiate in vitro from a pre-T cell phenotype towards a more mature T cell. It is possible that similar processes may occur in Hodgkin's disease in vivo.     

Characterization of a colon carcinoma cell line for tumor immunotherapy

Chessboard vaccination (i.d. injection of various mixtures of mitomycin-treated fresh cells of the DE-TA colon carcinoma cell line and Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN] had a beneficial effect on recurrence and survival in Duke C patients. To standardize this kind of immunotherapy the following parameters of the DE-TA cell have been evaluated:--Karyotype (46 chromosomes, deletions in chromosome 8; 17); doubling time 24 hr; expression of CEA.--Stability of membrane antigens characterized by 9 different monoclonal antibodies over more than 40 cell culture passages.--Homogeneity of cell culture as evaluated by limiting dilution cloning at different culture passages and evaluation of expression of membrane antigens. Immunogenicity of lyophilized cells compared to cultured fresh cells by counting the number of specific antibody secreting clones after fusing spleen cells of immunized mice with SP-2/0-Ag14 mouse myeloma. As this characterization as well as safety tests (lack of infectious particles, tumorigenicity in nude mice) revealed no apparent risks, lyophilized DE-TA cells will be used as a standardized stable cell preparation for clinical trials.     

Phenylacetate: a novel nontoxic inducer of tumor cell differentiation.

Sodium phenylacetate was found to affect the growth and differentiation of tumor cells in vitro at concentrations that have been achieved in humans with no significant adverse effects. Treatment of promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells resulted in the rapid decline of myc oncogene expression followed by growth arrest and granulocyte differentiation. Phenylacetate also induced highly efficient adipocyte conversion in immortalized mesenchymal C3H 10T1/2 cultures; yet, unlike the differentiating chemotherapeutic drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, phenylacetate did not cause neoplastic transformation in these susceptible cells. The results indicate that phenylacetate is both effective in inducing tumor cell maturation and free of cytotoxic and carcinogenic effects, a combination that warrants attention to its potential use in cancer intervention.     

Bi-modal differentiation pattern in a new human neuroblastoma cell line in vitro.

We have isolated a human neuroblastoma (NB) cell line, HTLA230, from the bone-marrow aspirate of a patient with stage-IV disease. Subcutaneous tumors after inoculation of HTLA230 cells into nude mice were composed of primitive neuroblasts which rarely contained neuro-secretory granules. Cytogenetic studies of the cell line demonstrated 2 distinct populations of cells with common chromosomal markers. Stable sub-clones with a differentiated or undifferentiated cell morphology were isolated, demonstrating phenotypical heterogeneity of the HTLA230 parental cell line. Treatment with retinoic acid (RA) induced extensive neurite outgrowth in the parental cell line and in phenotypically differentiated sub-clones, but rarely in undifferentiated ones. Long-term treatment with RA was not associated with down-modulation of mycN-gene expression, which could be achieved only in cultures treated additionally with aphidicolin, a DNA-synthesis inhibitor, thus eliminating growing NB cells. A RA resistant subclone (CI-5) was isolated from parental HTLA230 cells grown at clonal cell density. Cells originally showed a homogeneously differentiated morphology; however, flat cells (F-cells) appeared with time and were subsequently separately propagated. Transdifferentiation of isolated F-cells into cells with neuron-like (N-cell) morphology was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that F-cells had lost the expression of neuronal markers, including HNK-I and A2B5, and expressed the intermediate filament, vimentin. Furthermore, F-cells showed high incorporation of [methyl-3H] thymidine (3H-TdR) by autoradiography but no mycN protein could be detected, although present in the parental cell line. These results then suggest that the isolated NB cell line and the RA-resistant variant line represent an excellent in vitro model with which the bi-modal differentiation pathway of NB can be analyzed on a molecular biological level.     

Transplantable tumor cell line derived from a spontaneous fibrosarcoma in a gerbil.

A cultured tumor cell line was derived from a spontaneous fibrosarcoma in a gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). The cell line consistently produced large tumors with a high incidence of metastases in gerbils of all ages and in both sexes.     

Giant cell tumor of bone in a child

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone was first established as a distinct clinicopathological radiographic entity in 1940 when Jaffe distinguished it from other lesions containing giant cells. GCT is rare in patients under 15 years of age. We report a case of GCT in a 10-year-old boy whose X-ray films showed osteolysis suggesting a malignant bone tumor. We believe this to be the youngest patient with giant cell bone tumor ever reported in the Japanese literature. Received: March 23, 1999 / Accepted: August 19, 1999     

Induction of differentiation accompanies inhibition of Cdk2 in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line.

Induction of differentiation in a variety of model systems is accompanied by cell cycle exit and inhibition of Cdk2 kinase activity. We asked whether inhibition of Cdk2 activity is sufficient to allow differentiation to occur in a non-small cell lung cancer cell line. Treatment of NCI-H358 with flavopiridol, an inhibitor of multiple Cdk's, resulted in growth arrest and induction of mucinous differentiation. The onset of differentiation coincided temporally with loss of Cdk2 kinase activity. Western analysis revealed that flavopiridol treatment resulted in depletion of both cyclin E and D1, suggesting that loss of the regulatory subunits is at least partially responsible for the loss of Cdk kinase activity. Similarly, roscovitine, an inhibitor of Cdk's 1, 2, and 5, but not Cdk4, also induced differentiation in NCI-H358, although the resulting pattern of expression of cell cycle regulatory genes differed from the pattern obtained with flavopiridol. Furthermore, stable expression of an antisense Cdk2 construct in NCI-H358 also resulted in the appearance of a marker of mucinous differentiation. These results show that the inhibition of activity of cyclin dependent kinases, particularly Cdk2, by multiple different mechanisms is accompanied by differentiation. Thus, induction of differentiation is one potential mechanism of action for agents that down-regulate Cdk activity.     

Evidence for selection of homogeneously staining regions in a human melanoma cell line

Cytogenetic analysis of tumor cells from a human malignant melanoma was performed on both the primary tumor colony-forming cells and a cell line (HA-A) established subsequently from the clonogenic population. Chromosome-banding analysis demonstrated identical karyotypic alterations in both the tumor colony-forming cells and the HA-A cell line, documenting their origin from a common precursor. The most distinctive chromosome alterations shared between tumor colony-forming cells and the HA-A cell line were double-minute bodies (DMs) and a homogeneously staining region (HSR) on chromosome 7 at band p22. This represents the first observation of DMs or HSRs in cells from a human malignant melanoma. The frequency of HSR-bearing cells observed in the original tumor was less than 1%, while DM-containing cells were present in greater than 90% of all cells examined. In contrast, serial chromosome harvests at early passage of the HA-A cell line revealed positive selection for HSR-bearing cells with concomitant loss of DM-containing cells after increasing time in vitro. Following the ninth serial passage in vitro, HSRs were observed in 100% of cells with DMs no longer observed in the HA-A cell line. The finding of an HSR-bearing marker in the original tumor sample supports the view that HSRs are not an artifact of in vitro monolayer growth. However, our results demonstrate that the frequency of HSR-bearing cells within established cell lines may reflect in vitro selection and therefore not accurately reflect the frequency of this population in vivo.     

Properties of a chicken lymphoblastoid cell line from Marek's disease tumor.

Properties of a chicken lymphoblastoid cell line (MSB-1) from a Marek's disease tumor were studied. The cell line grew well at 41 degrees C in medium RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum and had a doubling time of 8-12 hours. Cells grown in stationary suspension culture did not attach to the vessel and had the morphology of typical lymphoblasts. At 37 degrees C, the cell line grew initially but ceased to divide after several subcultures. In the subcultures maintained for 48-72 hours, 1-2% of the cells produced Marek's disease virus (MDV)-specific intracellular and mambrane antigens and contained herpesvirus particles when examined by the electron microscope. Cocultivation of these cells with duck or chicken embryo fibroblast cultures resulted in transfer of infection and production of microplaques typical of MDV. Peripheral nerve lesions and lymphoid tumors characteristic of Marek's disease were caused by inoculation of susceptible chicks with MSB-1 cells or duck cells infected with strain BC-1 of MDV recovered from the MSB-1 cell line. No specific tumors were produced at the site of inoculation, and infection was readily transmitted to cagemates. Tumors were also produced in the skeletal muscles and seemed to be largely virus induced. MSB-1 cell line was free of C-type virus particles.     

Growth of a heterologous tumor cell line in neonatal rats with graft-versus-host disease.

The ability of a hamster tumor cell line (T20) to grow and exhibit type H virus particles was significantly enhanced in neonatal DA rats with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Tumor growth peaked on days 4 and 7 in control littermates receiving adult syngeneic cells or no cells at birth, respectively, and then subsequently disappeared. However, tumor nodules in animals with GVHD became significantly larger than those in controls by day 7 and continued to grow until death. In addition, a marked plasma cell infiltration was noticed in such rapidly growing tumors from animals with GVHD only. In the light of previous studies, evidence is discussed for an environment within animals with GVHD conducive for tumor cell growth because of a depletion of T-cell areas within their tissues.     

人KB细胞和CCL227细胞与肿瘤球细胞超微结构的比较

目的：比较人口腔癌KB细胞和结肠癌CCL227细胞与肿瘤球细胞的超微结构,为肿瘤干细胞研究提供更多的资料。方法：使用有血清培养液培养两种肿瘤细胞,无血清培养液分别诱导两种肿瘤细胞生成肿瘤球。常规方法制备KB细胞、CCL227细胞、KB肿瘤球细胞、CCL227肿瘤球细胞透射电子显微镜切片,透射电子显微镜观察、拍照。结果：在四组样本中,细胞基本表现两种形态。一种细胞表面有突起,核糖体、线粒体数量相对较多。另一种细胞表面无突起,细胞核周围出现微丝,核糖体、线粒体数量减少,核内染色质出现靠边,后一种细胞在肿瘤球细胞中较多见。结论：伴随生理功能的改变,肿瘤干细胞的结构也发生了一些改变,这些改变可能会使蛋白合成下降。     

人KB细胞和CCL227细胞与肿瘤球细胞超微结构的比较

目的:比较人口腔癌KB细胞和结肠癌CCL227细胞与肿瘤球细胞的超微结构,为肿瘤干细胞研究提供更多的资料.方法:使用有血清培养液培养两种肿瘤细胞,无血清培养液分别诱导两种肿瘤细胞生成肿瘤球.常规方法制备KB细胞、CCL227细胞、KB肿瘤球细胞、CCL227肿瘤球细胞透射电子显微镜切片,透射电子显微镜观察、拍照.结果:在四组样本中,细胞基本表现两种形态.一种细胞表面有突起,核糖体、线粒体数量相对较多.另一种细胞表面无突起,细胞核周围出现微丝,核糖体、线粒体数量减少,核内染色质出现靠边,后一种细胞在肿瘤球细胞中较多见.结论:伴随生理功能的改变,肿瘤干细胞的结构也发生了一些改变,这些改变可能会使蛋白合成下降.     

Prostate-specific antigen modulates genes involved in bone remodeling and induces osteoblast differentiation of human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2.

PURPOSE: The high prevalence of osteoblastic bone metastases in prostate cancer involves the production of osteoblast-stimulating factors by prostate cancer cells. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease uniquely produced by prostate cancer cells and is an important serologic marker for prostate cancer. In this study, we examined the role of PSA in the induction of osteoblast differentiation.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human cDNA containing a coding region for PSA was transfected into human osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells. SaOS-2 cells were also treated with exogenously added PSA. We evaluated changes in global gene expression using cDNA arrays and Northern blot analysis resulting from expression of PSA in human osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells. RESULTS: SaOS-2 cells expressing PSA had markedly up-regulated expression of genes associated with osteoblast differentiation including runx-2 and osteocalcin compared with the controls. Consistent with these results, the stable clones expressing PSA showed increased mineralization and increased activity of alkaline phosphatase in vitro compared with controls, suggesting that these cells undergo osteoblast differentiation. We also found that osteoprotegerin expression was down-regulated and that the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand expression was up-regulated in cells expressing PSA compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Modulation of the expression of osteogenic genes and alteration of the balance between osteoprotegerin-receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand by PSA suggests that PSA produced by metastatic prostate cancer cells may participate in bone remodeling in favor of the development of osteoblastic metastases in the heterogeneous mixture of osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions. These findings provide a molecular basis for understanding the high prevalence of osteoblastic bone metastases in prostate cancer.