Quail embryo fibroblasts transformed by four v-myc-containing virus isolates show enhanced proliferation but are non tumorigenic.
Quail embryo fibroblasts infected with any of the four natural avian myc gene-containing virus strains (MC29, CMII, OK10 and MH2) or with the myb, ets-containing E26 acute leukemia virus, were examined for their expression of several transformation-associated parameters. All myc-containing viruses, but not E26 or Rous sarcoma virus (used as a control) induced a dramatic stimulation of cell proliferation. In addition, the myc virus-transformed cells exhibited prominent nucleoli, possibly as a consequence of their increased proliferation. Cells transformed by MC29, OK10, MH2 and E26 were capable of growing in semi-solid medium and showed a loss of actin cables and, in most cases, of an ordered fibronectin distribution. All of the myc virus-transformed fibroblasts, as well as the E26-transformed cells, were unable to form tumors in nude mice, indicating that the myc gene (and the myb/ets genes) are not sufficient for the induction of a fully malignant phenotype in avian fibroblasts.
D000818:Animals; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009857:Oncogenes; D011784:Quail; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous