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Biomedical subjects

F Ciardiello

Publications and source records attributed to F Ciardiello.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Response of normal and oncogene-transformed human mammary epithelial cells to transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1): lack of growth-inhibitory effect on cells expressing the simian virus 40 large-T antigen.

The relationship between the expression of selected oncogenes having different modes of action and the loss of the capacity to respond in vitro to transforming growth factor-beta I (TGF-beta I) was analyzed in human mammary epithelial cells (MEC). Primary MEC cultures from healthy donors and the spontaneously immortalized MCF-10A cell line were used as normal controls. Various assays (employing both complete and chemically defined media) were used: short-term DNA synthesis, long-term cell proliferation under anchorage-dependent and -independent conditions, expression of surface-differentiation molecules. Whereas primary MEC and the MCF-10A cell line were fully responsive to the growth-inhibitory activity of TGF-beta I under different test conditions, MEC transformed by c-Ha-ras, c-erbB2, int-2, or SV40-large-T antigen were not inhibited by TGF-beta I in a short-term DNA-synthesis assay. However, in anchorage-dependent conditions TGF-beta I inhibited the proliferation of all lines investigated, with the exception of SV40-T-antigen-transformed MEC. The colony-formation assay in soft agar revealed that all lines, but not those expressing the int-2 or the SV40-T-antigen genes, were inhibited by TGF-beta I. Neutralizing antibody to TGF-beta had no significant effects on oncogene-transformed lines, suggesting that the endogenous production of an active form of this growth factor is not a major determinant in MEC transformation by the oncogenes investigated. The only observed effect of TGF-beta I on selected surface-differentiation molecules was that normal MEC produced increased levels of the human milk fat globule antigen-I. Thus it appears that the response of MEC to TGF-beta I is consistently attenuated by the insertion of a variety of oncogenes and that it is abolished only by the expression of the SV40-large-T antigen. Whereas no single in vitro assay was capable of accurately reflecting the actual responsiveness of different lines, the growth-curve assay in anchorage-dependent conditions was the best single predictive test.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1994

Flow-cytometric detection of the RI alpha subunit of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase in human cells.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is composed of two genetically distinct catalytic (C) and regulatory (R) subunits. There are two different classes of PKA, designated as type I and type II, which contain distinct R subunits (RI or RII, respectively) but share a common C subunit. Enhanced expression of type I PKA has been correlated with cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation. Detection of the different PKA subunits is usually performed by photoaffinity labeling with 8-N3-32P-cAMP or by radioimmunolabeling techniques. Both techniques are time consuming and require a high number of cells and the use of radioactive reagents. Using the MCF-10A normal human mammary cell line infected with a recombinant retroviral vector containing the human RI alpha gene (MCF-10A RI alpha), we have developed a flow-cytometric assay to detect the intracellular content of RI alpha protein in human cells. MCF-10A and MCF-10A RI alpha cells were fixed in 1.5% paraformaldehyde at 37 degrees C for 15 min and permeabilized by methanol and acetone (1:1) at -20 degrees C for 5 min before staining with a specific IgG2a MoAb followed by a FITC-conjugate rabbit-anti mouse IgG. This procedure was also successfully utilized to recognize RI alpha protein content in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Flow-cytometric detection of the RI alpha subunit in human cells is feasible and allows the study of the role of type I PKA in cell growth and neoplastic transformation.

Breast↗
PubMed1994

Epidermal growth factor-related peptides in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer.

A number of different epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related peptides such as EGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), amphiregulin (AR), heregulin (HRG), and cripto-1 (CR-1), are coexpressed to varying degrees in both normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells. However, in general the frequency and level of expression of TGF alpha, AR, and CR-1 are higher in malignant breast epithelial cells than in normal mammary epithelium. In addition, several of these peptides such as TGF alpha and AR can function as autocrine and/or juxtacrine growth factors in mammary epithelial cells, and their expression is stringently regulated by mammotrophic hormones such as estrogens, activated proto-oncogenes that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, and other growth factors. The redundancy of expression that is observed for a number of these structurally related peptides in both normal and malignant mammary epithelial cells suggests that some of these peptides may be involved in regulating other aspects of cellular behavior such as differentiation in addition to proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Expression of transforming growth factor alpha, amphiregulin and cripto-1 in human breast carcinomas.

The expression of three epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related peptides, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), amphiregulin (AR) and cripto-1 (CR-1), was examined by immunocytochemistry (ICC) in 68 primary infiltrating ductal (IDCs) and infiltrating lobular breast carcinomas (ILCs), and in 23 adjacent non-involved human mammary tissue samples. Within the 68 IDC and ILC specimens, 54 (79%) expressed immunoreactive TGF-alpha, 52 (77%) expressed AR and 56 (82%) expressed CR-1. Cytoplasmic staining was observed with all of the antibodies, and this staining could be eliminated by preabsorption of the antibodies with the appropriate peptide immunogen. Cytoplasmic staining with all of the antibodies was confined to the carcinoma cells, since no specific immunoreactivity could be detected in the surrounding stromal or endothelial cells. In addition to cytoplasmic reactivity, the AR antibody also exhibited nuclear staining in a number of the carcinoma specimens. No significant correlations were found between the percentage of carcinoma cells that were positive for TGF-alpha, AR or CR-1 and oestrogen receptor status, axillary lymph node involvement, histological grade, tumour size, proliferative index, loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p or overall patient survival. However, a highly significant inverse correlation was observed between the average percentage of carcinoma cells that expressed AR in individual tumours and the presence of a point-mutated p53 gene. Likewise, a significantly higher percentage of tumour cells in the ILC group expressed AR as compared with the average percentage of tumour cells that expressed AR in the IDC group. Of the 23 adjacent, non-involved breast tissue samples, CR-1 could be detected by ICC in only three (13%), while TGF-alpha was found in six (26%) and AR in ten (43%) of the non-involved breast tissues. These data demonstrate that breast carcinomas express multiple EGF-related peptides and show that the differential expression of CR-1 in malignant breast epithelial cells may serve as a potential tumour marker for breast cancer.

Amphiregulin↗
PubMed1994

The RI alpha subunit of protein kinase A controls serum dependency and entry into cell cycle of human mammary epithelial cells.

MCF-10A, a nontransformed mammary epithelial cell line, requires a mixture of hormones and growth factors for optimal cell proliferation. In this report we show that when MCF-10A cells are cultured in serum free medium they become quiescent and accumulate in G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. Following addition of complete medium to quiescent cells, MCF-10A cells enter into the S phase within 15-18 h and resume the cell cycle distribution of proliferating cells within 24 h. Measurement of RI alpha subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) shows a 10- to 15-fold increase in protein levels at 6 h following complete medium addition, thus preceding cell entry into the S phase. Retroviral vector-mediated overexpression of RI alpha, but not of RII beta or C alpha subunits of PKA, enables MCF-10A cells to grow in serum-free medium. In addition, RI alpha downregulation by specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment or following infection with a retroviral vector containing the RI alpha cDNA in antisense orientation determines growth arrest of proliferating MCF-10A cells and is able to partially block S phase entry of quiescent MCF-10A cells following complete medium addition. These results suggest that RI alpha/PKAI is involved in the control of cell cycle progression of mammary epithelial cells at a G1 to S transition border, and that its overexpression is able to overcome serum and growth factors requirement for cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of CRIPTO expression and tumorigenicity in human colon cancer cells by antisense RNA and oligodeoxynucleotides.

CRIPTO is an epidermal growth factor-related gene expressed in a majority of human colorectal tumors. To assess the role of CRIPTO in the growth control of human colon cancer, we have treated human colon carcinoma GEO and CBS cells, that possess high levels of CRIPTO, and WIDR colon cancer cells, that are negative for CRIPTO expression, with two antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the 5' end of the human CRIPTO mRNA. Both antisense oligodeoxynucleotides significantly reduced endogenous CRIPTO protein levels and inhibited GEO and CBS cell growth in monolayer and in semisolid medium, whereas they did not affect WIDR cell growth. In addition, GEO, CBS and WIDR cells were infected with a recombinant retroviral vector containing the hygromycin-resistance gene and a 900 bp EcoRI-EcoRI coding fragment of the human CRIPTO cDNA oriented in the 3' to 5' direction. GEO and CBS CRIPTO antisense infectants exhibited a 60 to 70% reduction in CRIPTO protein expression, in monolayer growth and in soft agar cloning efficiency as compared to parental noninfected cells. In contrast, infection of WIDR cells with the CRIPTO antisense retrovirus did not alter their growth. Finally, GEO CRIPTO antisense infectants formed tumors in nude mice that were significantly smaller and had a larger latency period as compared to noninfected GEO cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Loss of thyrotropin regulation and transforming growth factor beta-induced growth arrest in erbB-2 overexpressing rat thyroid cells.

Amplification of erbB-2 gene and overexpression of gp185erbB-2 gene product is found in approximately one-third of primary human breast and ovarian cancer. Overexpression of gp185erbB-2 was recently found in human papillary thyroid carcinomas, but not in thyroid follicular carcinomas or adenomas. The erbB-2 gene encodes a cell surface growth factor receptor with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Wild type human erbB-2 has been shown to act as a potent oncogene when overexpressed in mouse fibroblasts. To test whether overexpression of normal human erbB-2 gene can transform epithelial differentiated rat thyroid cells, these cells were infected with a recombinant retroviral expression vector containing the erbB-2 protooncogene. Rat thyroid cells expressing high levels of gp185erbB-2 do not display a fully transformed and tumorigenic phenotype. However, the isolated cell clones that overexpress gp185erbB-2, show changes in their growth properties if compared to normal thyroid cells, since they can grow in absence of thyrotropin, the main growth factor controlling thyroid cell proliferation in vitro, and do not respond to the growth inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor beta.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Infection with a transforming growth factor alpha anti-sense retroviral expression vector reduces the in vitro growth and transformation of a human colon cancer cell line.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) is a growth factor produced by colon cancer cells which may function as an autocrine growth regulator. Therefore, the proliferation and transformation of colon cancer cells might be attenuated by blocking the production of endogenous TGF alpha. GEO cells, from a human colon carcinoma cell line that expresses TGF alpha and functional epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, were infected with a replication-defective, recombinant amphotropic retroviral expression vector containing the neomycin-resistance gene and a 435-bp ApaI-EcoRI coding fragment of the human TGF alpha cDNA oriented in the 3' to 5' direction under the transcriptional control of the heavy-metal-inducible mouse metallothionein I promoter. Following antibiotic selection, G418-resistant colonies were pooled and expanded into a cell line (GEO TGF alpha AS cells). A 50 to 70% inhibition in the production of secreted and cell-associated TGF alpha protein was observed in GEO TGF alpha AS cells that had been maintained in CdCl2-supplemented medium. Moreover, a growth inhibition of 70% and 50% was observed in CdCl2-treated GEO TGF alpha AS cells under anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent culture conditions, respectively. In contrast, CdCl2 treatment of parental GEO cells had no significant effect upon these parameters. Our results suggest that TGF alpha may be involved in modulating the in vitro cell growth and transformation of human colon cancer cells that express both this growth factor and its cognate receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Down-regulation of RI alpha subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase induces growth inhibition of human mammary epithelial cells transformed by c-Ha-ras and c-erbB-2 proto-oncogenes.

MCF-10A is a spontaneously immortalized, non-transformed human mammary epithelial cell line. We have recently obtained MCF-10A clones (MCF-10A HE cells) that are transformed following over-expression of both a human point-mutated c-Ha-ras and the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogenes. Two isoforms of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAK) have been described in mammalian cells. Enhanced levels of type-I cAK (cAKI) are generally found in tumor cells. To determine whether inhibition of cAKI expression may interfere with ras and erbB-2 oncogene-induced transformation of human mammary epithelial cells, we have tested the effects of 2 agents that specifically down-regulate cAKI, such as 8-chloro-cAMP and an anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide targeted against the RI alpha regulatory subunit of cAKI on MCF-10A HE cells. Treatment of MCF-10A HE cells with 8-chloro-cAMP induces a dose-dependent growth inhibition under both monolayer and soft-agar growth conditions, that is correlated with an accumulation of MCF-10A HE cells in G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle and a reduction of the number of cells in S phase. In contrast, 8-chloro-cAMP has no effect on MCF-10A cell growth. Furthermore, 8-chloro-cAMP treatment of MCF-10A HE cells induces a 4- to 6-fold reduction in p185erbB-2 expression and brings p21ras expression to levels comparable to those found in MCF-10A cells. Treatment of MCF-10A HE cells with an RI alpha anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide determines a comparable inhibition of both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent cell growth. Our results suggest that cAKI may act as a mediator of ras and erbB-2 oncogene action in human breast cells and that interference with cAKI action provides a potential tool for inhibiting the growth-promoting effects of these oncogenes.

Antisense Elements (Genetics)↗
PubMed1993

Expression of transforming growth factor alpha antisense mRNA inhibits the estrogen-induced production of TGF alpha and estrogen-induced proliferation of estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells.

To ascertain if 17 beta-estradiol (E2)-induced proliferation could be attenuated by blocking the expression of endogenous transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, estrogen-responsive MCF-7 or ZR-75-1 cells and ER-negative, estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-468 or HS-578T cells were infected with a recombinant amphotropic, replication-defective retroviral expression vector containing a 435 base pair (bp) Apa1-Eco R1 coding fragment of the human TGF alpha cDNA oriented in the 3' to 5' direction and under the transcriptional control of an internal heavy metal-inducible mouse metallothionein (MT-1) promoter and containing the neomycin (neo) resistance gene. E2-stimulated expression of endogenous TGF alpha mRNA was inhibited by 4-5-fold, and the production of TGF alpha protein was inhibited by 50-80% when M-1 mass-infected MCF-7 or MZ-1 mass-infected ZR-75-1 cells were treated with 0.75-1 microM CdCl2, whereas in comparably treated parental MCF-7 or ZR-75-1 cells there was no significant effect upon these parameters. E2-stimulated anchorage-dependent growth (ADG) and anchorage-independent growth (AIG) of the M-1 or MZ-1 cells was inhibited by 60-90% following CdCl2 treatment. In contrast, neither the ADG nor AIG of the parental noninfected MCF-7 or ZR-75-1 cells that were maintained in the absence or presence of E2 was affected by comparable concentrations of CdCl2. The ADG and AIG of TGF alpha antisense MD-1 mass-infected MDA-MB-468 cells that express high levels of endogenous TGF alpha mRNA were also inhibited by 1 microM CdCl2, whereas the ADG and AIG of MH-1 mass-infected HS-578T cells, a TGF alpha-negative cell line, were unaffected by CdCl2 treatment. These results suggest that TGF alpha may be one important autocrine intermediary in regulating estrogen-induced cell proliferation.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Thyroid-stimulating hormone-regulated growth and cell cycle distribution of thyroid cells involve type I isozyme of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Optimal growth and differentiation of normal rat thyroid FRTL5 cells depend strictly on the presence of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). FRTL5 cells deprived of TSH cease dividing and become quiescent. Addition of TSH to quiescent cells, which activates the cyclic AMP-mediated pathway, is sufficient to stimulate cell entry into S phase of the cell cycle. We have previously shown that the differential expression of the two isozymes, type I and type II, of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) correlates with cell growth and differentiation of several rodent and human cell lines. We have studied the role of PKA in the TSH-regulated growth and cell cycle distribution of FRTL5 cells. Upon addition of TSH to FRTL5 cells deprived of hormone, a rapid induction of RI alpha mRNA species occurred within 30 min after treatment, reaching the levels of proliferating FRTL5 cells at 12 h. RII alpha mRNA levels slightly increased after TSH addition, whereas C alpha mRNA levels did not show major changes. Photoaffinity labeling of PKA receptor proteins showed that addition of TSH to quiescent FRTL5 cells induced a progressive increase in RI alpha levels starting at 6 h after stimulation, whereas RII alpha receptor levels increased only slightly. When FRTL5 cells were treated with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeted against the RI alpha regulatory subunit, their growth was arrested, whereas an antisense against the RII alpha regulatory subunit produced only a mild growth inhibition. Moreover, exposure to the antisense RI alpha oligomer resulted in accumulation of cells in the G0-G1 compartment, as during TSH deprivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of surface-differentiation molecules by epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor alpha, and hydrocortisone in human mammary epithelial cells transformed by an activated c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene.

Spontaneously immortalized human mammary epithelial cells MCF-10A were transfected with an activated c-Ha-ras oncogene. Transfected cells (MCF-10T) acquire a malignant phenotype, as already reported. Studies of 125I-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation in cultures given graded doses of hydrocortisone (HC), cholera toxin (CT), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) showed that though MCF-10T had become almost independent on exogenous EGF and TGF-alpha, they continued to respond to the synergistic effect of HC and CT plus EGF. Both lines were phenotypically characterized with an immunoradiometric assay in live cells. Expression of MHC class-I molecules, human milk-fat-globule-I antigen, and EGF receptor was reduced in ras-transfected cells, although other differentiation markers were unchanged. Exogenous EGF down-regulated the expression of functional EGF-R, selectively in transformed cells. TGF-alpha failed to modulate EGF-R. In contrast, HC strongly stimulated the expression of EGF-R while depressing MHC class-I molecules. Thus, it appears that in vivo HC may co-operate with TGF-alpha and EGF in promoting the growth of transformed mammary cells. This hormone might also favor the escape from immune surveillance by reducing the expression of surface differentiation markers.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed1992

Differential immunohistochemical detection of amphiregulin and cripto in human normal colon and colorectal tumors.

Thirty-six primary human colorectal tumors, 43 noninvolved colon samples that were adjacent to either carcinomas of adenomas, 22 adenomas, and nine normal colon specimens were immunohistochemically examined for the presence and localization of two epidermal growth factor-related peptides, amphiregulin (AR) and cripto. Within the primary tumors, 18 (50%) showed moderate levels of AR expression. Approximately 60% of the tubular and tubulovillous adenomas were positive for AR expression, whereas only 15% of the adjacent, noninvolved colon mucosa expressed AR. A greater proportion of well-differentiated tumors (71%) were positive for AR expression than were poorly differentiated tumors (18%). All of the nine normal colon specimens were positive. Consequently, AR expression appeared to be associated with both normal and malignant epithelial cells that were more differentiated. The distribution of cripto expression was different. Seventy-nine % of the colon tumors expressed cripto with a frequency of expression that was approximately equivalent between well-differentiated and poorly differentiated tumors. Approximately 86% of the tubulovillous adenomas, but only 43% of the tubular adenomas, were positive for cripto expression. In contrast, whereas AR was expressed in normal colon specimens, none of these tissues expressed cripto, and only 12% of the noninvolved normal colon samples adjacent to tumors or adenomas were positive for cripto. Cripto expression therefore appeared related to neoplasia. These data suggest that AR and cripto may be functioning as potential autocrine and/or paracrine growth factors in the colon and that the differential expression of cripto may serve as a potential tumor marker for colonic carcinogenesis.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1992

Additive effects of c-erbB-2, c-Ha-ras, and transforming growth factor-alpha genes on in vitro transformation of human mammary epithelial cells.

MCF-10A cells are a spontaneously immortalized untransformed human mammary epithelial cell line. We have previously shown that overexpression of a human point-mutated c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene, the rat c-neu (c-erbB-2) proto-oncogene, or the human transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) gene in MCF-10A cells leads to in vitro transformation of such cells. To ascertain whether the introduction of two of these genes into MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells induces a completely tumorigenic phenotype, we infected MCF-10A Ha-ras and MCF-10A TGF-alpha cells with a recombinant retroviral vector containing the human c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene and the hygromycin-resistance gene. Ten MCF-10A TGF-alpha/c-erbB-2 (MCF-10A TE) and 10 MCF-10A Ha-ras/c-erbB-2 (MCF-10A HE) hygromycin-resistant clones were randomly selected and expanded into cell lines. MCF-10A TE and MCF-10A HE clones expressed a 10-fold to 40-fold increase in p185 erbB-2 protein levels compared with parental uninfected cells. These cells exhibited a fourfold increase in their growth rate in serum-free medium and showed a strongly reduced mitogenic response to exogenous epidermal growth factor or TGF-alpha compared with MCF-10A cells. Moreover, both MCF-10A TE and MCF-10A HE clones exhibited a fivefold to 20-fold higher cloning efficiency in soft agar than MCF-10A Ha-ras, MCF-10A c-erbB-2, or MCF-10A TGF-alpha clones. However, neither MCF-10A TE nor MCF-10A HE cells were able to grow as tumors in vivo when they were injected into nude mice. These results suggest that c-Ha-ras, c-erbB-2, and TGF-alpha genes have an additive effect on the in vitro transformation of an immortalized human mammary epithelial cell line, but that additional genetic changes such as activation of other proto-oncogenes or inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene may be necessary to elicit a fully tumorigenic phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The int-2 gene product acts as a growth factor and substitutes for basic fibroblast growth factor in promoting the differentiation of a normal mouse mammary epithelial cell line.

We have investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the related int-2 gene on the growth, transformation, and differentiation of HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells. We show that in HC11 cells infected with int-2 retroviral expression vectors, the int-2 protein can function as a bFGF-like growth factor in stimulating: (a) HC11 cell proliferation in monolayer, (b) anchorage-independent growth in soft agar, and (c) soft agar growth of the bFGF-responsive SW13 tumor cell line. These effects are observed irrespective of whether the int-2 protein is expressed in its wild-type form or is linked to a signal peptide. A candidate bFGF receptor, which is the product of the flg gene and which may recognize the int-2 protein, is expressed at high levels in HC11 cells. Following epidermal growth factor or bFGF priming and subsequent treatment with lactogenic hormones, all of the int-2 infected and the parental HC11 cells synthesize similar levels of beta-casein. However, the autocrine expression of int-2 in HC11 cells abrogates their requirement for either exogenous epidermal growth factor or bFGF priming. These data suggest that, in HC11 cells, the growth factor activity of the int-2 gene is indistinguishable from that of bFGF and does not interfere with the mammary cell differentiation program associated with lactogenesis.

Agar↗
PubMed1991

Differential expression of epidermal growth factor-related proteins in human colorectal tumors.

Amphiregulin (AR) and cripto are proteins that are structurally related to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha). AR is also functionally related to this family of growth regulatory molecules and is able to bind and activate the 170-kDa EGF receptor (EGFR). Human EGFR-3 (HER3)/ERBB3 is a recently identified protein related to the EGFR that is widely expressed in breast carcinomas and is a candidate receptor for EGF-like growth factors. Differential expression of these putative ligands and receptors in transformed cells suggests that they may function in an autocrine manner to regulate tumor cell growth. Specific mRNA transcripts for TGF-alpha [4.8 kilobases (kb)], AR (1.4 kb), cripto (2.2 kb), and HER3 (6.2 kb) were expressed in a majority of human colon cancer cell lines. HER3 mRNA was detected in 55% of primary or metastatic human colorectal carcinomas but in only 22% of normal colon mucosa and 32% of normal liver samples. In contrast, cripto and AR mRNA were expressed in 60-70% of primary or metastatic human colorectal cancers but in only 2-7% of normal human colonic mucosa. Immunostaining also detected AR protein in primary and metastatic colorectal tumors but not in normal colon or uninvolved liver. These findings suggest that cripto and AR may be useful markers to discriminate between normal and malignant colonic epithelium and may provide a selective growth advantage for colorectal carcinomas.

Actins↗
PubMed1991

Expression of cripto, a novel gene of the epidermal growth factor gene family, leads to in vitro transformation of a normal mouse mammary epithelial cell line.

cripto is a gene encoding an epidermal growth factor-related protein that is expressed in undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cells. To ascertain if cripto is capable of functioning as a transforming gene, a full-length human cripto complementary DNA under the transcriptional control of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat has been cotransfected with the selectable pSV2neo marker plasmid into immortalized mouse NOG-8 mammary epithelial cells. Several neomycin-resistant clones were isolated that express high levels of a specific cripto 4.5-kilobase mRNA transcript and possess multiple copies of cripto plasmid DNA. NOG-8 cells that express cripto are able to clone in soft agar and exhibit an approximately 3-fold increase in their anchorage-dependent growth in serum-free medium as compared to the neo-transfected NOG-8 cells. However, none of the cripto-expressing NOG-8 clones are able to form tumors in nude mice.

Animals↗