title: Establishment and characterization of an osteopontin-null cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line.
abstract: Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted glycoprotein implicated to function in cancer development and metastasis. Although elevated expression of OPN are observed in cancer cells of various types, in some cases, only the cells in the stromal region surrounding the tumor express OPN, suggesting distinct functional roles for this protein derived from host cells and from cancer cells. To provide a model for addressing the functions and mechanisms of host-derived OPN in cancer progression and metastasis, a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell line (ONSC) that lacks the OPN gene, Spp1, was established. This line of cells was derived from a squamous cell carcinoma that developed in a female, OPN-null mouse subjected to two-stage skin carcinogenesis. Morphologically, ONSC cells resemble epithelial cells, and they express the epithelial markers, K1, K14, and p63, as confirmed by immunohistochemical analyses. Genomic analyses indicate the presence of mutated H-Ras and p53 genes. ONSC cells form colonies in soft agar and, subcutaneously injected into athymic nude mice, develop into squamous cell carcinomas that metastasize to the lungs. Lacking OPN expression, these squamous cell carcinoma cells provide a model to address the function of host OPN in the context of cancer progression and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, 311 Webb, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: M Margaret
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Juliana
authors.forename: Pi-Ling
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; C506896:Spp1 protein, mouse; D053495:Osteopontin