The enhancement of c-myc expression in cultured epithelial cells by some cytotoxic metals.
The toxic or carcinogenic metal ions Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+) and Be(2+) are known to be potent inhibitors of cell division in cultured cells. The effects of these metal ions on the biphasic expression of the cell proliferation-associated proto-oncogene c-myc, have now been examined in epithelial cells (BL9L) derived from rat liver, using mRNA hybridization analysis following serum stimulation of synchronized (G(0)/G(1) cell cycle phase) confluent (quiescent) and non-confluent (proliferating) monolayer cultures. Exposure of the cells under these conditions to antiproliferative concentrations of BeSO(4) (50-100 mum), NiCl(2) (50 mum), CoCl(2) (50 mum), HgCl(2) (20-50 mum) or CdCl(2) (5-10 mum) showed that whereas Be(2+), Cd(2+) and Hg(2+) further increased steady-state c-myc mRNA levels throughout the treatment period, particularly in non-confluent cultures (two- to eight-fold enhancement), Co(2+) and Ni(2+) did not have a significant effect. In contrast, mRNA transcripts for constantly expressed cytoskeletal actin were essentially unchanged by all the metal ion treatments of the cells. The extent of the enhanced c-myc expression maintained in the cells by Be(2+), Cd(2+) or Hg(2+) treatment could also be broadly correlated with the degree of cell detachment from the culture dishes, which was ultimately produced within 20-24 hr. RNA and protein synthesis inhibitor studies indicate that the cytotoxic metal ions either directly or indirectly modify the normal control mechanisms for c-myc expression. It is concluded that an enhanced c-myc expression is a feature of the cells' response to certain cytotoxic metal ions, the magnitude of which may also be a potential index of pending cell damage.
Skilleter
D N
DN
MRC Toxicology Unit, Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 4EF, UK.
Price
R J
RJ
McNerney
R
R