title: Dexamethasone effects on induction of neoplastic transformation by Fujinami sarcoma virus in an in vitro chick embryo periosteal model for osteosarcoma.
abstract: Recently we have developed a model in vitro system for the study of factors regulating the histogenesis of osteosarcoma. In this system, Fujinami sarcoma virus (FSV) induces osteosarcomatous changes such as increased cell proliferation and altered patterns of bone and nonmineralized matrix (osteoid) formation. Such changes can be quantitated at the individual cell level, by computer-assisted morphometry. Here we report on the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on FSV-induced neoplastic transformation and osteogenesis in chick embryonic periosteum cultures, as reflected by a series of histopathological parameters. Most significantly, it was found that compared to 10(-9) M DEX treated cultures, in 10(-7) M DEX pretreated cultures, the bone/osteoid ratio was increased due to a relative increase in the area of bone and a decrease in the area of osteoid. The number of [3H]thymidine-labeled cells decreased significantly, while the proportion of alkaline phosphatase positive cells increased. Double-label immunohistochemistry (with anti-P140gag-fps) and histochemistry for alkaline phosphatase activity was performed, to demonstrate production of the oncogene-encoded protein, and osteoblastic differentiation, respectively. In an in vitro transformation assay single cells derived from 10(-9) M DEX treated cultures formed a significantly higher number of colonies than those obtained from 10(-7) M DEX pretreated cultures. Taken together, the data indicate that in the chick embryonic periosteum culture system, pretreatment with 10(-7) M DEX inhibits the ability of FSV to induce neoplastic transformation. This effect is probably the result of DEX-induced cell differentiation, prior to infection with FSV.
authors.affiliation: Connective Tissue Research Group, Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pawson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McCulloch
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tenenbaum
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009857:Oncogenes; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000382:microbiology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013936:Thymidine