Tumorigenicity of hamster and mouse cells transformed by adenovirus types 2 and 5 is not influenced by the level of class I major histocompatibility antigens expressed on the cells.

Inbred hamster and mouse cells transformed by the nononcogenic adenovirus (Ad) serotypes, Ad2 and Ad5, are nontumorigenic in syngeneic adult animals, while cells from these species transformed by the highly oncogenic Ad12 are tumorigenic in such rodents. By immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry, cells from four of six Ad2- and Ad5-transformed hamster and mouse lines expressed high levels of cell-surface class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, while cells from two of these six lines expressed low levels of cell-surface class I MHC antigens. The levels of class I MHC proteins expressed by cells from these latter two lines were comparable to the levels of cell-surface class I MHC proteins expressed by cells from Ad12-transformed hamster and mouse lines. Moreover, an Ad2-transformed line that had become highly oncogenic after in vivo adaptation showed the same high level of MHC expression as the nononcogenic parent. The amounts of class I mRNA, analyzed by RNA blotting, were, in general, consistent with the levels of class I antigens expressed on the surfaces of these cells. These results indicate that there is no correlation between the tumorigenicity in immunocompetent syngeneic adult rodents of Ad2- and Ad5-transformed hamster and mouse cells and the level of class I MHC antigens expressed on the surfaces of these cells. Thus, the expression of different levels of class I MHC proteins does not seem to explain the differences in the oncogenicity between nononcogenic and highly oncogenic human Ad serotypes.     

Resistance of simian virus 40-transformed hamster cells to the cytolytic effect of activated macrophages: a possible factor in species-specific viral oncogenicity.

Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed hamster cells were relatively resistant to the lytic effect of activated macrophages from animals with chronic intracellular infections. Conversely, SV40-transformed mouse and rat cells and adenovirus 2-transformed hamster cells were highly susceptible to destruction by tumoricidal activated macrophages. The pattern of resistance or susceptibility of SV40-transformed rodent cells was the same whether activated macrophage effectors were obtained from mice, random-bred hamsters, or the inbred LSH hamsters from which some of the SV40-transformed hamster lines were derived. The results suggest that resistance of transformed cells to macrophage-mediated cytolysis may explain in part the species-specific oncogenicity of this DNA virus.     

Immunologic selection against simian virus-40 transformed cells: Concomitant loss of viral antigens and early viral gene sequences

A clonal line of highly oncogenic "spontaneously transformed" mouse cells (T AL/N clone 3) was transformed in tissue culture by simian virus 40 (SV40) and subsequently recloned. The clone of SV40-transformed cells (subclone 1) expressed SV40-specific T (nuclear) and transplantation antigens but was 100 times less tumorigenic than the parent T AL/N clone 3 cells. When large numbers of subclone 1 cells (10(4)-10(5)) were injected into syngeneic AL/N mice, tumors were produced. From the tumors, cell lines were established in culture, all of which were consistently negative for T antigen. Tumor lines tested were found not to contain SV40-specific transplantation antigen and had again become highly tumorigenic. The original subclone 1 cells contained about one copy of SV40 DNA per diploid amount of cell DNA, as well as RNA complementary to the early region of the SV40 genome. The T antigen-negative cells from tumor line 124 contained approximately 0.5 copy of SV40 DNA per diploid equivalent and did not synthesize any detectable virus-specific RNA. Reassociation kinetic analysis with restriction enzyme fragments of viral DNA demonstrated that the cells from tumor line 124 (and also the clones of this line) had lost DNA sequences predominantly from the early region of the SV40 genome. The results indicate that a set of stably integrated SV40 DNA sequences can be present in a cell without the expression of viral antigens.     

Transformation by simian virus 40 induces virus-specific, related antigens in the surface membrane and nuclear envelope

Nucleus- and mitochondrion-free membranes from hamster lymphocytes transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40), GD248 cells, cause guinea pigs to produce immune sera that reveal the presence in GD248 plasma membranes and mitochondria of two types of glycoprotein that are not detected in membranes of normal lymphocytes [Schmidt-Ullrich, R., Thompson, W. S. & Wallach, D. F. H. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 643-647]. Indirect immune fluorescence of living, SV40-transformed T19 hamster reticulum cells, Balb/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, and W18 VA2 human fibroblasts, using the antisera against GD248 membrane, at 4 degrees produced a distinct cell surface fluorescence; however, above 20 degrees , staining at the nuclear perimeter, the SV40 U-antigen reaction, becomes equally prominent. In SV40-transformed cells that had been fixed in cold acetone, as well as in purified GD248 nuclei, thermostable U-antigen staining is dramatic, but there is no reaction for nuclear T-antigen. Rabbit antisera against T19 cells gave immunofluorescence reactions equivalent to those obtained with the antisera against GD248 cells. Normal guinea pig or rabbit sera and cells that had not been transformed by SV40 gave no reaction. Our sera from tumor-bearing hamsters gave only nuclear T-antigen fluorescence. The results indicate the presence of related, SV40-specific antigens in the surface membranes, nuclear envelope, and possibly other intracellular organelles of SV40-transformed cells.     

Presence of allograft-rejection resistance in simian virus 40-transformed hamster cells and its possible role in tumor development.

LSH Syrian hamster cells transformed in vitro by simian virus 40, which is oncogenic for hamsters, are resistant to rejection by adult allogeneic CB hamsters. In contrast, simian virus 40-transformed cells from other species are usually not oncogenic in immunocompetent autologous or isologous hosts. The ability of simian virus 40 to convey resistance to an allograft-type host response to transformed hamster cells may be important in determining the tumor-inducing capacity of these cells and could, in part, explain the species-specific oncogenicity of this virus.     

Inverse relationship between anti-SV40 TASA and anti-H-2 cytotoxic responses

The in vitro cytotoxic response against H-2d and H-2b SV40-transformed fibroblasts was studied in a 40-h 3H-proline assay. A very low response against SV40 TASA is associated with the H-2d antigens on target cells: however, SV40-transformed H-2d cells are as immunogenic as SV40-transformed H-2b cells and prime against H-2b target cells. The data concerning in vitro amplification of the anti-SV40 TASA response and the involvement of cyclophosphamide-sensitive suppressor populations confirm the comparable immunogenicity of SV40-transformed H-2d AND H-2b cells and cannot account for the haplotype-related behavior observed with SV40-transformed target cells. The study of the response against allogeneic SV40-transformed cells shows the reverse situation: the lower cytotoxic response is now associated with the H-2b antigens on SV40-transformed cells. As suggested by the data presented here, an interaction between SV40 TASA and H-2 antigens might be postulated.     

Thermolabile T (tumor) antigen from cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of simian virus 40.

Partially purified tumor (T) antigen from a strain of Chinese hamster lung cells transformed by wild-type simian virus 40 (SV 40) and either of two temperature-sensitive SV 40 mutants has been studied as a DNA binding protein. The DNA binding activity present in the T-antigen-containing fractions is inhibited by purified hamster anti-T IgG but not by equivalent amounts of nonimmune hamster IgG. T from either wild-type- or tsC219-transformed cells is relatively stable during heating at 44 degrees compared to T prepared from tsA239-transformed cells. These results strongly suggest that T is a product of the SV 40 A gene.     

Quantitation and characterization of a species-specific and embryo stage-dependent 55-kilodalton phosphoprotein also present in cells transformed by simian virus 40.

A 55-kilodalton (kDal) protein was detected recently in primary cultures of day 12 mouse embryos by immunoprecipitation with serum from simian virus 40 (SV40) tumor-bearing hamsters (T serum), Preliminary evidence suggested that this protein was similar to a cellular 55-kDal protein induced after SV40 transformation of mouse cells. We now show that specific approximately 55-kDal [35S]methionine-labeled proteins precipitate from primary cultures of midgestation mouse, rat, and hamster embryos on addition of T serum or monoclonal antiserum prepared against the SV40-induced mouse 55-kDal proteins. The two-dimensional maps of the [35S]methionine-labeled tryptic peptides of the mouse, hamster, and rat embryo proteins are similar to the maps of the corresponding proteins from SV40-transformed cells. Primary cells from midgestation mouse, hamster, or rat embryos contain one-third to one-half as much 55-kDal protein as a SV40-transformed mouse fibroblast cell and nearly the same amount as F9 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. The amount of 55-kDal protein is greatly reduced on replating the mouse, rat, or hamster embryo primary cells. The amount of this protein in mouse embryos is dependent on the stage of the embryo. The embryo proteins are phosphoproteins.     

Assignment of the T-antigen gene of simian virus 40 to human chromosome C-7

Hybrid cell clones between mouse cells deficient in thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) and two different human cell lines transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40) and deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) were examined for SV40 tumor (T) antigen(s). Concordant segregation of the gene(s) for SV40 T antigen and human chromosome C-7 was observed in these hybrids. The human chromosome C-7 which contains the gene(s) for SV40 T antigen is preferentially retained by the majority of the hybrid clones tested. When hybrid clones positive and negative for SV40 T antigen, derived from the fusion of SV40-transformed Lesch-Nyhan fibroblasts with mouse cells, were fused with CV-1 permissive cells, SV40-specific V antigen was observed only in the cultures derived from fusion of the hybrid clones positive for T antigen. This result indicates a linkage relationship between human chromosome C-7, SV40 T-antigen gene(s), and SV40 genome(s) integrated in the human transformed cells.     

Methylation of integrated adenovirus type 12 DNA sequences in transformed cells is inversely correlated with viral gene expression.

The adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) DNA sequences integrated into the DNA of four lines of Ad12-transformed hamster cells are extensively methylated. Methylation in mammalian cell DNA is believed to occur predominantly at 5'-C-G-3' sequences. The majority, although not all, of the 5'-C-C-G-G-3' sequences present in integrated Ad12 DNA are methylated. Ad12 DNA isolated from purified virions, on the other hand, is not methylated to any significant extent. The segments of the integrated viral DNA comprising early genes, which are expressed as mRNA in two lines of Ad2-transformed hamster cells, are undermethylated in comparison to late viral segments, which are not expressed and are extensively methylated. In contrast, in two lines of Ad12-induced rat brain tumor cells, some of the late viral genes have been shown to be expressed as mRNA. The segment of the integrated Ad12 DNA that comprises these late genes, the EcoRI B fragment, is undermethylated in comparison to the extensive methylation of the same fragment in Ad12-transformed hamster cells. Thus, there appears to exist a striking inverse correlation between the levels of methylation of specific DNA segments and the extent to which these segments are expressed as mRNA. The functional significance of this correlation remains to be determined. It may provide a clue to understanding the regulation of gene expression in transformed cells and perhaps in eukaryotic cells in general.     

Biological activity of purified simian virus 40 T antigen proteins.

Proteins related to simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen uere isolated from cells infected with adenovirus 2/SV40 hybrids Ad2+D2 and Ad2+ND1 dp2 as well as from a line of human cells (SV80) transformed by SV40. The 96,000- and 107,000-dalton proteins of SV80 and Ad2+D2, after injection into the cytoplasm of cultured cells, rapidly accumulate in the nuclei, where they remain antigenically reactive for at least 20 hr and trigger DNA synthesis in quiescent cells. By contrast, the 23,000-dalton protein coded by Ad2+ND1 dp2 does not stimulate cellular DNA synthesis. However, all three purified proteins are able to provide helper function for the growth of adenovirus 2 in monkey cells. Thus, purified SV40 T antigen and proteins that share sequences with it retain the ability to carry out at least two functions associated with the product of the A gene of SV40.     

Are transforming and mutagenic activities of oncogenic papovaviruses correlated?

A number of results obtained recently have shown that SV40-induced mutation and transformation of mammalian cells cultivated in vitro are related in some respect. Experiments were undertaken in order to get further information on the mode of mutagenic action of papovaviruses and further evidence of correlations existing between the mutagenic and transforming viral activities. DNA from the oncogenic hamster papovavirus HaPV was found to be mutagenic for at least three different resistance markers. In the hamster cell lines which were used HaPV DNA produced a higher yield of mutants than SV40 DNA for both the azaguanine and the aminopterin resistance marker. Cellular clones carrying a SV40-induced mutation in a specific locus were found to harbour viral genetic material and to exhibit a genetic instability of other loci. Also, cell lines characterized by their SV40-transformed state did exhibit such genetic instability. These results and results of other authors are discussed with respect to the correlations between oncogenic virus-induced mutation and transformation.     

Expression of histocompatibility antigens H-2K, -D, and -L is reduced in adenovirus-12-transformed mouse cells and is restored by interferon gamma.

Primary mouse cells transformed by adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) expressed negligible amounts of class I antigens H-2K, -D, and -L on the cell surface and were capable of forming tumors in syngeneic animals, whereas cells transformed by Ad5 continued to express class I antigens and were nontumorigenic. Cells from a tumor, generated by injection of Ad12-transformed mouse cells into a syngeneic mouse, also expressed low levels of H-2 antigens, indicating that this phenotype is maintained in vivo. In all Ad12-transformed cells, synthesis of the H-2 heavy chain was not detected whereas the beta 2-microglobulin light chain was synthesized. Furthermore, the level of cytoplasmic H-2 mRNA in the Ad12 lines was greatly reduced. Reduction of H-2 expression is instructed solely by the transforming region of the viral genome, since this repression occurred in cells transformed by a DNA fragment containing only Ad12 E1A and E1B genes. Addition of recombinant murine interferon gamma strongly stimulated expression of class I antigens in the Ad12 transformants as well as in cells from the Ad12 tumor. This result indicates that Ad12 does not preferentially transform cells that are deficient for class I genes and that Ad12 does not mutate the class I genes in cells it transforms. The correlation between tumorigenicity and loss of H-2 expression in Ad12-transformed cells is discussed.     

Tumorigenicity of simian virus 40-transformed human cells and mouse--human hybrids in nude mice.

Four different human cell lines transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40) were tested for their tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Two of these lines, W18Va2 and GM52VA, were found to be tumorigenic when inoculated at a concentration of 1 x 10(7) cells per mouse. The other two cell lines, LN-SV and GM54VA, were found to induce very small tumors only after the injection of approximately 1 x 10(8) cells per mouse. Somatic cell hybrids between either LN-SV or GM54VA SV40-transformed human cells and normal mouse peritoneal macrophages, which have retained the human chromosomes carrying the SV40 genome, were found to be much more tumorigenic than the SV40-transformed human cell parents. These experiments suggest that the genetic background in which the human chromosomes carrying the SV40 genome are present plays a role in the modulation of the expiration of malignancy.     

Effect of Loss of Thymidine Kinase Activity on the Tumorigenicity of Clones of SV40-Transformed Hamster Cells

Cells deficient in the enzyme thymidine kinase were derived from transplantable SV40-transformed hamster cells. The resultant cell lines were less transplantable when inoculated into hamsters. Tumors which did arise from such cells had prolonged latent periods and were found to contain a mixture of enzyme-containing and enzyme-deficient cells. Revertant cell lines obtained either spontaneously or after mutagenesis in vitro contained intermediate levels of thymidine kinase activity and displayed an oncogenic potential which was intermediate between the wild type and enzyme-deficient cells. It is postulated that salvage pathway enzymes may play a rate-limiting role in tumorigenesis.     

Chromosomal insertion of foreign (adenovirus type 12, plasmid, or bacteriophage lambda) DNA is associated with enhanced methylation of cellular DNA segments.

Insertion of foreign DNA into an established mammalian genome can extensively alter the patterns of cellular DNA methylation. Adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-transformed hamster cells, Ad12-induced hamster tumor cells, or hamster cells carrying integrated DNA of bacteriophage lambda were used as model systems. DNA methylation levels were examined by cleaving cellular DNA with Hpa II, Msp I, or Hha I, followed by Southern blot hybridization with 32P-labeled, randomly selected cellular DNA probes. For several, but not all, cellular DNA segments investigated, extensive increases in DNA methylation were found in comparison with the methylation patterns in BHK21 or primary Syrian hamster cells. In eight different Ad12-induced hamster tumors, moderate increases in DNA methylation were seen. Increased methylation of cellular genes was also documented in two hamster cell lines with integrated Ad12 DNA without the Ad12-transformed phenotype, in one cloned BHK21 cell line with integrated plasmid DNA, and in at least three cloned BHK21 cell lines with integrated lambda DNA. By fluorescent in situ hybridization, the cellular hybridization probes were located to different hamster chromosomes. The endogenous intracisternal A particle genomes showed a striking distribution on many hamster chromosomes, frequently on their short arms. When BHK21 hamster cells were abortively infected with Ad12, increases in cellular DNA methylation were not seen. Thus, Ad12 early gene products were not directly involved in increasing cellular DNA methylation. We attribute the alterations in cellular DNA methylation, at least in part, to the insertion of foreign DNA. Can alterations in the methylation profiles of hamster cellular DNA contribute to the generation of the oncogenic phenotype?     

Inhibition of simian virus 40-induced tumors by antisera to fetal hamster tissue.

Growth of tumors induced in hamsters with simian virus 40 (SV40) or SV40-transformed cells was inhibited by antisera to fetal hamster thymocytes or liver. This result was in contrast to the enhancement of tumor growth by antisera to adult hamster thymocytes.     

Somatic cell hybrids between mouse peritoneal macrophages and simian-virus-40-transformed human cells: II. Presence of human chromosome 7 carrying simin virus 40 genome in cells of tumors induced by hybrid cells.

Cells derived from tumors induced in "nude" mice after injection of cells that were hybrids between mouse peritoneal macrophages and simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed human cells were found to retain the human chromosome 7 carrying the SV40 genome, and indicate that the presence of human chromosome 7 carrying the SV40 genome is responsible for the expression of the tumorigenic phenotype in the hybrid cells.