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J T Arnold

Publications and source records attributed to J T Arnold.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mechanisms involved in the progression of androgen-independent prostate cancers: it is not only the cancer cell's fault.

The acquisition of an androgen-independent phenotype by prostate cancer cells is presently a death sentence for patients. In order to have a realistic chance of changing this outcome, an understanding of what drives the progression to androgen independence is critical. We review here a working hypothesis based on the position that the development of androgen-independent epithelial cells is the result of a series of cellular and molecular events within the whole tissue that culminates in the loss of normal tissue-maintained growth control. This tissue includes the epithelial and stromal cells, the supporting extracellular matrix and circulating hormones. This review discusses the characteristics of these malignant cells, the role of stromal cells involved in growth and the differentiation of epithelial cells, and the role of the extracellular matrix as a mediator of the phenotypes of stromal and epithelial cells. In addition, environmental, neuroendocrine and immune factors that may contribute to disturbance of the fine balance of the epithelial-stromal-extracellular matrix connection are considered. While the goal of many therapeutic approaches to prostate cancer has been androgen ablation or targeting the androgen receptor (AR) of epithelial cells, these therapies become ineffective as the cells progress beyond dependence on androgen for growth control. Twenty years ago Sir David Smithers debated that cancer is the result of loss of tolerance within tissues and the organizational failure of normal growth-control mechanisms. This is precipitated by prolonged or abnormal demands for regeneration or repair, rather than of any inherent disorder peculiar to each of the individual components involved. He wrote "It is not the cell itself that is disorderly, but its relationship with the rest of the tissue". We have gained significantly large amounts of precise data on the effects of androgenic ablation on cancerous prostate cells and on the role of the AR in prostate cancer. The need has come to compile this information towards a perspective of dysregulation of tissue as a whole, and to develop experimental systems to address this broader perspective to find and develop therapies for treatment and prevention.

Androgens↗

Conversion from a paracrine to an autocrine mechanism of androgen-stimulated growth during malignant transformation of prostatic epithelial cells.

Normal adult prostate epithelium of both human and rat origin was transplanted with Matrigel into intact or androgen-ablated (i.e., castrated) nude mice. Within these transplants, an influx of mouse mesenchymal cells was one of the earliest events to occur resulting in the development of a collar of smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts surrounding the transplanted epithelium. A subset of these surrounding stromal cells express androgen receptor (AR). The surrounded transplanted epithelium initially expresses high molecular weight cytokeratins characteristic of prostatic basal cells and AR. In both intact and androgen-ablated hosts, this epithelium subsequently develops a patent lumen producing a rudimentary glandular acini. Only in the nonablated hosts, however, do these rudimentary acini undergo a further proliferative growth phase, as determined by Ki67 immunocytochemical stainings and the development of a low molecular weight cytokeratin positive layer of luminal (i.e., secretory) epithelial cells. Because AR is expressed in both the donor epithelium and host (i.e., mouse) stromal cells, this androgen-stimulated growth response could involve either autocrine pathways initiated within donor normal adult epithelial cells themselves or paracrine pathways initiated within the AR-expressing subset of mouse stromal cells. To resolve this issue, mice carrying the testicular feminized mutation in the X-linked AR gene were cross-bred to AR-wt nude mice to produce AR-null nude male mice. None of the cells in these AR-null nude male mice express functional AR protein. Therefore, these animals can be used to prevent any possibility of host stromal cell paracrine involvement in initiating an androgen-stimulated growth response when normal adult or malignant prostatic epithelial cells are transplanted into these null hosts. In these AR-null nude male mice, the androgen-stimulated growth of normal adult prostatic epithelial cells did not occur (i.e., androgen-induced growth response of normal prostatic epithelial cells requires stromal cell paracrine involvement). In contrast, using four different prostatic cancer models (i.e., human PC-82, human LNCaP, human LAPC-4, and rat R3327G), the androgen-stimulated growth of prostatic cancer cells occurred identically in both AR-null and AR-wt nude male mice (i.e., a direct autocrine mechanism is responsible for androgen-stimulated growth of malignant prostatic epithelial cells). In summary, a fundamental change in the mechanism for androgen-stimulated growth occurs during the transformation from normal to malignant prostatic epithelial cells.

Androgens↗

Endometrial stromal cells regulate epithelial cell growth in vitro: a new co-culture model.

The regulation of epithelial cell function and morphogenesis by the paracrine effectors from the mesenchyme or stroma has been well established using in-vivo studies. A more complete understanding of these relationships has been delayed due, in part, to a lack of appropriate co-culture models. In this study, we describe a co-culture model which demonstrates that normal paracrine relationships can be reconstituted in vitro and that human endometrial stromal cells regulate both growth and differentiation of primary human endometrial epithelial cells. Interesting differences in the proliferation of stromal and epithelial cells were noted in response to the basement membrane extract, Matrigel((R)). Exposure of stromal cells to Matrigel((R)) enhanced the paracrine capacity of these cells in vitro. When epithelial cells were co-cultured in contact with stromal cells embedded in Matrigel((R)), epithelial cell growth was inhibited by 65-80% compared to controls. Stromal cells in contact with Matrigel((R)) also regulated epithelial cell differentiation, as shown by induction of glycodelin expression. These co-culture studies show great promise as a method to investigate the cellular interactions between endometrial stromal and epithelial cells and their environment and to understand the molecular basis for the regulation of normal growth and differentiation of cells within complex tissues such as the endometrium.

Adult↗

Rational basis for Trk inhibition therapy for prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostatic cancer cells are lethal because they acquire the ability to activate survival pathways that do not require androgenic stimulation. As a rational approach to developing effective therapy for these devastating cells, specific signal transduction pathways uniquely required for the survival of these nonandrogen-dependent prostate cancer cells must be identified. Previous studies suggested that the neurotrophin/trk signal transduction axis may regulate such unique survival pathways. In the present study, the changes in expression of the neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, and NT-3) and their cognate receptors (i.e., trk and p75NTR) during the progression of normal prostatic epithelial cells to malignancy were documented. Additionally, the consequences of inhibiting these trk signaling pathways on the in vitro survival of prostate cancer cells was tested. METHODS: Immmunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and ELISA assays were used to characterize the changes in the neurotrophin ligands (i.e., NGF, BDNF, and NT-3) and their cognate high-affinity (i.e., trk A, B, and C) and low-affinity neurotrophin (i.e., p75 NTR) receptors in normal vs. malignant human prostatic tissues. CEP-751 is an indolocarbazole compound specifically designed to inhibit the initiation of these neurotrophin/trk signal transductions. The consequence of CEP-751 inhibition of trk signaling for in vitro clonogenic survival of a series of human prostatic cancer lines was also tested. RESULTS: These studies demonstrated that normal prostatic tissue from patients without prostate cancer contains substantial levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), which is produced in a paracrine manner by stromal cells. These stromal cells lack both trk and p75NTR receptors. In contrast, normal prostatic epithelial cells from patients without prostate cancer do not secrete detectable levels of neurotrophins, but do express trk A and p75 NTR. While the NGF/trkA/p75 NTR axis is present in the normal prostate, normal prostatic epithelial cells do not depend on this axis for their survival. In contrast, malignant prostate epithelial cells directly secrete a series of neurotrophins (i.e., NGF, BDNF, and/or NT-3) and express at least one if not more of the trk receptor proteins (i.e., trk A, B, and/or C), while no longer expressing the p75NTR receptors. In addition, inhibition of autocrine trk signaling via CEP-751 treatment induces the apoptotic death of these malignant cells. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate carcinogenesis involves molecular changes leading to the paracrine and/or autocrine production of a series of neurotrophins. This is coupled to the ectopic expression of trk B and trk C, as well as to the continued expression of trk A, and the loss of expression of p75NTR receptors. These changes result in the acquisition by malignant prostate cells of a unique requirement for trk signaling pathways for survival. Based on these findings, trk inhibition is a novel, rational approach for prostate cancer therapy.

Animals↗

Prolonged bleeding time with defective platelet filopodia formation in the Wistar Furth rat.

Hereditary macrothrombocytopenia is a hallmark of Wistar Furth (WF) rats. In addition, a platelet/megakaryocyte alpha granule defect, similar to that of patients with gray platelet syndrome, is present. Several observations indicate cytoskeletal abnormalities in WF platelets and megakaryocytes, suggesting the potential for functional defects in hemostatic processes requiring cytoskeletal reorganization, such as platelet adhesion and spreading. However, no bleeding abnormality has been noted. Here, we report a prolonged bleeding time (>30 minutes in 10 of 11 rats tested) with defective clot formation in the WF strain. Prolonged bleeding time can result from defects in platelet adhesion, aggregation, or the release reaction. Because aggregation to collagen and adenosine diphosphate were reported to be normal, we determined whether WF rat platelets are defective in their ability to adhere to substrates. Platelet adherence and spreading was evaluated from 30 seconds to 30 minutes on Formvar-coated, carbon-stabilized grids or poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips by transmission electron microscopy or immunofluorescence, respectively, and scanning electron microscopy. We classified the adhered platelets according to their pattern of spreading, ie, rounded, rounded or spreading with short filopodia, spindle-shaped, spreading with long filopodia, spreading with lamellipodia, and fully spread. Adherent normal rat platelets displayed all stages of spreading within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, including many spindle-shaped forms, and forms with multiple, long filopodia. In contrast, adhered WF platelets at these early time points rarely developed long filopodia or were spindle shaped. The majority of adherent WF platelets at these early time points were either round, spread with a few short filopodia, or extensively spread with wide lamellipodial skirts. By 15 to 30 minutes, most platelets in both Wistar and WF samples were fully spread. These data show abnormal WF platelet spreading. The paucity of spindle-shaped forms and forms with long filopodia may reflect an inability of WF platelets to undergo the early stages of spreading, or, alternatively, their more rapid than normal progression through these stages. We hypothesize that this failure to spread normally may relate to prolonged bleeding times in vivo and defective clot formation in WF rats.

Animals↗

A single intravenous dose of murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor potently stimulates platelet production, challenging the necessity for daily administration.

The thrombopoietic efficacy of recombinant forms of c-mpl ligand is being actively investigated in preclinical studies using daily dosing schedules. However, a comprehensive kinetic study of the thrombopoietic response to a single injection of recombinant c-mpl ligand has not been performed. Here, we present the results of a detailed kinetic analysis of the platelet response to a single intravenous administration of pegylated recombinant murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rmMGDF) in mice. In addition, we compare the efficacy of single versus daily dosing in stimulating platelet production. A single intravenous injection of PEG-rmMGDF produced a marked and dose-dependent elevation in platelet number and a moderate increase in mean platelet volume (MPV). After administration of 25 or 250 micrograms/kg of PEG-rmMGDF, platelet number was first increased on day 3 and peaked at 2.7-fold (25 micrograms/kg) and 5.7-fold of normal (250 micrograms/kg) on day 5. Thereafter, platelet number declined and returned to baseline by days 9 and 14, with the 25 and 250 micrograms/kg doses, respectively. MPV began to increase on day 2 after PEG-rmMGDF, reaching maximum values of 1.2-fold (25 micrograms/kg) and 1.5-fold of normal (250 micrograms/kg) on day 4. Subsequently, MPV declined and was downregulated on days 6 to 7 (25 micrograms/kg) and day 8 (250 micrograms/kg). Based on these results, we evaluated the platelet response to PEG-rmMGDF administered intravenously as a single dose versus daily for 5 days. A single administration of 100 micrograms/kg produced a higher platelet number on day 5 than daily administration of 100 or 20 micrograms/kg for 5 days. However, the thrombocytosis was less sustained after single versus daily dosing. The smaller platelet number increase on day 5 after daily dosing reflected the production of larger platelets, rather than suppression of thrombopoiesis. Our results indicate that PEG-rmMGDF administered as a single intravenous dose potently stimulates platelet production in mice, challenging the need for its daily administration. Adoption of an intermittent administration schedule of this cytokine could be more efficacious and is merited in future clinical trials.

Animals↗

Paracrine signaling in the endometrium: integrins and the establishment of uterine receptivity.

The importance of cell shape and polarity have long been recognized. In the endometrium, a complex association of different cell types undergo cyclic renewal, differentiation and eventually apoptosis and shedding, with the sole purpose of allowing implantation of the nascent embryo. Many of these physiologic processes depend on the timely expression of cell adhesion molecules which maintain tissue architecture by mediating cell-cell and cell-substratum attachments. One family of cell adhesion molecules are the integrins, cell surface glycoproteins composed of heterodimeric alpha and beta subunits that serve as receptors for the extracellular matrix. We have studied the endometrium as a unique site of integrin expression that appear to be under both endocrine and paracrine control. In addition, it is suspected that the engagement of integrins by extracellular matrix on the embryo results in signal transduction leading to the transcription and translation of genes critical for implantation. While the role of integrins in endometrial function is not yet clearly defined, these interesting molecules represent excellent markers of normal and abnormal states of receptivity and may provide clues to the regulation and mechanics of implantation in general.

Animals↗

A single injection of pegylated murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) into mice is sufficient to produce a profound stimulation of megakaryocyte frequency, size, and ploidization.

Despite numerous studies investigating the action of c-mpl ligand, no reports have defined the in vivo changes in megakaryocytopoiesis in response to a single injection of this cytokine. Here we compare the kinetics of the megakaryocytopoietic response in C57BI/6J mice administered 25 micrograms/ kg or 250 micrograms/kg of pegylated (PEG) murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) as a single intravenous injection. Megakaryocytes of mice treated with MGDF had normal ultrastructure, showing a typical distribution of the demarcation membrane system, alpha-granules, and other cytoplasmic organelles. Megakaryocyte ploidy, size, and frequency were markedly increased with both MGDF doses. Megakaryocyte ploidy was maximally increased from a modal value of 16N to 64N on day 3, with both doses of MGDF. Similarly, a comparable increase in megakaryocyte size occurred in the two MGDF groups. Increased megakaryocyte size was coupled to the increase in megakaryocyte ploidy, and no evidence for independent regulation of megakaryocyte size within individual ploidy classes was apparent. In contrast to megakaryocyte ploidy and size, the increase in megakaryocyte frequency was markedly different with the two doses of MGDF. The proportion of 2N and 4N cells was increased from a baseline of 0.035% to 0.430% by day 4 in mice treated with the higher dose of MGDF, but only to 0.175% in mice administered 25 micrograms/kg of MGDF. The marked increase in the pool of these immature megakaryocytes translated to a sustained elevation in the frequency of polyploid megakaryocytes (8N cells and greater). In contrast to the sustained increase in the frequency of polyploid cells, the level of polyploidization was downregulated on days 6 to 10, but normalized by day 14. We conclude that a single injection of MGDF is able to expand the megakaryocytic pool in a dose-dependent manner, which, with subsequent maturation, should lead to an increased rate of platelet production.

Animals↗

Evaluation of chemopreventive agents in different mechanistic classes using a rat tracheal epithelial cell culture transformation assay.

The rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cell focus inhibition assay was used to identify potential chemopreventive agents. Ninety-nine agents were evaluated for their ability to inhibit benzo[a]pyrene-induced transformation of RTE cells. Freshly isolated RTE cells were exposed to benzo[a]pyrene alone or in combination with a chemopreventive agent. After 30 days in culture, transformed foci were scored and inhibition was quantitated. In these studies, foci formation was inhibited mainly by agents which modulate the initiation of carcinogenesis by altering drug-metabolizing enzymes, inhibiting the binding of benzo[a]pyrene to DNA, enhancing detoxification of activated carcinogens, or by inducing epithelial cell differentiation. Such agents include antioxidants, free radical scavengers, glutathione S-transferase enhancers, vitamins, retinoids, and sulfhydryl compounds. Agents which inhibit ornithine decarboxylase and arachidonic acid metabolism were not as effective. The RTE assay provides important data for agent selection prior to whole animal-screening assays in the development of chemoprevention drugs.

Animals↗

A flow cytometric assay using mepacrine for study of uptake and release of platelet dense granule contents.

Diagnosis of platelet dense granule storage pool disease and release defects at present requires a combination of studies including lumiaggregometry, conventional platelet aggregation, radioactive serotonin uptake and release, and electron microscopy. Flow cytometric methods have been developed to study platelet activation, aggregation, and alpha-granule protein release. Here, we have investigated the use of flow cytometry for analysis of platelet dense granule content uptake and release using mepacrine as a fluorescent marker. Mepacrine (quinacrine) is rapidly taken up and localized in dense granules of platelets. For the assay, as little as 20 microliters of blood from a fingerstick collected without anticoagulant or venous blood collected in 3.8% sodium citrate were diluted 1:40 with 2 ml Hanks balanced salt solution (BSS). 300 microliters of this cell suspension were incubated with mepacrine alone, or simultaneously with a mouse monoclonal antibody to human platelet glycoprotein IIb (Tab), used as a platelet-specific marker. The bound monoclonal antibody was then indirectly labelled with the fluorochrome, RED670. 100 microliters of the sample were further diluted with Hanks BSS for one- or two-colour flow cytometric analysis. To verify that mepacrine uptake was related to platelet dense granule content, platelets of beige mice, a strain with dense granule deficiency, were examined. Their mepacrine uptake was substantially decreased compared to that of normal mice. Decreased mepacrine uptake also was demonstrated in platelets of a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in which a deficiency of platelet dense granules is characteristic. In both human and mouse platelets, mepacrine uptake was proportional to platelet size. Thrombin induced mepacrine release in a dose-dependent manner from 0.003 to 0.4 U/ml. Therefore both platelet uptake and release of mepacrine can be readily detected by flow cytometry. Flow cytometry provides an attractive alternative to aggregation and radioactive serotonin as methods to study defects in platelet dense granule function.

Animals↗

Modified thrombopoietic response to 5-FU in mice following transplantation of Lin-Sca-1+ bone marrow cells.

An experimental murine model of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been used to study the mechanisms of platelet production following transplantation. A defined primitive population of hematopoietic bone marrow cells (1000 Lin-Sca-1+) was isolated and transplanted into lethally irradiated (13 Gy) syngeneic recipient mice. Platelet counts, but neither red nor white blood cell (WBC) counts, were low 30 days after transplantation. By 90 days, platelet levels had normalized in transplanted mice, but this occurred from a reduced megakaryocyte progenitor (CFU-Mk) pool, implying that altered bone marrow control was involved in platelet production. To assess the capacity of the bone marrow of these compensated mice to sustain platelet production, the rate and degree of recovery were examined following administration of 150 mg/kg of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 90 days after transplantation. Transplanted mice showed a delay, both in platelet recovery and rebound thrombocytosis, after 5-FU administration when compared to normal littermates treated with 5-FU. The regeneration and expansion of bone marrow CFU-Mk and mature megakaryocytes was retarded in the transplanted mice and explained the altered platelet kinetics. The onset of increased platelet and mature megakaryocyte size, however, was not different between the two groups, indicating that the transplanted mice responded normally to the mechanisms controlling megakaryocyte development and platelet formation. The data suggest that following BMT a limitation in the proliferative capacity of primitive hematopoietic cells results in a smaller pool of megakaryocyte precursors. Compensatory adjustment within the megakaryocyte lineage, nevertheless, results in normalization of megakaryocyte and platelet number. The ability of transplanted mice to sustain platelet production when challenged with increased platelet demand is not limited by megakaryocytic maturation but by a restriction in proliferation or differentiation from the stem cell pool.

Animals↗

Compensatory mechanisms in platelet production: lack of a paracrine response in W/Wv mice treated with 5-fluorouracil.

W/Wv mice maintain normal platelet levels despite having a reduced functional stem cell pool, indicating that platelet production in these mice is compensated by altered megakaryocytopoiesis. In this study the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment on platelet production in W/Wv mice and their congenic normal littermates was assessed. Recovery of circulating platelet levels occurred 11 days after 5-FU administration in W/Wv mice and subsequently did not increase above control values. In contrast, normal littermates showed an increased platelet count by day 8 and significant thrombocytosis between days 11 and 14. Investigation of bone marrow megakaryocytopoiesis in W/Wv mice showed there was no recovery in the number of megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-Meg) per femur between days 3 and 5, but control values were reached by day 10. In addition, by day 8 the number of mature megakaryocytes per unit volume of bone marrow in these mice had not returned to control values, although the megakaryocytes were of an increased size. In comparison, the number of CFU-Meg per femur in normal mice treated with 5-FU began to recover after day 3, returned to control values by day 8 and increased to supranormal levels by day 14. Bone marrow megakaryocyte concentration was increased 2-fold over the control by day 8 and an increase in mean megakaryocyte size was also observed. The data suggest that platelet production in mice is dependent on the rate of establishment of both the progenitor cell and megakaryocyte pools. The inability of W/Wv mice to enhance and accelerate progenitor cell levels led to a reduced bone marrow response and failure to produce a marked thrombocytosis.

Animals↗

Inhibition of transformation in cultured rat tracheal epithelial cells by potential chemopreventive agents.

Twenty-eight compounds were screened for chemopreventive activity by using a rat tracheal epithelial cell transformation inhibition assay. In this new assay, chemicals were tested for their ability to inhibit the formation of transformed rat tracheal epithelial cell colonies which arise following exposure to the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene. The 15 positive compounds were N-acetylcysteine, bismuththiol, calcium glucarate, (+/-) catechin, diallyl disulfide, glycaric acid, D-glucaro-1,4-lactone, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide, D-limonene, mesna, retinoic acid, rutin, quercetin, silymarin, and taurine. In examining the nature of compounds that inhibited rat tracheal epithelial cell transformation, several possible chemopreventive mechanisms appeared to be predominant: compounds that were positive (a) increased glutathione levels or enhanced conjugation; (b) increased cytochrome P-450 activity; (c) displayed nucleophilic activity; or (d) induced differentiation. Thirteen compounds were negative in the rat tracheal epithelial transformation inhibition assay: crocetin, difluoromethylornithine, ellagic acid, esculetin, enoxalone, ibuprofen, levamisole, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate, piroxicam, sodium butyrate, D-alpha-tocopherol acetate, and polyethylene glycol 400. It was evident from these results that this assay would not detect compounds that were (a) anti-promoting in nature; (b) glutathione inhibitors; (c) differentiation inhibitors; (d) O6-methylguanine inhibitors; (e) organ specific; or (f) inactive. The rat tracheal epithelial cell transformation inhibition assay appeared to identify chemopreventive compounds that act at early stages of the carcinogenic process.

Animals↗

Evaluation of a rat tracheal epithelial cell culture assay system to identify respiratory carcinogens.

To evaluate a short-term epithelial cell assay system to detect respiratory carcinogens, primary cultures of rat tracheal epithelial cells were exposed to a series of 17 compounds and scored for morphologically transformed cell colonies 28 days later. The test compounds included known carcinogens and noncarcinogens in volatile or liquids form. Tracheal epithelial cells were isolated from F344 rats, plated onto collagen-coated dishes, and exposed to the test compounds on day 1 for 24 hours. At day 30 the cultures were fixed, stained, and scored for colonies having a density greater than 1,300 cells/min2. With standardized protocols, such colonies are very infrequent in media and solvent control cultures. Concentration levels for each chemical were chosen over a range from nontoxic to toxic levels. Highly positive compounds in this assay included benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(l)acean-thyrlene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and formaldehyde. Compounds which were negative in this assay included pyrene, benzo(e)pyrene, and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide. Examining the concordance of in vitro results with whole animal carcinogenesis studies revealed an accuracy of 88% with one false-positive and one false-negative compound. The results of these studies indicate that the rat tracheal epithelial cell assay may be useful in identifying potential respiratory carcinogens in our environment.

Animals↗

In vivo and in vitro characteristics of early carcinogen-induced premalignant phenotypes in cultured rat tracheal epithelial cells.

The initial stages of neoplastic transformation in respiratory tract epithelial cells were defined and studied by characterizing a series of morphologically transformed cell colonies from carcinogen-exposed rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cell cultures both in vivo and in vitro. RTE cells were isolated from Fischer 344 rats, plated on collagen-coated dishes, and exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene on day 1 for 24 h. Between days 26 and 30, single colonies of morphologically altered cells were isolated and classified into three major classes based on cell density. Following replating, the cells were tested for their ability to grow on various substrates and in various culture media. Generally, Class II and III cells exhibited a higher colony forming efficiency when replated on various substrates. Class III cells appeared to grow better than Class I or II cells in complete medium, while Class I cells grew better in medium without 3T3 conditioning factors. At early passage levels, the population doubling times were longer for Class I cells than for Class II cells. Class III cells had the shortest population doubling times. The various cell lines were also placed into denuded tracheal grafts. Untreated cells produced a normal mucociliary epithelium, while Class I cells produced a simple cuboidal epithelium. Class II and III cells formed a highly atypical and usually malignant epithelia. Inoculation of the three classes of cells into nude mice provided confirming evidence of the benign nature of Class I cell lines and the malignant nature of some Class II cell lines and all of the Class III cell lines.

Animals↗

Colony formation enhancement of rat tracheal and nasal epithelial cells by polyacetate, indole alkaloid, and phorbol ester tumor promoters.

The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), teleocidin and two polyacetate tumor promoters (aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin) have been tested for their effect on colony forming efficiency (CFE) of rat tracheal and nasal turbinate epithelial cells. In rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells, all four compounds stimulated colony formation by up to 8-fold using picomolar concentrations of aplysiatoxin and teleocidin, whereas TPA and debromoaplysiatoxin were effective in the nanomolar range. In addition, teleocidin and the other promoters increased the number of cells in colonies by 3- to 5-fold resulting in larger colonies, most notably above concentrations that maximally stimulated CFE. In contrast, rat nasal epithelial cells were only marginally stimulated by these tumor promoters to form colonies. The results indicate that there is regional specificity in responses to tumor promoters and RTE cells can act as very sensitive biological indicators of the presence of these three classes of tumor promoters with diverse structure.

Animals↗

Isolation and long-term culture of rat, rabbit, and human nasal turbinate epithelial cells.

Nasal turbinate epithelial cells were isolated from rats, rabbits, and humans using either a surgical or an in situ enzyme incubation technique. The culture conditions that permit optimal cell attachment and selective growth of the nasal epithelial cells were determined. These conditions will permit the long-term culture of these cells where typically 20 to 30 population doublings were observed. Differences between rat and human nasal epithelial cells were seen in substrate requirements, colony-forming efficiency, and response to fetal bovine serum and bovine serum albumin. These methodology and results will permit mechanistic studies of normal and abnormal cellular function and comparative response studies between nasal epithelial cells from rats and humans.

Animals↗