title: Neural stem cell-like gene expression in a mouse ependymoma cell line transformed by human BK polyomavirus.
abstract: Ependymomas often show characteristics similar to those of neural stem cells in vivo and in vitro. However, few ependymoma cell lines that exhibit neural stem cell-like properties have been reported. In this study, we have characterized a novel cell line, designated Vn19, established from ependymoma that arose in mice inoculated intracerebrally with human BK polyomavirus. Transplanted Vn19 cells in nude mice ubiquitously expressed viral large T antigen in the nucleus and coexpressed neuronal and glial marker proteins in vivo. Remarkably, individual Vn19 cells in dispersed cultures simultaneously expressed marker proteins of neural stem cells (nestin, Bmi1, CD133), neurons (βIII tubulin, neurofilament-M) and glial cells (glial fibrillary acidic protein, A2B5, S100β, O4). Ubiquitous and homogenous expression of these multilineage marker proteins was also observed in cloned Vn19 cells. The Vn19 cells formed neurosphere-like aggregates when cultured in the presence of growth factors. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of mRNA for nestin, neurofilament-H and glial fibrillary acidic protein significantly increased in Vn19 cells cultured under growth factor-deprived conditions. Among MAGE (melanoma antigen) family genes, MAGE-A (A1-8), MAGE-B (B1-3), MAGE-D1, MAGE-E1, MAGE-G1 (necdin-like 2) and MAGE-H1 were expressed in the Vn19 cells, in which neither necdin nor MAGEL2 was detectable. These results suggest that this murine ependymoma cell line recapitulates the gene expression profile in ependymal cells undergoing malignant transformation.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkumo
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001739:BK Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015415:Biomarkers; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C489421:Bmi1 protein, mouse; C088334:Distal-less homeobox proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D058950:Melanoma-Specific Antigens; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C528900:glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1