title: Neuroblastic differentiation potential of the human retinoblastoma cell lines Y-79 and WERI-Rb1 maintained in an organ culture system. An immunohistochemical, electron microscopic, and biochemical study.
abstract: The differentiation potential of the human retinoblastoma cell lines Y-79 and WERI-Rb1 was evaluated in vitro for up to 120 days in a matrix system and in rotary suspension for 30 days. Matrix cultures were grown with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), with and without differentiation-promoting agents. The latter were applied for a total of 5-45 days (usually 30 days) and included 7S nerve growth factor, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, sodium butyrate, retinoic acid, hydrocortisone, and ascorbic acid. Fully defined, serum-free medium and medium containing 5 or 15% FCS were also used for matrix cultures, and medium with 5 or 10% FCS for suspension cultures. By immunoperoxidase (performed on matrix cultures, both untreated and treated for 30 days with differentiation-promoting agents), the cells of both lines were positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), class III beta-tubulin (human h beta 4) isotype, and synaptophysin. In addition, the WERI-Rb1 cells expressed 200 kd neurofilament protein (NFP-H) and retinal S-antigen. Both lines were invariably negative for glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, myelin basic protein, the epitope recognized by the Leu-7 monoclonal antibody, opsin, and hydroxy-indole-O-methyltransferase. In the Y-79 line the presence of NSE and the absence of NF proteins-H, -M and -L, of GFA protein, and of retinal S-antigen were confirmed biochemically. No differentiated features were found by electron microscopy in either line. Thus, in the matrix system employed, both lines exhibited solely a potential for neuroblastic differentiation, which was more advanced in the WERI-Rb1 line, as reflected by the antigenic expression of NFP-H and of retinal S-antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perentes
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Katsetos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Darcel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frankfurter
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Donoso
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Marangos
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Wiechmann
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure