Expression of a transfected human c-myc oncogene inhibits differentiation of a mouse erythroleukaemia cell line

The Friend-virus-derived mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) cell lines represent transformed early erythroid precursors that can be induced to differentiate into more mature erythroid cells by a variety of agents including dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). There is a latent period of 12 hours after inducer is added, when 80-90% of the cells become irreversibly committed to the differentiation programme, undergoing several rounds of cell division before permanently ceasing to replicate. After DMSO induction, a biphasic decline in steady-state levels of c-myc and c-myb messenger RNAs occurs. Following the initial decrease in c-myc mRNA expression, the subsequent increase occurs in, and is restricted to, the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We sought to determine whether the down-regulation is a necessary step in chemically induced differentiation. Experiments reported here indicate that expression in MEL cells of a transfected human c-myc gene inhibits the terminal differentiation process.     

Epidermal growth factor receptors increase during the differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells.

Mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells (embryonal carcinoma, or EC cells) bind very small amounts of mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the latter hormone seems to have no stimulatory effect on the growth of two cloned lines of EC cells. However, when EC cells are induced to differentiate into large flat endodern-like cells (END cells), EGF receptors increase in number reaching a plateau in 6 to 8 days. At 8 to 10 days after induction, END cells multiply very slowly, but when EGF is added (3 x 10(-10) M) to the medium, cell division is stimulated and a further change in morphology occurs. This letter describes the binding characteristics and numbers of the EGF receptors on EC and END cells and shows that exogenous retinoic acid increases the numbers of EGF receptors on END cells. We were unable to find endogenous competing factors produced by EC cells. Such factors could account for the lack of detectable binding of EGF on these cells. As EC cells differentiate to END cells, so the ability of the cells to form tumours is reduced. Since this change is accompanied by an increase in the number of EGF receptors there may be a relationship between these two events.     

Accumulation of a heat shock-like protein during differentiation of human erythroid cell line K562

The human erythroid cell line K562 provides a model system for studying erythroid differentiation and eukaryotic gene regulation. These cells express glycophorin A, spectrin and i antigen. They accumulate embryonic and fetal haemoglobins on induction of erythroid differentiation with haemin, sodium butyrate or hydroxyurea. In the present study, the protein composition of K562 cells during haemin-mediated induction of erythroid maturation was analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Under conditions in which haemin did not effect cell viability and proliferation, a protein of approximately 70,000 molecular weight (MW) accumulated in the differentiated K562 cells. The accumulation appears to be due to an increase in the rate of RNA synthesis for this protein. The protein is related in sequence to a 70,000-MW heat shock protein. An antigenically related protein was also demonstrated in human bone marrow and accumulates at particular stages of human erythroid maturation.     

Effect of kinase-negativeEGFR gene on differentiation of embryonic germ cell line EG4

EG4 cells derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs) of 10.5 d post coitum 129/svJ mouse embryos can be used as a model system for in vitro differentiation study due to their pluripotential development ability. EG4 cell lines with stable expression of kinase-negative EGFR cDNA, designated EG4-EGFR^d, were generated by gene transfection. We found that: (ⅰ) EG4-EGFR^d cells share the similar morphology and growing character with wildtype cells that can maintain undifferentiated state in long term culture. (ⅱ) Treatment of EG4 cells with RA resulted in differentiation of adipocyte, while in mutant clones of EG4-EGFR^d, adipocytes were sparse or absent under the same condition, indicating the role of EGFR expressed during adipocyte development. (ⅲ) Histological analysis showed that predominant tissues in teratocarcinomas derived from EG4-EGFR^d cells and wildtype cells are different. A large amount of undifferentiated cells was present in those coming from mutant cell clones. In addition some cardiac and skeletal muscles are prominently differentiated cell types. EG4 wildtype cells produced multiple differentiated cell types of three primary germ layers such as cartilage, epithelia and neural tube. These studies suggested that EGFR-dependent differentiation was inhibited in kinase-negative EG4 cells.     

Structure of the Ki-ras gene of the human lung carcinoma cell line Calu-1

The homologue of the viral Kirsten ras (v-Ki-ras) gene found in the human lung carcinoma cell line, Calu-1, has an intron-exon structure similar to that of the human homologue of the viral Harvey ras (v-Ha-ras) gene. A second, potential fourth coding exon is present in the human Ki-ras gene and similar sequences are found in the Kirsten murine sarcoma virus. Cysteine is encoded at the twelfth amino acid position, suggesting that the Calu-1 Ki-ras gene has undergone a mutational activation at the same position as the human Ha-ras gene of the bladder carcinoma cell line, T24. A comparison of their predicted amino acid sequences suggests that ras proteins have a 'constant' region and a 'variable' region. Here we propose a common modular structure for ras gene products in which the variable region forms a physiologically important combining site.     

Expression of a candidate sex-determining gene during mouse testis differentiation

The development of a eutherian mammal as a male is a consequence of testis formation in the embryo, which is thought to be initiated by a gene on the Y chromosome. In the absence of this gene, ovaries are formed and female characteristics develop. Sex determination therefore hinges on the action of this testis-determining gene, known as Tdy in mice and TDF in humans. In the past, several genes proposed as candidates for Tdy/TDF have subsequently been dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate location or expression. We have recently described a candidate for Tdy, which maps to the minimum sex-determining region of the mouse Y chromosome. To examine further the involvement of this gene, Sry, in testis development, we have studied its expression in detail. Fetal expression of Sry is limited to the period in which testes begin to form. This expression is confined to gonadal tissue and does not require the presence of germ cells. Our observations strongly support a primary role for Sry in mouse sex determination.     

Sequential activation of HOX2 homeobox genes by retinoic acid in human embryonal carcinoma cells

RETINOIC acid had been implicated as a natural morphogen in chicken and frog embryogenesis, and is presumed to act through the gene regulatory activity of a family of nuclear receptors. Homeobox genes, which specify positional information in Drosophila and possibly in vertebrate embryogenesis, are among the candidate responsive genes. We previously reported that retinoic acid specifically induces human homeobox gene (HOX) expression in the embryonal carcinoma cell line NT2/D1. We now show that the nine genes of the HOX2 cluster are differentially activated in NT2/D1 cells exposed to retinoic acid concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M. Genes located in the 3' half of the cluster are induced at peak levels by 10(-8) M retinoic acid, whereas a concentration of 10(-6) to 10(-5) M is required to fully activate 5' genes. At both high and low retinoic acid concentrations, HOX2 genes are sequentially activated in embryonal carcinoma cells in the 3' to 5' direction.     

Functional expression of a transfected murine class II MHC gene

The activation of T helper lymphocytes involves the recognition of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens, which are dimeric glycoproteins (of subunit composition A alpha A beta or E alpha E beta) expressed on the surfaces of macrophages and B lymphocytes. One approach to understanding the relationship between the structure of these antigens and their functions in the immune response is to clone the genes that encode them, to obtain functional expression of the cloned genes transfected into an appropriate cell line, and then to see how those functions are affected in variant genes generated in vitro. We report here the expression in Iad-bearing B cells of an Ak beta gene, which confers on the transfected cells the capacity for both allostimulation and antigen-dependent activation of an I-Ak-restricted T-cell clone.     

Molecular cloning of a new transforming gene from a chemically transformed human cell line

Molecular cloning of the transforming gene from a chemically transformed human osteosarcoma-derived cell line enables the gene to be mapped to chromosome 7 (7p11.4-7qter) and by this criterion and by direct hybridization to be shown to be unrelated to known oncogenes.     

Survivin基因沉默对鼻咽癌CNE-2细胞株恶性表型的影响

目的:探讨RNA干扰技术沉默Survivin基因对鼻咽癌细胞CNE-2恶性表型的影响.方法:设计、合成针对Survivin基因的干扰序列,并将干扰序列构建至pGCsi/U6/GFP载体,稳定转染CNE-2细胞;逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)、Western blot鉴定干扰效果;经四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法、流式细胞术、平板克隆形成实验分析沉默Survivin基因后,CNE-2细胞生长速度、细胞周期及恶性表型的改变.结果:沉默Survivin基因后,CNE-2细胞Survivin mRNA、蛋白质表达水平均明显下调;细胞生长速度下降,G1期细胞增多,S期细胞减少,克隆形成能力明显减弱.结论:Survivin基因在CNE-2细胞生长、细胞周期及恶性表型等方面都起着重要的作用.     

牙龈癌PTEN基因启动子区甲基化状态与鳞癌分级的分析研究

探讨第10号染色体丢失性的磷酸酶——张力蛋白同源基因(PTEN)启动子甲基化水平和蛋白表达水平与牙龈癌癌症细胞分化程度的关系。用甲基化特异性PCR法检测牙龈癌组织中PTEN基因启动子甲基化的状态,免疫组化法检测石蜡组织中PTEN的蛋白表达情况。结果牙龈癌组织中发生PTEN基因甲基化的频率为56.67%,其中高分化组甲基化频率为20%,中分化组为50%,低分化组为100%,组间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),PTEN甲基化频率与其细胞分化程度密切相关。说明牙龈癌中PTEN基因可出现启动子甲基化,且低分化组牙龈癌PTEN甲基化频率更高,同时细胞内PTEN蛋白表达显著下调甚至缺失,为牙龈癌的靶向治疗提供线索。