Janet L. Cooper

To define the role of SV40 large T antigen in the transformation and immortalization of human cells, we have constructed a plasmid lacking most of the unique coding sequences of small t antigen as well as the SV40 origin of replication. The promoter for T antigen, which lies within the origin of replication, was deleted and replaced by the Rous sarcoma virus promoter. This minimal construct was co-electroporated into normal human fibroblasts of neonatal origin along with a plasmid containing the neomycin resistance gene (neo). Three G418-resistant, T antigen-positive clones were expanded and compared to three T antigen-positive clones that received the pSV3neo plasmid (capable of expressing large and small T proteins and having two origins of replication). Autonomous replication of plasmid DNA was observed in all three clones that received pSV3neo but not in any of the three origin minus clones. Immediately after clonal expansion, several parameters of neoplastic transformation were assayed. Low percentages of cells in T antigen-positive populations were anchorage independent or capable of forming colonies in 1% fetal bovine serum. The T antigen-positive clones generally exhibited an extended lifespan in culture but rarely became immortalized. Large numbers of dead cells were continually generated in all T antigen-positive, pre-crisis populations. Ninety-nine percent of all T antigen-positive cells had numerical or structural chromosome aberrations. Control cells that received the neo gene did not have an extended life span, did not have noticeable numbers of dead cells, and did not exhibit karyotype instability. We suggest that the role of T antigen protein in the transformation process is to generate genetic hypervariability, leading to various consequences including neoplastic transformation and cell death.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) or the functionally related N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide caused a rapid decrease in binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) that was due to a specific decrease in receptor affinity. The decrease in ligand binding was observed when cells were exposed to CPZ at either 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C but a rapid reversal of CPZs effects was observed only during a 37 degrees C incubation. In contrast to the decrease in 125I-EGF binding seen after short (30 min) accumulations at 37 degrees C, the presence of CPZ caused a large increase in the amount of cell-associated radioactivity after longer periods (over 1 h) of accumulation. Although the CPZ-induced effect was similar in extent to that observed after the addition of methylamine, the increased accumulation after CPZ was probably not due to a nonspecific ionic neutralization of the lysosomes. CPZ did not lower EGF binding in cultures chronically treated with a phorbol ester to reduce protein kinase C levels, although the CPZ-induced increases in accumulation were still observed in cells with reduced protein kinase C activity.

Human dermal fibroblasts arrested in G0 by maintenance in medium supplemented with 0.1% serum were not restimulated to divide when fresh medium containing 10% dialyzed serum but lacking group B amino acids (cystine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine and tyrosine) was added. Unlike rodent cells, the addition of fresh serum-supplemented medium lacking only isoleucine did not cause a growth arrest. The amino acid sensitive growth arrest in human fibroblasts was dependent both on presynchronization in G0 as well as a prestarvation for amino acids prior to stimulation with high serum. When cells were restimulated in the absence of amino acids, they arrested predominantly in G1, although a small percentage of cells entered early S phase. When medium containing a complete complement of amino acids was then added, cells initiated DNA synthesis following a minimum lag of 2-3 hr. Growth arrested cells initiated DNA synthesis even when complete unsupplemented medium was added, although the addition of high concentrations of insulin or 10% serum increased the rate of entry.

Incubation of cells with labelled hormone in the presence of the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine produces an enhanced intracellular accumulation of hormone and receptor. Using a pulse-chase paradigm in which cell surface receptors were labelled with 125I-EGF at 4 degrees C, it was found that when 100 microM chloroquine was present in the 37 degrees C chase medium intact hormone was accumulated in the medium. Without chloroquine, low molecular weight (mw) degradation products were found in the medium. The processes of receptor-mediated endocytosis and subcellular distribution of 125I-EGF-receptor complexes were unchanged by chloroquine. The source of the intact hormone accumulating in the medium was therefore an intracellular compartment(s). The 125I-EGF released from the cells could rebind to surface receptors and be re-internalized; rebinding was inhibited by unlabelled EGF or Concanavalin A in the incubation medium. The concentration of unlabelled EGF required to inhibit rebinding was more than three orders of magnitude greater than the amount of 125I-EGF whose rebinding was inhibited. Thus, the 125I-EGF released from intracellular sites was rebound preferentially over exogenous EGF. The possible pathways for secretion of intact 125I-EGF and mechanisms of its preferential rebinding are discussed.

Journal Article Simple approach to dosage adjustment in patients with renal impairment Get access James P. McCormack, Pharm.D., James P. McCormack, Pharm.D. Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Clinical Pharmacist, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver Address reprint requests to Dr. McCormack at the Pharmacy Department, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6, or to jmccorma@unixg.ubc.ca. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Janet Cooper, Janet Cooper Practice Development Pharmacist Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Bruce Carleton, Pharm.D. Bruce Carleton, Pharm.D. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UBC, Director Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research Program, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Volume 54, Issue 21, 1 November 1997, Pages 2505–2509, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/54.21.2505 Published: 01 November 1997