title: Transfection and stable transformation of adult mouse Schwann cells with SV-40 large T antigen gene.
abstract: Cultured Schwann cells derived from adult mouse dorsal root ganglia and peripheral nerves were transfected with a plasmid containing SV-40 large T antigen gene, and 25 colonies of stable transformants were obtained, one of which was expanded and recloned. This transfected cell line, designated MS1, expressed SV-40 large T antigen and showed continuous cell growth with a doubling time of 27 hours. The MS1 cells had distinct Schwann cell phenotypes such as S-100 protein, laminin, 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and P0 protein, as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. When MS1 cells were exposed to dibutyryl cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (dbc AMP), they extended long bipolar processes two- to ten-fold longer than those of untreated MS1 cells and frequently formed whorl-like alignments similar to palisade formations or organoid patterns observed in human Schwannomas and neurofibromas. These results suggest that transformed Schwann cells can be a useful model for analyzing regulatory mechanisms of Schwann cells, neuron-Schwann cell interactions and experimental Schwann cell neoplasms in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D003994:Bucladesine