V-myc Expression Research Articles

Poster Session 2

Background: Parkinsons disease is characterized by a gradual degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Dopaminergic neurons are continuously exposed to elevated oxidative stress conditions due to the unstable neurotransmitter dopamine that can easily undergo oxidation to form superoxide and a quinine-form capable to react with cysteine residues in proteins or with glutathione to form dopamine-conjugates. For investigations on the molecular events occurring under these conditions, as well as for the validation of potential pharmacological interventions, an experimental human in vitro model that closely resembles the characteristics of dopaminergic neurons in vivo is desired. This in vitro model would not only allow to significantly reduce the use of in vivo animal testing, but concomitantly would have the advantages to allow studies on molecular events occurring in neurodegenerative disorders in a human system. Materials and Methods: LUHMES are human mesencephalic cells conditionally immortalized with a v-myc retroviral vector. In this system, tetracycline shuts down v-myc expression and allows differentiation into dopaminergic neurons. Tetracycline in combination with dbcAMP and GDNF (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor) leads to a differentiation into dopaminergic cells within 3-4 days, as shown by the expression of specific markers such as tyrosine hydroxylase or dopamine transporter (DAT). Results: LUHMES cells were validated with respect to their response toward the parkinsonian toxins MPP + and methamphetamine (METH)/Fe2 + . In both cases, a time-dependent degradation of neurites, accompanied by a loss of cellular ATP and GSH, and increased formation of radical species was observed. These effects were only detected in fully differentiated cells, whereas undifferentiated LUHMES demonstrated no significant response to the same toxic insult. The neurodegenerative effects observed were partially prevented or delayed by co-incubation with the mixed lineage kinase inhibitor CEP1347, or by inhibition of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). The involvement of dopamine in the neurodegenerative process was further underlined by application of dopamine transporter, or tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors that significantly protected against MPP + -induced degeneration. Discussion: Parkinsons disease and other neurodegerative disorders such as Alzheimers disease or multiple sclerosis are one of the most challenging health issues in the aging populations of developed countries. It can therefore be assumed that efforts of the pharmaceutical industry within this field will increase dramatically within the next decades. These research projects will create a massive rise in the demand for reliable and representative test systems. The most widely used model for this purpose however is still the laboratory animal. The herein introduced human neuronal cell line closely reflects the unique properties of dopaminergic cells in vivo. This model can not only serve for basic research on the events occurring in neurodegenerative diseases, but can also be used as a screening system within neurotoxicological testing programs.

Generation and properties of a new human ventral mesencephalic neural stem cell line

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are powerful research tools for the design and discovery of new approaches to cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease. Several epigenetic and genetic strategies have been tested for long-term maintenance and expansion of these cells in vitro. Here we report the generation of a new stable cell line of human neural stem cells derived from ventral mesencephalon (hVM1) based on v-myc immortalization. The cells expressed neural stem cell and radial glia markers like nestin, vimentin and 3CB2 under proliferation conditions. After withdrawal of growth factors, proliferation and expression of v-myc were dramatically reduced and the cells differentiated into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons. hVM1 cells yield a large number of dopaminergic neurons (about 12% of total cells are TH +) after differentiation, which also produce dopamine. In addition to proneural genes ( NGN2, MASH1), differentiated cells show expression of several genuine mesencephalic dopaminergic markers such as: LMX1A, LMX1B, GIRK2, ADH2, NURR1, PITX3, VMAT2 and DAT, indicating that they retain their regional identity. Our data indicate that this cell line and its clonal derivatives may constitute good candidates for the study of development and physiology of human dopaminergic neurons in vitro, and to develop tools for Parkinson's disease cell replacement preclinical research and drug testing.

Activated Notch1 maintains the phenotype of radial glial cells and promotes their adhesion to laminin by upregulating nidogen

Radial glia are neural stem cells that exist only transiently during central nervous system (CNS) development, where they serve as scaffolds for neuronal migration. Their instability makes them difficult to study, and therefore we have isolated stabilized radial glial clones from E14.5 cortical progenitors (e.g., L2.3) after expression of v-myc. Activated Notch1 intracellular region (actNotch1) promotes radial glia in the embryonic mouse forebrain (Gaiano et al., (2000), and when it was introduced into E14.5 cortical progenitors or radial glial clone L2.3, the cells exhibited enhanced radial morphology and increased expression of the radial glial marker BLBP. A representative clone of L2.3 cells expressing actNotch1 called NL2.3-4 migrated more extensively than L2.3 cells in culture and in white matter of the adult rat spinal cord. Microarray and RT-PCR comparisons of mRNAs expressed in these closely related clones showed extensive similarities, but differed significantly for certain mRNAs including several cell adhesion molecules. Cell adhesion assays demonstrated significantly enhanced adhesion to laminin of NL2.3-4 by comparison to L2.3 cells. The laminin binding protein nidogen was the most highly induced adhesion molecule in NL2.3-4, and immunological analyses indicated that radial glia synthesize and secrete nidogen. Adhesion of NL2.3-4 cells to laminin was inhibited by anti-nidogen antibodies and required the nidogen binding region in laminin, indicating that nidogen promotes cell adhesion to laminin. The combined results indicate that persistent expression of activated Notch1 maintains the phenotype of radial glial cells, inhibits their differentiation, and promotes their adhesion and migration on a laminin/nidogen complex.

A Novel, Immortal, and Multipotent Human Neural Stem Cell Line Generating Functional Neurons and Oligodendrocytes

The discovery and study of neural stem cells have revolutionized our understanding of the neurogenetic process, and their inherent ability to adopt expansive growth behavior in vitro is of paramount importance for the development of novel therapeutics based on neural cell replacement. Recent advances in high-throughput assays for drug development and gene discovery dictate the need for rapid, reproducible, long-term expansion of human neural stem cells (hNSCs). In this view, the complement of wild-type cell lines currently available is insufficient. Here we report the establishment of a stable human neural stem cell line (immortalized human NSCs [IhNSCs]) by v-myc-mediated immortalization of previously derived wild-type hNSCs. These cells demonstrate three- to fourfold faster proliferation than wild-type cells in response to growth factors but retain rather similar properties, including multipotentiality. By molecular biology, biochemistry, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, and electrophysiology, we show that upon growth factor removal, IhNSCs completely downregulate v-myc expression, cease proliferation, and differentiate terminally into three major neural lineages: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. The latter are functional, mature cells displaying clear-cut morphological and physiological features of terminally differentiated neurons, encompassing mostly the GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic phenotypes. Finally, IhNSCs produce bona fide oligodendrocytes in fractions up to 20% of total cell number. This is in contrast to the negligible propensity of hNSCs to generate oligodendroglia reported so far. Thus, we describe an immortalized hNSC line endowed with the properties of normal hNSCs and suitable for developing the novel, reliable assays and reproducible high-throughput gene and drug screening that are essential in both diagnostics and cell therapy studies.

Generation of human cortical neurons from a new immortal fetal neural stem cell line

Isolation and expansion of neural stem cells (NSCs) of human origin are crucial for successful development of cell therapy approaches in neurodegenerative diseases. Different epigenetic and genetic immortalization strategies have been established for long-term maintenance and expansion of these cells in vitro. Here we report the generation of a new, clonal NSC (hc-NSC) line, derived from human fetal cortical tissue, based on v-myc immortalization. Using immunocytochemistry, we show that these cells retain the characteristics of NSCs after more than 50 passages. Under proliferation conditions, when supplemented with epidermal and basic fibroblast growth factors, the hc-NSCs expressed neural stem/progenitor cell markers like nestin, vimentin and Sox2. When growth factors were withdrawn, proliferation and expression of v-myc and telomerase were dramatically reduced, and the hc-NSCs differentiated into glia and neurons (mostly glutamatergic and GABAergic, as well as tyrosine hydroxylase-positive, presumably dopaminergic neurons). RT-PCR analysis showed that the hc-NSCs retained expression of Pax6, Emx2 and Neurogenin2, which are genes associated with regionalization and cell commitment in cortical precursors during brain development. Our data indicate that this hc-NSC line could be useful for exploring the potential of human NSCs to replace dead or damaged cortical cells in animal models of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Taking advantage of its clonality and homogeneity, this cell line will also be a valuable experimental tool to study the regulatory role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in human NSC biology.

Retinoic acid–induced cell cycle arrest of human myeloid cell lines is associated with sequential down-regulation of c-Myc and cyclin E and posttranscriptional up-regulation of p27Kip1

AbstractAll-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, because of its function as an inducer of terminal differentiation of leukemic blasts. Although the efficacy of ATRA as an anticancer drug has been demonstrated by the successful treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the molecular mechanisms of ATRA-induced cell cycle arrest of myeloid cells have not been fully investigated. In this study, we show that the onset of ATRA-induced G0/G1 arrest of human monoblastic U-937 cells is linked to a sharp down-regulation of c-Myc and cyclin E levels and an increase in p21WAF1/CIP1 expression. This is followed by an increase in p27Kip1 protein expression due to enhanced protein stability. The importance of an early decrease in Myc expression for these events was demonstrated by the failure of a U-937 subline with constitutive exogenous expression of v-Myc to cell cycle arrest and regulate cyclin E and p27Kip1 in response to ATRA. Preceding the initiation of G1 arrest, a transient rise in retinoblastoma protein (pRb), p107, and cyclin A levels was detected. Later, a rapid fall in the levels of cyclins A and B and a coordinate dephosphorylation of pRb at Ser780, Ser795, and Ser807/811 coincided with the accumulation of cells in G1. These results thus identify a decrease in c-Myc and cyclin E levels and a posttranscriptional up-regulation of p27Kip1 as important early changes, and position them in the complex chain of events regulating ATRA-induced cell cycle arrest of myeloid cells.

Posttranslational Regulation of Myc Function in Response to Phorbol Ester/Interferon-γ–Induced Differentiation of v-Myc–Transformed U-937 Monoblasts

The transcription factors of the Myc/Max/Mad network are important regulators of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis and are frequently involved in tumor development. Constitutive expression of v-Myc blocks phorbol ester (TPA)-induced differentiation of human U-937 monoblasts. However, costimulation with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and TPA restores terminal differentiation and G1cell-cycle arrest despite continuous expression of v-Myc. The mechanism by which TPA + IFN-γ counteract v-Myc activity has not been unravelled. Our results show that TPA + IFN-γ treatment led to an inhibition of v-Myc– and c-Myc–dependent transcription, and a specific reduction of v-Myc:Max complexes and associated DNA-binding activity, whereas the steady state level of the v-Myc protein was only marginally affected. In contrast, TPA + IFN-γ costimulation neither increased the expression of Mad1 or other mad/mnt family genes nor altered heterodimerization or DNA-binding activity of Mad1. The reduced amount of v-Myc:Max heterodimers in response to treatment was accompanied by partial dephosphorylation of v-Myc and c-Myc. Phosphatase treatment of Myc:Max complexes lead to their dissociation, thus mimicking the effect of TPA + IFN-γ. In addition to modulation of the expression of Myc/Max/Mad network proteins, posttranslational negative regulation of Myc by external signals may, therefore, be an alternative biologically important level of control with potential therapeutic relevance for hematopoietic and other tumors with deregulated Myc expression.

Posttranslational Regulation of Myc Function in Response to Phorbol Ester/Interferon-γ–Induced Differentiation of v-Myc–Transformed U-937 Monoblasts

AbstractThe transcription factors of the Myc/Max/Mad network are important regulators of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis and are frequently involved in tumor development. Constitutive expression of v-Myc blocks phorbol ester (TPA)-induced differentiation of human U-937 monoblasts. However, costimulation with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and TPA restores terminal differentiation and G1cell-cycle arrest despite continuous expression of v-Myc. The mechanism by which TPA + IFN-γ counteract v-Myc activity has not been unravelled. Our results show that TPA + IFN-γ treatment led to an inhibition of v-Myc– and c-Myc–dependent transcription, and a specific reduction of v-Myc:Max complexes and associated DNA-binding activity, whereas the steady state level of the v-Myc protein was only marginally affected. In contrast, TPA + IFN-γ costimulation neither increased the expression of Mad1 or other mad/mnt family genes nor altered heterodimerization or DNA-binding activity of Mad1. The reduced amount of v-Myc:Max heterodimers in response to treatment was accompanied by partial dephosphorylation of v-Myc and c-Myc. Phosphatase treatment of Myc:Max complexes lead to their dissociation, thus mimicking the effect of TPA + IFN-γ. In addition to modulation of the expression of Myc/Max/Mad network proteins, posttranslational negative regulation of Myc by external signals may, therefore, be an alternative biologically important level of control with potential therapeutic relevance for hematopoietic and other tumors with deregulated Myc expression.

Involvement of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase in the Pax-6 gene regulation in neuroretina.

The quail Pax-6 gene is expressed from two promoters named P0 and P1. P0 promoter is under the control of a neuroretina-specific enhancer (EP). This enhancer activates the P0 promoter specifically in neuroretina cells and in a developmental stage-dependent manner. The EP enhancer binds efficiently, as revealed by southwestern experiments, to a 110 kDa protein present in neuroretina cells but not in Quail Embryos Cells and Retinal Pigmented Epithelium which do not express the P0-initiated mRNAs. To study the role of p110 in Pax-6 regulation, we have purified the p110 from neuroretina cells extracts. Based on the peptide sequence of the purified protein, we have identified the p110 as the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Using bandshift experiments and footprinting studies, we present evidence that PARP is a component of protein complexes bound to the EP enhancer that increases the on rate of the protein complex formation to DNA. Using PARP inhibitors (3AB and 6.5 Hphe), we show that these products are able to inhibit EP enhancer activity in neuroretina cells. Finally, we demonstrate that these inhibitors are able to decrease the expression of the P0-initiated mRNA in the MC29-infected RPE cells which, in contrast to the RPE cells, accumulated the PARP in response to v-myc expression. Our results suggest that PARP is involved in the Pax-6 regulation.

Myc suppresses induction of the growth arrest genes gadd34, gadd45, and gadd153 by DNA-damaging agents.

The growth arrest and DNA damage inducible (gadd) genes are induced by various genotoxic and non-genotoxic stresses such as serum starvation, ultraviolet irradiation and treatment with alkylating agents. Their coordinate induction is a growth arrest signal which may play an important role in the response of cells to DNA damage. Conversely, c-myc is a strong proliferative signal, and overexpression of Myc is frequently observed in cancer cells. We have found that ectopic expression of v-myc in RAT-1 cells results in an attenuated induction of the three major gadd transcripts by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and almost completely blocks the response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Myc acts in part by reducing the stress-responsiveness of the gadd45 promoter, as a c-myc expression vector strongly suppressed activation of gadd45-reporter constructs. This activity of Myc localizes to a recently described GC-rich binding site within the gadd45 promoter. These results indicate that a coordinate down-regulation of the gadd gene response is one mechanism by which Myc can circumvent growth arrest and contribute to the neoplastic phenotype.

Regulated expression of neurogenic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors during differentiation of the immortalized neuronal progenitor cell line HC2S2 into neurons.

Expression of nine neurogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors was examined in an immortalized neuronal progenitor cell line HC2S2, which differentiates into neurons after suppression of the v-myc expression with tetracycline. Expression of MASH-1, NeuroD, NeuroD-related factor (NDRF) and HES-1 was demonstrated in HC2S2 cells by Northern blot analysis using total RNA. Expression of MASH-1 mRNA was downregulated upon differentiation of HC2S2 cells into mature neurons. In contrast, NeuroD and NDRF mRNA expression was maintained all through the differentiation. The expression of HES-1, a negative regulator of the neuronal differentiation, was upregulated temporarily in accordance with the suppression of the v-myc expression and was downregulated upon the differentiation of HC2S2 cells into neurons. The reduced expression of HES-1 mRNA in undifferentiated HC2S2 cells may be explained by the transcriptional suppression of HES-1 by the myc oncoprotein. The above data imply that both HES-1 and MASH-1 need to be downregulated at the time of accomplishment of the terminal differentiation into mature neurons and that NeuroD and NDRF participate in the regulatory process of the terminal differentiation in combination.

Induction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 in the immortalized neuronal progenitor cell line HC2S2 during differentiation into neurons.

Conditionally immortalized neuronal progenitor cell line HC2S2 differentiates into mature neurons after suppression of the v-myc expression with tetracycline. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to measure expression levels of N-metyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 (NMDAR1) mRNAs encoding splice variants (NMDAR1a, -exon 5; NMDAR1b, +exon 5) in HC2S2 cells during the differentiation. Differential induction of NMDAR1a and NMDAR1b mRNAs was observed during the differentiation. Very low expression of NMDAR1 was observed in undifferentiated HC2S2 cells. NMDAR1a mRNA was induced coincidentally with the emergence of neurites, whereas NMDAR1b mRNA was induced at the time of network formation. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated induction of NMDAR1 immunoreactivity in differentiated HC2S2 cells. In addition, expression of NMDAR2 mRNA and immunoreactivity was observed in undifferentiated and differentiated HC2S2 cells, suggesting that functional NMDA receptors are present in differentiated HC2S2 cells. While exposure to NMDA resulted in almost no cell death in undifferentiated HC2S2 cells, NMDA induced cell death in differentiated HC2S2 cells in a dose-dependent fashion. These findings suggest that the expression of NMDAR1 mRNA may be regulated by myc or its counterpart during neuronal terminal differentiation and that the splicing choice between NMDAR1a and NMDAR1b may vary according to the formation of neuronal network.

V-myc in a simple, single gene retroviral vector causes rapid induction of leukemia and concomitant apoptosis following bone marrow transplantation.

We have previously developed an in vivo model of leukemogenesis utilizing mice reconstituted with genetically modified bone marrow cells. Based on those studies, a new single gene retroviral vector has been engineered which efficiently transfers v-myc into immature murine bone marrow cells. All reconstituted mice developed leukemia with a short latency period (5-11 weeks). In addition to hyperproliferation associated with elevated levels of PCNA, extensive apoptosis was also observed in all leukemic animals with p53 accumulating in the apoptotic cells. Whereas bax encoded protein, an effector of p53 apoptotic activity was detected in apoptotic cells, p21Waf1 protein, a potential mediator of p53 growth suppression was not detected in these cells suggesting that v-myc-induced apoptosis was independent of the ability of p53 to induce p21Waf1. These results indicate that apoptosis, a part of the cellular response to v-myc expression, does not prevent leukemia development and that hyperproliferation rather than abrogation of oncogene-induced apoptosis appears to be a critical event in v-myc-induced leukemia.

Immortalization and controlled in vitro differentiation of murine multipotent neural crest stem cells.

To isolate mouse neural crest stem cells, we have generated a rat monoclonal antibody to murine neurotrophin receptor (p75). We have immortalized p75+ murine neural crest cells by expression of v-myc, and have isolated several clonal cell lines. These lines can be maintained in an undifferentiated state, or induced to differentiate by changing the culture conditions. One of these cell lines, MONC-1, is capable of generating peripheral neurons, glia, and melanocytic cells. Importantly, most individual MONC-1 cells are multipotent when analyzed at clonal density. The neurons that differentiate under standard conditions have an autonomic-like phenotype, but under different conditions can express markers of other peripheral neuronal lineages. These lines therefore exhibit a similar differentiation potential as their normal counterparts. Furthermore, they can be genetically modified or generated from mice of different genetic backgrounds, providing a useful tool for molecular studies of neural crest development.

Normal rat intestinal cells IEC-18: characterization and transfection with immortalizing oncogenes

IEC-18 cells, a cell line derived from the ileum of rat intestine, have the characteristics of normal cells since they have a contact inhibited cell growth, do not form colonies in soft agar and are not tumorigenic when injected in nude mice. IEC-18 cells were transfected with nuclear oncogenes, c-myc, v-myc and SV40 T antigen in order to obtain immortal cell lines. Independent clones were isolated and characterized for the growth properties. Expression of v-myc altered the morphology of the cells and shortened the doubling time. A slow growth together with a low cloning efficiency was associated with the expression of SV40 T antigen. No changes either in growth or in morphology were observed in c-myc-expressing IEC-18 cells. Expression of these nuclear oncogenes did not result in the neoplastic transformation of the IEC-18 cells, since none of the clones lost the anchorage dependence or were able to form tumors in vivo. The c-myc-containing IEC-18 cells were unable to secrete in the growth medium TGF α and exposure to TGF β inhibited the growth rate by 30%. All these observations are consistent with the conclusion that the expression of nuclear oncogenes does not lead to the neoplastic transformation of these cells.

The Major Histocompatibility Complex of Chickens Controls the Infection of Early Chicken Embryos by MC29 Virus

Embryos from isogeneic chicken lines belonging to different haplotypes and known to be resistant to infection by avian retroviruses of subgroups A and E were infected on the 3rd (E3) and 5th day (E5) of incubation with MC29 virus (MC29RAV-1 pseudotype; A subgroup-derived envelope). Despite the trait for resistance, E3 embryos developed the specific heart tumors previously described in outbred E3 embryos. The CB line (B12/B12, C/AE) was more susceptible than the congenic line CC (B4/B4, C/AE). In both lines, the heart was the unique target at E3 for MC29. No tumors of the heart or other organs appeared upon infection at E5 or El0. In the A subgroup susceptible line 6 (B2/B2, C/E) both heart (50%) and skin (100%) were transformed upon E3 infection. Hybrids of line 6 with the CB line expressed skin (100%) and heart (95.4%) tumors. On the other hand, the 6 × CC combination revealed 96.7% of skin tumors while heart tumors occurred only in 1 of 31 embryos (3.2%). To distinguish the respective influences of the MHC and of the tv-a allele, crosses with the la line (B7/B7, C/O) were carried out and tested with MC29. The findings indicate that resistance of the embryos to MC29 heart tumors is associated with the B4/B4 haplotype, supporting the interpretation that the MHC has a role in MC29 cell tropism and v-myc expression. The target cells in tumors were determined by immunofluorescence staining. Cells infected in the heart belonged to the myogenic lineage, as expected from previous studies. In skin anomalies the epidermal cells were double-stained with anticytokeratin and anti-env antibodies, many cells in the dermis also reacted with anti-env antibodies.

Trisomy of chromosome 9q: specific chromosome change associated with tumorigenicity during the process of X-ray-induced neoplastic transformation in golden hamster embryo cells.

We have reported that trisomy of chromosome 7 is commonly observed in anchorage-independent clones isolated from X-irradiated golden hamster embryo cells. All 10 clones derived from different irradiated populations showed tumorigenicity when 1 x 10(7) cells were injected s.c. into nude mice (BALB/c, nu/nu). From karyotypic analysis, we found that 8 of 10 cells showed trisomy of chromosome 9. One cell line had a translocation between chromosomes 9q and 19q and trisomy of chromosome 7. The other cell line contained trisomy of chromosome 9 and a translocation between chromosomes 7q and 8q. Using Southern blot analysis, we observed no amplification of v-myc, v-Ha-ras, v-Ki-ras or N-ras-related oncogenes. Furthermore, we could not detect either an increase in expression of v-myc- and v-Ha-ras-related genes or the activation of any oncogene, by the NIH 3T3 transfection assay. Our results suggest that trisomy of chromosome 7 is insufficient for the expression of tumorigenicity and that increased dosage of chromosome 9q may play an important role in the malignant progression of X-ray-induced neoplastic transformation.

Expression of the oncogenes mil and ras abolishes the in vivo differentiation of mammary epithelial cells.

Three carcinoma-associated oncogenes, two of which have been strongly implicated in human mammary tumorigenesis, have been introduced into a novel mouse mammary epithelial cell line, EF43, that retains many differentiated functions. The effect of oncogene expression upon classical transformation parameters as well as parameters specific for mammary epithelial cells such as growth in three-dimensional collagen matrices and the ability to repopulate the cleared mammary fat pad and to form alveolar structures in vivo has been investigated. Expression of v-myc in EF43 cells results in no obvious phenotypic changes, and does not confer tumorigenic potential upon the cells. Expression of v-Ha-ras confers upon EF43 cells the ability to grow rapidly, grow in an anchorage-independent manner, results in tumor formation in nude and syngeneic animals, abolishes their ability to repopulate the mammary gland and, instead, results in rapid induction of anaplastic tumors. The v-mil oncogene, an avian homolog of the mouse v-mht and human c-raf oncogenes, previously thought to be non-transforming in the absence of a co-operating oncogene, transforms EF43 cells, allowing them to grow in an anchorage-independent manner, form tumors in nude mice and abolishes their ability to repopulate the cleared mammary fat pad. In contrast to v-ras, however, the tumors arising from v-mil expression have a differentiated morphology, typical of adenocarcinomas. Thus, different oncogenes show varying degrees of inhibition of the differentiation of mammary epithelial cells in vivo.

Avian v-myc replaces chromosomal translocation in murine plasmacytomagenesis.

Deregulation of c-myc expression in association with chromosomal translocations occurs in over 95% of murine plasmacytomas, rat immunocytomas, and human Burkitt lymphomas. Infection with a murine retrovirus (J-3) containing an avian v-myc rapidly induced plasmacytomas in pristane-primed BALB/cAn mice. Only 17% of the induced plasmacytomas that were karyotyped showed the characteristic chromosomal translocations involving the c-myc locus. Instead, all of the translocation-negative tumors demonstrated characteristic J-3 virus integration sites that were actively transcribed. Thus, the high levels of v-myc expression have replaced the requirement for chromosomal translocation in plasmacytomagenesis and accelerated the process of transformation.

Coordinate regulation of myelomonocytic phenotype by v-myb and v-myc.

Both avian myeloblastosis virus (by the action of v-myb) and avian myelocytomatosis virus MC29 (by the action of v-myc) transform cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. Whereas avian myeloblastosis virus elicits a relatively immature phenotype, cells transformed by MC29 resemble mature macrophages. When cells previously transformed by v-myb were superinfected with MC29, their phenotype was rapidly altered to that of a more mature cell. These superinfected cells expressed both v-myb (at a level similar to that found before superinfection) and v-myc. It therefore appears that the expression of v-myc can elicit certain properties of a more differentiated phenotype. In addition, unlike cells transformed by v-myb alone, the cells expressing both v-myb and v-myc could not be induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to differentiate to fully mature macrophages. Cells with a morphology similar to that of the superinfected cells were elicited by simultaneously infecting yolk sac macrophages with avian myeloblastosis virus and MC29. Such cells expressed both v-myb and v-myc. These results indicate that expression of v-myb and v-myc in infected cells coordinately regulates myelomonocytic phenotype and that the two viral oncogenes vary in their ability to interfere with tumor promoter-induced differentiation. Our findings also sustain previous suggestions that the oncogenes v-myb and v-myc may not transform target cells by simply blocking differentiation.