Neoplastic transformation and tumorigenesis associated with overexpression of IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 genes in cultured NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts.
Immortalization-upregulated protein 1 (IMUP-1) and immortalization-upregulated protein 2 (IMUP-2) genes have been recently cloned and are known to be involved in SV40-mediated immortalization. IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 genes were strongly expressed in various cancer cell lines and tumors, suggesting the possibility that they might be involved in tumorigenicity. To directly elucidate the functional role of IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 on neoplastic transformation and tumorigenicity, we stably transfected IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 into NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Cellular characteristics of the neoplastic transformation were assessed by transformation foci, growth in soft agar, and tumor development in nude mice. We found that IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 overexpressing cells showed altered growth properties, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and inducing tumor in nude mice. Furthermore, IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 transformants proliferated in reduced serum and shortened cell cycle. These results suggest that ectopic overexpression of IMUP-1 and IMUP-2 may play an important role in acquiring a transformed phenotype, tumorigenicity in vivo, and be related to cellular proliferation.
Ryoo
Zae Young
ZY
School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea. jaewoong64@hanmail.net <jaewoong64@hanmail.net>
Jung
Boo Kyoung
BK
Lee
Sang Ryeul
SR
Kim
Myoung Ok
MO
Kim
Sung Hyun
SH
Kim
Hyo Jin
HJ
Ahn
Jung Yong
JY
Lee
Tae-Hoon
TH
Cho
Youl Hee
YH
Park
Jae Hak
JH
Kim
Jin Kyeoung
JK
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044967:Serum; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D003470:Culture Media; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors