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Biomedical subjects

C F Graham

Publications and source records attributed to C F Graham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Identity of cells containing apolipoprotein B messenger RNA, in 6- to 12-week postfertilization human embryos.

Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) mRNA has been localized by in situ hybridization to various cell types in the liver, gut and yolk sack of the 6- to 12-week postfertilization human conceptus. In the fetal liver it is probable that the immature hepatocytes contain Apo B mRNA. In the yolk sack, the Apo B cDNA probe hybridizes mainly to the large endodermal cells and in the fetal gut the epithelium seems responsible for the majority of Apo B mRNA production. The fetal brain did not show any detectable hybridization to the Apo B probe. Unlike the situation seen in the adult, immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that only the B100 form of the protein was synthesized and secreted by the liver, gut and yolk sack at this early stage of human development.

Apolipoproteins B↗

Expression of c-myc during differentiation of the human teratocarcinoma cell line Tera-2.

The quantity of c-myc mRNA was measured during the retinoic-acid-induced differentiation of the pluripotent human teratoma cell line, Tera-2 cl. 13. As the cells were exposed to retinoic acid for longer periods of time the duration of the cell cycle progressively increased (measured by the rate of S phase entry) until the cells were effectively quiescent and expressed characteristic differentiation markers. Under these circumstances steady-state levels of c-myc expression increased by up to 1.6-fold with respect to rapidly growing undifferentiated cells. Southern blot analysis of the c-myc genes in Tera-2 indicated no major rearrangement or amplification in the cell line.

Cell Differentiation↗

Organ distribution of apolipoprotein gene transcripts in 6-12 week postfertilization human embryos.

In the liver and the yolk sack of 6-12 week postfertilization human embryos, we have detected RNA transcripts from the following apolipoprotein genes: AI, AII, B, CII, CIII and E. The mRNA from the apolipoprotein CIII gene was relatively more abundant in the total RNA from the yolk sack than in that from the liver. The gut and adrenals contained transcripts of all these apolipoprotein genes apart from apolipoprotein AII. The kidneys and heart contained some apolipoprotein transcripts. In conjunction with previous studies, these results suggest that in the human embryo apolipoprotein genes are transcribed in a much larger range of organs than is the case in the adult. Many of these organs lack endoderm tissues.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗

Synthesis of apolipoproteins, alphafoetoprotein, albumin, and transferrin by the human foetal yolk sack and other foetal organs.

Fragments of human foetal organs and blood at 5-11 weeks of postfertilization development were cultured in radioactive protein precursors. The secreted products were characterized by immunoprecipitation, and by measuring the mobility of the immunoprecipitates on polyacrylamide gels. It was found that secondary human yolk sacks secreted apolipoproteins A1 and B. The work of previous authors on the synthesis of other serum products by this organ and by the foetal liver and by the foetal intestines was confirmed. Within the yolk sack, the endoderm, the blood cells, and the outside epithelium reacted with antibodies against apolipoprotein A1 and transferrin. By metabolic labelling of umbilical cord blood, it was found that blood did not secrete apolipoproteins A1 and B. Blood cells could therefore not be a source of these secreted products.

Albumins↗

Cloned human teratoma cells differentiate into neuron-like cells and other cell types in retinoic acid.

Single cell clones were isolated from the human teratoma line, Tera-2. The cells of three of these clones were studied. The progressively growing cells were shown to be tumorigenic, and they were characterized by the lack of expression of beta 2-microglobulin and HLA-A,B,C determinants on the cell surface. The majority of the cells expressed Thy-1 antigen and a 90 X 10(3) molecular weight protein recognized by the monoclonal antibody F10.44.2; between a third and half of the cells expressed the sugar specificities detected by the anti-SSEA-1 monoclonal antibody. In response to 5 X 10(-5) M-retinoic acid applied to cells in monolayer culture, the cells differentiated into a population of flat static cells arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. A substantial proportion of these differentiated cells expressed beta 2-microglobulin and 43 X 10(3) molecular weight HLA-A,B,C polypeptides, Thy-1, SSEA-1 sugar determinants, and the 90 X 10(3) Mr protein recognized by F10.44.2. The apparent molecular weight of fibronectin secreted by the cells decreased by about 5 X 10(3) Mr to 235 X 10(3) Mr after differentiation. The progressively growing cells lacked reactivity with reagents that mark cells in the nervous system. Following aggregation and retinoic acid treatment, neuron-like cells were formed. These cells reacted with reagents that also react with human neurons in culture: they reacted with tetanus toxin, the anti-neurofilament antibodies BF10 and RT97, the anti-ganglioside, GQ1c antibody F12 A2B5, and anti-Thy-1. The progressively growing cells of these Tera-2 clones are therefore capable of forming at least two types of cell: the flat cells in monolayer cultures and the neuron-like cells. None of the cell populations reacted with the monoclonal antibody against SSEA-3 and these cloned cells are therefore distinct from previous isolates from Tera-2.

Animals↗

Clonal analysis of the change in growth phenotype during embryonal carcinoma cell differentiation.

Retinoic acid has been shown to induce the differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. Previous workers have reported that bulk cultures of the differentiated derivatives have a slower growth rate and a reduced capacity to form tumours. We have analysed this change in growth rate for a sub-tetraploid EC cell line, PC13 clone 5 MA2, at a clonal level and have shown that the production of cells with a slower growth rate is not a result of cell selection. We have also demonstrated that the action of retinoic acid on growth rate is delayed for approximately 48 h and that the new growth phenotype, once attained, is stable. Finally we have confirmed at a clonal level that the differentiated derivatives of EC cells exposed to retinoic acid have a reduced capacity to form tumours. Clones of EC cells exposed to retinoic acid for longer than 96 h are unable to form tumours in a 30-day period, whilst 87% of their untreated counterparts are able to do so.

Animals↗

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.

Animals↗

Formation and consequences of cell patterns in preimplantation mouse development.

The behaviour of groups of cells was studied in culture during preimplantation mouse development. The following observations were made with intact embryos minus the zona pellucida and with embryos whose cells had been dissociated and recombined. The form of the 4-cell embryo was related to the behaviour of the first cell to divide to this stage. The form of the 8-cell embryo depended on contact between the groups of four cells each derived from a single cell at the 2-cell stage. The form of the 16-cell embryo depended on cell movement during and after division from the 8- to the 16-cell stage. These results suggest that the morphogenetic movements of these early embryonic cells are principally governed by continuous cell interactions after fertilization. The cell surfaces of the embryos were examined with scanning electron microscopy in an attempt to discriminate between the mechanisms which could account for these movements.

Animals↗

Growth and differentiation of an embryonal carcinoma cell line (C145b).

Several cell and tumour lines were isolated from a single-embryo-derived teratocarcinoma and their karyotypes and differentiation in adult hosts recorded. The majority of cells contained normal karyotypes by banding. The cells were injected into blastocysts and although they sometimes colonized the yolk sac, they never colonized the embryo. Thus the possession of a normal karyotype is not a sufficient condition for embryo colonization. The loss of growth capacity was investigated by studying differentiation and tumourigenicity in a variety of circumstances. The change in appearance from an EC cell morphology to a big flat cell in culture leads to retardation of growth in adult hosts. When EC cells are injected into a blastocyst, the ability to grow progressively both in culture and in adult hosts is lost.

Animals↗