Peritubular cells are the site of erythropoietin synthesis in the murine hypoxic kidney.

Erythropoietin (Epo)-producing cells were identified in the murine hypoxic kidney by in situ hybridization. Profound anemia was induced in order to greatly increase Epo production. This resulted in high levels of Epo mRNA in the kidney. 35S-labeled DNA fragments of the murine Epo gene were used as probes for in situ hybridization. Control experiments conducted in parallel included kidneys of nonanemic mice, RNase-treated hypoxic kidney sections, and 35S-labeled non-Epo-related DNA. The Epo probe gave a specific hybridization signal in the hypoxic kidney in the cortex and to a lesser extent in the outer medulla. Glomerular and tubular cells were not labeled. All positive cells were identified as peritubular cells. Using immunofluorescence, we showed that cells with the same topography contained Factor VIII-related antigen. These data demonstrated that peritubular cells, most likely endothelial cells, constitute the major site of Epo production in the murine hypoxic kidney.

Target cell of the polycythemia-inducing Friend virus: studies with myleran.

A single injection of Myleran reduced the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell, i.e., colony forming unit(s) (CFU), and the erythropoietin-responsive cell (ERC) in polycythemic mice to around 0.5% that of the controls. Repeated injections of erythropoietin (EP) restored ERC populations, whereas the CFU remained at very low levels. This selective action of Myleran and EP in polycythemic mice seemed to be a good approach for the study of oncogenic action of Friend virus on target cells. When the CFU and ERC compartments were decreased, practically no response to the virus was obtained. When there was an appreciable ERC population present with decreased CFU, leukemogenesis still occurred (as judged by the increased spleen weight). This result was in proportion to the dose of EP, i.e., stimulation of the ERC or closely related cells.

Detection of tumorigenic cells in Friend virus-infected mice: an in vivo methodological investigation.

Tumor formation by subcutaneous transplants of spleens from erythroleukemic mice infected with Friend virus complex inducing polycythemia (FLV-P) is successful only during the late phase of the disease. To determine whether this observation is due to the absence of tumorigenic cells in the early phase of such leukemia or to the inability of standard procedures to detect these cells, the sensitivities of different routes of inoculation in sublethally irradiated or unirradiated syngeneic recipients were examined. The omentum of the sublethally irradiated mouse was found to be a suitable site for the homing and proliferation of recently isolated tumorigenic cells from FLV-P-infected mice, since it proved 1,000 times more sensitive than the usual subcutaneous sites in unirradiated mice. When this sensitive graft in the omentum was applied to detection of tumorigenic cells in the spleens of FLV-P-infected mice, the mean detection time was 20 days after virus infection, compared to 36 days with the usual subcutaneous graft method.

Alternative splicing of the Evi-1 zinc finger gene generates mRNAs which differ by the number of zinc finger motifs.

Evi-1 is a common integration site for endogenous ecotropic virus in myeloid leukemias of the AKXD mouse strain. This gene encodes a zinc finger protein with ten finger motifs. Myeloblastic leukemias obtained after infection with F-MuLV frequently exhibit proviral integration in the Fim-3 region which is genetically linked to Evi-1. This proviral integration always results in the expression of two mRNA transcripts, 5.7 kb and 4.7 kb long. We isolated two classes of cDNAs from a myeloblastic cell line with a F-MuLV provirus integrated in Fim-3. By sequence analysis, we found that one Evi-1 cDNA (E29) had an internal deletion of 972 nucleotides when compared to the full-length sequence previously published by Morishita et al. (1988). This deletion eliminated the 6th and 7th Evi-1 finger domains and was bordered by consensus donor and acceptor splice sequences. The E29 clone most likely resulted from alternative splicing of the Evi-1 gene. This was confirmed by Northern blot analysis and S1 mapping experiments. Therefore, the Evi-1 gene codes potentially for at least two proteins of 1042 and 718 amino acids differing in the numbers of their zinc-finger motifs.

The putative oncogene Spi-1: murine chromosomal localization and transcriptional activation in murine acute erythroleukemias.

We have shown previously that spleen focus forming virus integration near the Spi-1 putative oncogene is observed in 95% of erythroid Friend tumors (Moreau-Gachelin et al., 1988). Here we describe how the proviral insertion in the Spi-1 domain is associated with the enhanced transcription of a 1.4 kb mRNA normally expressed at a low level in normal cells. The gene is localized on murine chromosome 2, band E3. The structure of the Spi-1 gene was determined by sequencing genomic and cDNA clones. The gene has an open reading frame encoding a protein of 218 amino acids, extending over five exons. Proviruses always integrate outside, upstream and in the opposite orientation of the protein-encoding domain. This suggests that SFFV integration activates the expression of Spi-2 gene that may contribute to the erythroleukemic process.

Elevated level of p60c-src in virus-transformed murine megakaryocytic cell lines.

Megakaryocytic cell lines derived from mouse bone marrow cells transformed by the Myeloproliferative Leukemia Virus (MPLV) contain elevated levels of p60c-src. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of a 4 kb normal sized c-src transcript only in MPLV-transformed megakaryocytic cell lines containing a high percentage of acetylcholinesterase positive cells (AChE+ greater than 10%), but not in MPLV-transformed erythroblastic or myeloblastic cell lines. The p60c-src protein was identified in lysates from in vivo labelled cells and in in vitro labelled membrane extracts by immunoblotting analysis and by immunoprecipitations with specific anti-src antibodies. In dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) treated cells, the number of AChE+ cells increased together with p60c-src kinase activity indicating a possible correlation between p60c-src expression/activity and megakaryocytic differentiation.

Myeloid progenitor cells transformed by the myeloproliferative leukemia virus proliferate and differentiate in vitro without the addition of growth factors.

The myeloproliferative leukemia virus (MPLV) is an acute leukemogenic, nonsarcomatogenic replication-defective murine retrovirus which carries a novel oncogene, termed mpl. We recently reported that both late and early erythroid progenitors from MPLV-infected mice acquire erythropoietin and growth factor independence. In the present study, we show that MPLV-infected pluripotent, granulomacrophage and megakaryocyte progenitor cells proliferated and differentiated in semisolid cultures in the absence of the exogenous growth factors which are absolutely required for colony formation of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. These factor-independent colonies were morphologically and cytologically similar to normal colonies and did not show any sign of impaired differentiation. Factor-independent colony formation was not influenced by the seeding density. MPLV-infected cells were unable to stimulate colony development of uninfected progenitors in coculture assays, and retransplanted clusters continued to grow in the absence of accessory cells. These data suggest that spontaneous colony formation does not result from a paracrine secretion of growth factors and indicate that MPLV is unique among naturally occurring murine retrovirus for its ability to abrogate the growth factor requirements of a broad spectrum of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Rearrangements of the Pim-1, c-myc, and p53 genes in Friend helper virus-induced mouse erythroleukemias.

The Friend helper leukemia virus (F-MuLV) induces in mice leukemias of the erythroid, lymphoid, and myeloblastic lineages. Erythroleukemic cell DNAs were examined for genetic alterations at loci described as common proviral integration regions in MuLV-induced myeloid or lymphoid leukemias or in Friend complex-induced erythroleukemias. No alteration of the Fim-1, Fim-2, Fim-3, pvt-1, and Spi-1 loci were detected in 17 erythroleukemias, p53 gene rearrangement was observed in 6 (30%) erythroleukemias and was always associated with a loss of the germ line allele. Interestingly, genetic alterations were also detected at two loci, c-myc and Pim-1, previously described as common provirus integration regions in T lymphoid leukemias. Rearrangements of these two genes were often associated with p53 gene alteration within the same tumor.

Early involvement of the fim-2 and fim-3 regions in mouse myeloblastic leukemogenesis.

Retroviruses lacking oncogenes induce tumors or leukemias after a long latency which generally exceeds several months. Cellular transformation most probably results from the activation of cellular oncogenes or putative proto-oncogenes due to proviral integration. Several genetic changes are likely to be necessary for the appearance of fully malignant cells. However, the sequence of genetic changes initiating and leading to malignant transformation is difficult to study since, in most experimental conditions, the only accessible cells are fully transformed cells. We have previously described an in vitro model of murine myeloblastic leukemogenesis during which several successive steps leading to fully malignant and transplantable cells have been identified. This in vitro transformation process develops over approximately a 1-year period. In this paper, we demonstrate that frequent cellular DNA rearrangements due to proviral integrations in specific regions occur early in the myeloblastic transformation process and remain stable throughout the in vitro leukemogenesis, and in tumors derived from in vitro fully transformed myeloblasts.

Spi-1 oncogene activation in Rauscher and Friend murine virus-induced acute erythroleukemias.

The Friend viruses, like the Rauscher virus, cause murine acute erythroleukemias which evolve in a similar multistep process. In previous studies it has been described that the late malignant proerythroblastic transformation induced by the polycythemia-inducing strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFVP) is correlated with Spi-1 oncogene activation by insertional mutagenesis. In this paper we report that Spi-1 genomic rearrangements were also observed in 90% of tumors induced by the anemia-inducing strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFVA) and in all Rauscher-induced tumors analyzed. SFFVA and Rauscher proviral insertions occurred in the viral integration cluster previously characterized in SFFVP-induced tumors. The Spi-1 1.4-Kb messenger RNA was found highly expressed in all SFFVA and Rauscher-induced malignant cells as compared to normal tissues. The nucleotide sequence of Spi-1 cDNA isolated from a library constructed from SFFVA-induced tumor cells revealed no difference between the Spi-1 gene transcripts expressed in both SFFVP and SFFVA-induced leukemic cells. These results indicate that Spi-1 gene activation is a general feature in the malignant proerythroblastic transformation which occurs in mice infected with Friend and Rauscher viruses.

Incapacity of hematopoietic stem cell-deprived mice to produce tumor colonies induced by Friend virus-infected cells.

The role of host hematopoietic stem cells in the formation of tumor colonies in the spleen of (C57BL/6 X DBA/2) F1 mice after grafts of spleen cells from Friend virus (FVP)-infected donors has been investigated. Hematopoietic stem cell compartments of recipient mice were destroyed by Myleran treatment or gamma-ray irradiation. A single injection of Myleran reduced the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (CFU) and the erythropoietin responsive cells (ERC) in polycythemic mice to around 1% of that of controls. Repeated injections of erythropoietin (EPO) restored the erythropoietic precursor cell (ERC) population. Pretreatment of polycythemic hosts with Myleran totally suppressed the tumor colony forming ability of grafted Friend virus-infected spleen cells, whereas it had no effect on tumor colonies produced by inoculation of true tumoral Friend cells. After EPO injections in such Myleran-treated recipients, with a consequent appreciable ERC repopulation, splenic colonies again occurred. Similar results were obtained in hosts whose ERC populations were damaged by irradiation. These data strongly suggest that splenic colonies result from the proliferation of the host cells transformed by virus released by Friend virus-infected cells and not from the proliferation of donor tumor cells.

Production of erythropoietin by cloned malignant murine erythroid cells.

A specific immunological assay was used to demonstrate that the erythropoietic factor produced by the recently described FMuLV-induced murine erythroleukemic cell line IW32 is an authentic erythropoietin (epo). Several independent virus-induced erythroleukemic and myeloblastic cell lines were tested for epo production. Among six erythroleukemic cell lines induced by FMuLV, another (NN10) was shown to produce epo by biological and immunological assays. Four Friend-virus-induced erythroleukemias and four FMuLV-induced myeloblastic cells were negative. The amounts of epo produced were similar in IW32 and NN10 supernatants after 48 h in culture. The in vitro bioassay gave the highest levels (up to 1000 mU/ml), the in vivo bioassay the lowest, and the radioimmunoassay gave intermediate results. NN10 and IW32 cell lines have been induced by two different FMuLV and were shown to be independent by cytogenetic studies. The molecular weights of IW32 and NN10 epo were close to the molecular weight of mouse plasma epo but elution profiles suggested that some differences might exist between these epos. Cloned IW32 and NN10 cells were shown to retain both the ability for erythroid differentiation after incubation with chemical inducers and the ability to produce epo. This demonstrates that malignant erythroid cells were the source of epo production in these cell lines.

Antitumor amino-substituted pyrido[3',4':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-g]isoquinolines and pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole derivatives: synthesis and evaluation of compounds resulting from new side chain and heterocycle modifications.

New modifications of 10-[[3-(diethylamino)propyl]amino]-6-methyl-5H-pyrido[3',4':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-g]i sisoquinoline (1b) and 1-[[3-(diethylamino)propyl]amino]-9-methoxy-5,11-dimethyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carba zole (4b), which display important antitumor properties, were performed either on the side chain or on the intercalating heterocycle. Side chains were introduced by direct substitution of the corresponding chloro derivatives and 6-N-methyl-9-hydroxypyrido[4,3-b]carbazoles analogues were prepared via 9-O-benzoyl-1-chloroellipticines. Evaluation of all new compounds shows no significant increase of in vitro cytotoxicity and percent ILS on the L1210 leukemia system by comparison with the model compounds 1b and 4b.

Structure-activity relationships in a series of newly synthesized 1-amino-substituted ellipticine derivatives.

The synthesis of a series of 1-amino-substituted pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole derivatives, based on the substitution of corresponding 1-chloroellipticines, is reported. The cytotoxic properties on tumor cells grown in vitro, the in vivo acute toxicity of the most potent in vitro cytotoxic compounds, and the antitumor properties toward the L1210 leukemia system are described. No correlation between the apparent association constant to DNA and the in vitro cytotoxicity or the in vito antitumor efficiency could be observed in this series. 9-Hydroxylated derivatives were more cytotoxic in vitro than the corresponding 9-methoxylated compounds. However, their antitumor efficiencies on the in vivo experimental systems do not confirm the advantage of demethylation. The presence of a [(dialkylamino)alkyl]amino side chain at the 1 position of ellipticines increases the antitumor potency: 1-[[3-(diethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,11-dimethyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole (5) is a very potent antitumor compound (% ILS of 134 on the L1210 leukemia system).

Expression of c-ras and c-myc oncogenes in murine erythroleukemias induced by Friend viruses.

We have examined the expression of three cellular oncogenes (c-Ki-ras, c-Ha-ras and c-myc) in different stages of murine erythroleukemias induced in ICFW mice by Friend viruses (F-MuLV and SFFV) in comparison to normal mice spleens and bone marrows, including erythropoietically-stimulated spleens from phenylhydrazine-treated mice. There is no evidence of c-Ki-ras RNA expression in any of the tissues tested. c-Ha-ras RNA was found at similar levels in erythroleukemic cells and normal erythroid cells. In contrast, increased levels of normal 2.3 Kb and short 1.8 Kb c-myc RNA transcripts were detected in both early preleukemic and late leukemic phases of the diseases, as compared to normal erythroid cells. Apparently, neither myc gene amplification nor myc gene rearrangement was observed in erythroleukemias. Our results suggest a possible involvement of c-myc gene either in erythroid cell differentiation or in an early proliferation step of the erythroleukemic process.

Cellular localization of erythropoietin gene transcription.

Erythropoietin producing cells were identified in the murine hypoxic kidney by in situ hybridization. The positive cells were peritubular cells, most likely endothelial cells of the cortex and outer medulla. Glomerular and tubular cells were not labelled. In three patients with renal adenocarcinomas associated with polycythemia, a strong Epo message was observed on Northern blot analysis. Using in situ hybridization, a strong labelling was observed in all cases on the tumor cells which are of tubular origin.