title: Generation of a human melanocyte cell line by introduction of HPV16 E6 and E7 genes.
abstract: Availability of a standard human melanocyte cell line with unlimited growth potential and otherwise normal melanocytic properties will greatly facilitate research in melanocyte biology and in vitro studies on the etiology of pigmentary disorders and melanoma. Using a retroviral vector, E6 and E7 open reading frames of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV 16) have been introduced into cultured normal human melanocytes. Cells selected by increased resistance to geneticin conveyed by the vector and expressing E6E7 mRNA have been cloned to ensure genetic homogeneity. Since their establishment as primary cells, cloned PIG1 cells have undergone more than twice the amount of population doublings of senescent parental cells. Moreover, in passage numbers when parental cells had become senescent, proliferation of clonal cells was retained at levels exceeding those of normal human melanocytes in third passage by 100%. Further characterization has revealed that the cells remain dependent on tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for growth and do not proliferate in soft agar nor form tumors in nude mice. The antigenic profile of the cells was slightly altered as compared to parental cells, but was incomparable to that of M14 melanoma cells. Importantly, PIG1 cells contain more melanin pigment than parental cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Le Poole
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: van den Wijngaard
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Amstel
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Buffing
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Westerhof
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002999:Clone Cells; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011003:Ploidies; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C068651:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D008543:Melanins; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate