cytochalasin-b and Teratoma

When F9 teratocarcinoma cells are treated with retinoic acid plus cyclic AMP (RACF9) they differentiate into parietal endoderm. Differentiation is accompanied by the acquisition of substrate adhesion sites and a change in the pattern of gene expression, including the synthesis of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). We demonstrate here that dihydrocytochalasin B (DHCB) treatment of differentiating F9 cells prevents the assembly of a structured actin cytoskeleton and generates a more rounded and stellate cell morphology. This morphological change is accompanied by the accumulation of the usually visceral endoderm-specific marker urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and an increase in tPA levels in comparison to untreated RACF9 controls. The increase in tPA accumulation is preceded by an increase in tPA mRNA levels. These effects are reversible, with a lag, when DHCB is removed, and PA accumulation can be stimulated within 24 h when differentiated cells are exposed to DHCB. Exposure to the microtubule disrupting agent colchicine has no effect on uPA or tPA accumulation. In addition, antibody directed against the beta 1 integrin subunit can also specifically elicit increased PA production. Thus disturbing the cytoskeleton and cytoskeleton associated substrate adhesions promotes PA accumulation.

Topics: Actins; Animals; Colchicine; Cyclic AMP; Cytochalasin B; Cytoskeleton; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Endoderm; Extracellular Matrix; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gene Expression; Immune Sera; Integrins; Plasminogen Activators; RNA, Messenger; Teratoma; Time Factors; Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Tretinoin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Activated macrophages kill several types of tumor cells in vitro, whereas non-activated macrophages lack this capacity. We, however, observed that non-activated macrophages efficiently kill F9 teratocarcinoma as well as other teratocarcinoma cell lines. Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid known to prevent macrophage activation, did not perturb the killing of F9 teratocarcinoma cells. Neither tumor necrosis factor alpha, nor the reactive oxygen intermediates, i.e. hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical, nor serine proteases participated in this killing, shown by employing various agents which interfere with their production, secretion, or function. Using acridine orange/ethidium bromide vitality staining, the F9 teratocarcinoma cells were shown to be phagocytized alive by macrophages and subsequently killed intracellularly. Intact lysosomal function is required for the killing of F9 cells, as the lysosomotropic drugs chloroquine and ammonium chloride markedly inhibited this killing without perturbing their engulfment. The signal transduction pathway induced in the macrophages upon interaction with F9 teratocarcinoma cells seems to differ from that induced by macrophage activation. Neither the protein kinase C inhibitors polymyxin B and H-7 [1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methyl piperazine] nor the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate affected the killing of F9 cells. However, chlorpromazine (a powerful inhibitor of calmodulin), dibutyryl cAMP (a cAMP analog), and prostaglandin E2 inhibited the macrophage-mediated killing of F9 cells. In vivo studies indicate that an increased number of macrophages at the F9 tumor inoculation site (the peritoneal cavity) as a result of elicitation by thioglycollate prevents F9 tumor development. Our findings indicate that non-activated macrophages kill teratocarcinoma cells using a mechanism which differs from that employed by activated macrophages in the killing of other tumor cells.

Topics: Animals; Cytochalasin B; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; In Vitro Techniques; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Phagocytosis; Signal Transduction; Teratoma; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Verapamil

H6 embryonal carcinoma cells form aggregates of cells in culture medium which contains 2 mM calcium. These aggregates are described as uncompacted, indicating that the individual cells of the aggregate are spherical and are in limited contact with each other. In contrast, compaction of the aggregate, induced by increasing the calcium concentration, results in a tight mass of cells flattened against one another and connected by intercellular junctions. At least 85-97% of the aggregates undergo compaction in 7 mM calcium and are subsequently decompacted if removed to 2 mM calcium. Since calcium ionophore A23187 does not induce compaction, extracellular rather than intracellular calcium seems to be the limiting factor. We have demonstrated that this calcium-induced morphogenetic change is sensitive to inhibition by agents which also prevent the calcium-dependent compaction of the 8-cell mouse embryo. The cytoskeletal-binding drugs tetracaine HCl, colcemid, vinblastine, colchicine, and cytochalasin B each inhibit compaction of H6 aggregates. Interference at surface molecule sites by exposure to the lectins wheat germ agglutinin or concanavalin A or by interruption of glycosylation with exposure to tunicamycin, or by reaction with anti-H6 Fab or anti-F9, also prevent compaction. Since the mouse embryo and embryonal carcinoma cells share certain processes which are involved in initiating and maintaining compaction, these processes and their subsequent roles in differentiation may be examined using embryonal carcinoma cell aggregates.

Topics: Animals; Calcimycin; Calcium; Cell Adhesion; Cell Aggregation; Cell Line; Cytochalasin B; Intercellular Junctions; Lectins; Mice; Microscopy, Electron; Teratoma; Tetracaine

Topics: Animals; Blastocyst; Cell Differentiation; Chimera; Cytochalasin B; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fertilization; Genetics; Homozygote; Hybrid Cells; Hybridization, Genetic; Male; Mice; Microsurgery; Morula; Nuclear Transfer Techniques; Pregnancy; Teratoma; Transplantation, Homologous

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Cytochalasin B; Fibroblasts; Fluoresceins; Humans; Mice; Skin; Staining and Labeling; Teratoma