Avian myelocytomatosis virus immortalizes differentiated quail chondrocytes.
Quail embryo chondrocytes in culture display two morphological phenotypes: polygonal epithelial-like and floating cells. Both cell populations synthesize cartilage extracellular matrix proteins (type II collagen and specific proteoglycans), whereas type X collagen, which appears to be a marker of later stages of chondrocyte differentiation, is expressed only by the epithelial-like cells. Avian myelocytomatosis virus strain MC29 does not induce morphological transformation in quail embryo chondrocytes but stimulates these cells to proliferate with a progressively reduced doubling time. MC29-infected chondrocytes can be established in culture as a continuous cell line, whereas control (uninfected) cultures only survive a few months. Rapidly dividing MC29-infected chondrocytes still express type II collagen and cartilage proteoglycans but do not synthesize type X collagen.
Gionti
E
E
Pontarelli
G
G
Cancedda
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009857:Oncogenes; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011784:Quail
D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen