Pluripotent embryonal carcinoma clones derived from the human teratocarcinoma cell line Tera-2. Differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract

We have derived and characterized single cell clones from a xenograft tumor of the teratocarcinoma cell line Tera-2. Isozyme and chromosomal analyses confirmed their common origin. When cultures of the clones were maintained at a high cell density, many cells exhibited a morphology and cell surface antigen phenotype typical of human embryonal carcinoma cells. These features included a high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, prominent nucleoli, and the expression of the globoseries glycolipid antigen SSEA-3. In addition, other cells, in many respects resembling these typical embryonal carcinoma cells, were distinguished by a marked tendency to accumulate cytoplasmic glycogen. Similar cells, together with more differentiated cells, were seen in low passage cultures of Tera-2 itself. When the clones were grown at a low cell density many cells assumed a larger, flatter shape, a few with multiple nucleoli. Also, the fucosylated lactosamine antigen SSEA-1 appeared on some cells, whereas expression of SSEA-3 and HLA-A,B,C tended to be reduced. Often the synthesis of fibronectin was increased. However, no obvious cytoplasmic differentiation was seen upon ultrastructural examination, and synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, and laminin was not detected. In contrast to the limited spontaneous changes seen in culture, marked differentiation occurred in tumors obtained following injection of the cells into athymic (nu/nu) mice. In additional to embryonal carcinoma cells, these tumors contained a variety of somatic tissues that included glandular structures, possibly related to the primitive gut, and neural elements. These cell lines derived from Tera-2 constitute the first example of clonal human embryonal carcinoma cells, adapted to growth in vitro, that have retained the capacity for differentiation into diverse somatic tissues.

• Authors: P W Andrews, I Damjanov, D Simon, G S Banting, C Carlin, N C Dracopoli, J Føgh
• Journal: Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology (Lab Invest) Vol. 50 Issue 2 Pg. 147-62 (Feb 1984) ISSN: 0023-6837 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6694356 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Surface

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Surface
• Cell Line
• Chromosome Aberrations
• Chromosome Disorders
• Clone Cells
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Phenotype
• Teratoma (pathology, ultrastructure)
• Transplantation, Heterologous