scholarly journals Telomerase Activity Is Sufficient To Allow Transformed Cells To Escape from Crisis

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 1864-1870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya L. Halvorsen ◽  
Gil Leibowitz ◽  
Fred Levine
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Telomerase Activity ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Transformed Cells ◽  
Pancreatic Cell ◽  
Amplification Protocol ◽  
Late Passage ◽  
Population Doublings

ABSTRACT The introduction of simian virus 40 large T antigen (SVLT) into human primary cells enables them to proliferate beyond their normal replicative life span. In most cases, this temporary escape from senescence eventually ends in a second proliferative block known as “crisis,” during which the cells cease growing or die. Rare immortalization events in which cells escape crisis are frequently correlated with the presence of telomerase activity. We tested the hypothesis that telomerase activation is the critical step in the immortalization process by studying the effects of telomerase activity in two mortal SVLT-Rasval12-transformed human pancreatic cell lines, TRM-6 and βlox5. The telomerase catalytic subunit, hTRT, was introduced into late-passage cells via retroviral gene transfer. Telomerase activity was successfully induced in infected cells, as demonstrated by a telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay. In each of nine independent infections, telomerase-positive cells formed rapidly dividing cell lines while control cells entered crisis. Telomere lengths initially increased, but telomeres were then maintained at their new lengths for at least 20 population doublings. These results demonstrate that telomerase activity is sufficient to enable transformed cells to escape crisis and that telomere elongation in these cells occurs in a tightly regulated manner.

scholarly journals Regulation of p16CDKN2 expression and its implications for cell immortalization and senescence.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 859-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Hara ◽  
R Smith ◽  
D Parry ◽  
H Tahara ◽  
S Stone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
The Status ◽  
Population Doublings

p16CDKN2 specifically binds to and inhibits the cyclin-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6, which function as regulators of cell cycle progression in G1 by contributing to the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Human cell lines lacking functional pRB contain high levels of p16 RNA and protein, suggesting a negative feedback loop by which pRB might regulate p16 expression in late G1. By a combination of nuclear run-on assays and promoter analyses in human fibroblasts expressing a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 T antigen, we show that p16 transcription is affected by the status of pRB and define a region in the p16 promoter that is required for this response. However, the effect is not sufficient to account for the differences in p16 RNA levels between pRB-positive and -negative cells. Moreover, p16 RNA is extremely stable, and the levels do not change appreciably during the cell cycle. Primary human fibroblasts express very low levels of p16, but the RNA and protein accumulate in late-passage, senescent cells. The apparent overexpression of p16 in pRB-negative cell lines is therefore caused by at least two factors: loss of repression by pRB and an increase in the number of population doublings.

scholarly journals Analysis of a transgenic mouse containing simian virus 40 and v-myc sequences.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 642-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Small ◽  
D G Blair ◽  
S D Showalter ◽  
G A Scangos
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Choroid Plexus Papilloma ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Soft Agar ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Primary Cell ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Primary Cell Lines

Two plasmids, one containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) genome and the mouse metallothionein I gene and one containing the v-myc gene of avian myelocytomatosis virus MC29, were coinjected into mouse embryos. Of the 13 surviving mice, one, designated M13, contained both myc and SV40 sequences. This mouse developed a cranial bulge identified as a choroid plexus papilloma at 13 weeks and was subsequently sacrificed; tissue samples were taken for further analysis. Primary cell lines derived from these tissues contained both myc and SV40 DNA. No v-myc mRNA could be detected, although SV40 mRNA was present in all of the cell lines tested. T antigen also was expressed in all of the cell lines analyzed. These data suggest that SV40 expression was involved in the abnormalities of mouse M13 and was responsible for the transformed phenotype of the primary cell lines. Primary cell lines from this mouse were atypical in that the population rapidly became progressively more transformed with time in culture based on the following criteria: morphology, growth rate, and the ability to grow in soft agar and in serum-free medium. The data also suggest that factors present in the mouse regulated the ability of SV40 to oncogenically transform most cells and that in vitro culture of cells allowed them to escape those factors.

Recombinant retroviruses encoding simian virus 40 large T antigen and polyomavirus large and middle T antigens

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1204-1217
Author(s):  
P S Jat ◽  
C L Cepko ◽  
R C Mulligan ◽  
P A Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Large T Antigen ◽  
T Antigens ◽  
Sv40 Large T Antigen ◽  
Polyomavirus Middle T Antigen ◽  
Middle T Antigen

We used a murine retrovirus shuttle vector system to construct recombinants capable of constitutively expressing the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen and the polyomavirus large and middle T antigens as well as resistance to G418. Subsequently, these recombinants were used to generate cell lines that produced defective helper-free retroviruses carrying each of the viral oncogenes. These recombinant retroviruses were used to analyze the role of the viral genes in transformation of rat F111 cells. Expression of the polyomavirus middle T antigen alone resulted in cell lines that were highly tumorigenic, whereas expression of the polyomavirus large T resulted in cell lines that were highly tumorigenic, whereas expression of the polyomavirus large T resulted in cell lines that were unaltered by the criteria of morphology, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity. More surprisingly, SV40 large T-expressing cell lines were not tumorigenic despite the fact that they contained elevated levels of cellular p53 and had a high plating efficiency in soft agar. These results suggest that the SV40 large T antigen is not an acute transforming gene like the polyomavirus middle T antigen but is similar to the establishment genes such as myc and adenovirus EIa.

scholarly journals Growth of immortal simian virus 40 tsA-transformed human fibroblasts is temperature dependent.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 3093-3096 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Radna ◽  
Y Caton ◽  
K K Jha ◽  
P Kaplan ◽  
G Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Human Fibroblasts ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Cellular Aging ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Large T Antigen ◽  
Temperature Dependent

Simian virus 40 (SV40)-mediated transformation of human fibroblasts offers an experimental system for studying both carcinogenesis and cellular aging, since such transformants show the typical features of altered cellular growth but still have a limited life span in culture and undergo senescence. We have previously demonstrated (D. S. Neufeld, S. Ripley, A. Henderson, and H. L. Ozer, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:2794-2802, 1987) that transformants generated with origin-defective mutants of SV40 show an increased frequency of overcoming senescence and becoming immortal. To clarify further the role of large T antigen, we have generated immortalized transformants by using origin-defective mutants of SV40 encoding a heat-labile large T antigen (tsA58 transformants). At a temperature permissive for large-T-antigen function (35 degrees C), the cell line AR5 had properties resembling those of cell lines transformed with wild-type SV40. However, the AR5 cells were unable to proliferate or form colonies at temperatures restrictive for large-T-antigen function (39 degrees C), demonstrating a continuous need for large T antigen even in immortalized human fibroblasts. Such immortal temperature-dependent transformants should be useful cell lines for the identification of other cellular or viral gene products that induce cell proliferation in human cells.

scholarly journals Hormonal regulation of the transformation phenotype in simian virus 40-transformed rat embryonic preadipose cell lines.

1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 712-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Yasumoto
Keyword(s):  
Cell Density ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Growth Regulation ◽  
High Cell Density ◽  
Calf Serum ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
High Cell

The regulation of transformed phenotypes was studied in newly isolated preadipose cell lines which were established after infection with simian virus 40 tsA58 dl2009. The clonal cell lines isolated exhibited most of the characteristics typical of transformed cells. The transformants, however, were able to differentiate into adipocytes in the presence of low calf serum (0.5%) and a combination of several hormones, including hydrocortisone and insulin. Treatment with insulin alone stimulated the growth of these cells but did not induce lipid accumulation without added hydrocortisone. The effect of hydrocortisone was accompanied by a restoration of growth control in the transformants after they reached high cell density. The blot hybridization analysis of cellular DNAs digested by restriction enzymes revealed that simian virus 40 genomes were integrated at multiple separate sites at which a head-to-tail oligomeric insertion took place. Large T antigen was synthesized in growing cells but was regulated at high cell density when cells were committed to differentiate by glucocorticoids. These results suggest that the glucocorticoid hydrocortisone is capable of restoring growth regulation at high cell densities to simian virus 40-transformed preadipose cell lines.

scholarly journals Differential ability of a T-antigen transport-defective mutant of simian virus 40 to transform primary and established rodent cells.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1043-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Lanford ◽  
C Wong ◽  
J S Butel
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mouse Embryo ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mouse Embryo Fibroblasts ◽  
Established Cell Lines ◽  
Established Cell ◽  
Embryo Fibroblasts

The transforming potential and oncogenicity of a simian virus 40 (SV40) mutant affecting T-antigen (T-ag), SV40(cT)-3, was examined in an effort to dissect T-ag functions in transformation. SV40(cT)-3 has a point mutation at nucleotide 4434 that abolishes the transport of T-ag to the nucleus but does not affect its association with the cell surface. Transfection-transformation assays were performed with primary cells and established cell lines of mouse and rat origin. The efficiency of transformation for established cell lines by SV40(cT)-3 was comparable to that of wild-type SV40, indicating that transformation of established cell lines can occur in the absence of detectable amounts of nuclear T-ag. Transformation of primary mouse embryo fibroblasts by SV40(cT)-3 was markedly influenced by culture conditions; the relative transforming frequency was dramatically reduced in assays involving focus formation in low serum concentrations or anchorage-independent growth. Immunofluorescence tests revealed that the transformed mouse embryo fibroblasts partially transport the mutant cT-ag to the cell nucleus. Transformed cell lines induced by SV40(cT)-3 did not differ in growth properties from wild-type transformants. SV40(cT)-3 was completely defective for the transformation of primary baby rat kidney cells, a primary cell type unable to transport the mutant T-ag to the nucleus. The intracellular localization of cellular protein p53 was found to mimic T-ag distribution in all the transformants analyzed. The mutant virus was weakly oncogenic in vivo: the induction of tumors in newborn hamsters by SV40(cT)-3 was reduced in incidence and delayed in appearance in comparison to wild-type SV40. These observations suggest that cellular transformation is regulated by both nuclear and surface-associated forms of SV40 T-ag.

Functional simian virus 40 T antigen is expressed in hybrid cells having finite proliferative potential

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1541-1544
Author(s):  
O M Pereira-Smith ◽  
J R Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
T Antigen ◽  
Transformed Cells ◽  
Proliferative Potential ◽  
Hybrid Cells ◽  
Ras Oncogenes ◽  
Immortal Cells ◽  
Cellular Dna

Simian virus 40-transformed human cells fused with other independently derived simian virus 40-transformed cells and tumor-derived cells containing activated H-ras and N-ras oncogenes yielded hybrids capable of indefinite division. Fusions with various other immortal cells yielded hybrids that had limited division potential. T antigen expressed in limited-division hybrids was functional for the induction of cellular DNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Isolation of cellular genes differentially expressed in mouse NIH 3T3 cells and a simian virus 40-transformed derivative: growth-specific expression of VL30 genes.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 2590-2598 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Singh ◽  
S Saragosti ◽  
M Botchan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Lines ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Mouse Cell ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Transformed Cells ◽  
3T3 Cells ◽  
Transformed Cell ◽  
Nih 3T3 ◽  
Nih 3T3 Cells

We constructed and screened a cDNA library made from simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed NIH 3T3 cells, and we isolated cDNAs representing genes that are differentially expressed between the parental cell and its SV40-transformed derivative. We found only a small number of cDNAs representing such genes. Two isolated cDNA clones represented RNAs expressed at elevated levels in the transformed cell line in a manner relatively independent of growth conditions. The expression of two other cDNAs was growth specific because transformed cells and nonconfluent parental cells contained higher levels of the homologous RNAs than did confluent, contact-inhibited parental cells. Another cDNA was well expressed in confluent parental and confluent transformed cells, but not in nonconfluent cells. The expression of some of these cDNAs varied strikingly in different mouse cell lines. Thus the genotype or histories of different cell lines can also affect the expression of certain genes. Interestingly, the only cDNA isolated that was expressed exclusively in the transformed cell was from an SV40 message. We focused on a growth-specific cDNA which we show is derived from a mouse endogenous retrovirus-like family called VL30. We sequenced the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of this transcriptionally active VL30 gene. This LTR has good homology with other VL30 LTR sequences, but differences occur, particularly upstream of the VL30 promoter. We found that VL30 gene expression varied in different mouse cell lines such that C3H cell lines had very low levels of VL30 transcripts relative to NIH 3T3 cell lines. However, Southern analysis showed that both cell lines had about the same number of VL30 genes homologous to our probe and that the position of the majority of these genes was conserved. We discuss possible explanations for this difference in VL30 expression.

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