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We describe the characterization and utility of a new electrochemiluminescent (ECL) label for oligonucleotides, utilizing phosphoramidite chemistry. This phosphoramidite of the tris(2,2-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex, bis(2,2-bipyridine)(4-[4-(2-cyanoethoxy-N,N-diisopropyl-amino) phosphinoxybutyl]4'-methyl)2,2-bipyridine ruthenium(II) dihexafluorophosphate or Origen phosphoramidite, enables the direct incorporation of the label during automated DNA synthesis. Efficiency of this automated synthesis allows the direct utilization of probes without further purification. Introduction of this labeling group is reproducible, and the ECL signal recovered is not influenced by hybridization. Furthermore, neither hybridization kinetics nor hybrid stability was affected by our label. We also demonstrate the utility of these labels for the development of rapid assays with oligonucleotides direct from automated synthesis. The clinical utility of these labeled oligonucleotides is shown with assays of total nucleic acid, extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), to detect the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). The results demonstrate the ability of the assay to quantify 30-2000 copies of HIV1 gag genes and to rapidly detect (less than 45 min) HIV-1 gag genes in a nonseparation assay. The application of this assay to clinical samples demonstrates the utility of these assays for rapid and quantitative analysis.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are associated with papillomatosis of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi in decreasing order of frequency, and these papillomatosis lesions may become malignant. When the patients are not selected for a history of papillomatosis, the frequency of HPV in bronchogenic carcinoma tissue is 1-5%. In order to develop a model for investigating the role of HPV in human bronchogenic carcinogenesis, normal human bronchial epithelial cells were transfected with cloned full-length HPV16 or HPV18. Two HPV18-transformed cell lines (BEP1 and BEP2) and one HPV16-transformed cell line (BEP3) were established. These nontumorigenic epithelial cell lines have: (a) attained over 100 population doublings in vitro; (b) mutually exclusive human marker chromosomes; (c) HPV DNA in forms that are consistent with chromosomal integration by Southern analysis; (d) HPV E6, E7, and E6* mRNA transcripts by Northern and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis; and (e) diminished confluence-induced squamous differentiation. These cell lines should be useful for studying mechanisms involved in proliferation, differentiation, and neoplastic transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells.

We demonstrate the first use of an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) label, [4-(N-succimidyloxycarbonylpropyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'- bipyridine]ruthenium(II) dihexafluorophosphate (Origen label; IGEN Inc.), in DNA probe assays. This label allows rapid (less than 25 min) quantification and detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified products from oncogenes, viruses, and cloned genes. For the PCR, we used labeled oligonucleotide primers complementary to human papiloma virus and the Ha-ras oncogene. These samples were followed by ECL analysis or hybridization with specific, Origen-labeled oligonucleotide probes. These studies demonstrate the speed, specificity, and effectiveness of the new ECL labels, compared with 32P, for nucleic acid probe applications. We describe formats involving conventional methodologies and a new format that requires no wash step, allowing simple and rapid sample analysis. These rapid assays also reduce PCR contamination, by requiring less sample handling. Improvements in ECL detectability are currently under investigation for use in DNA probe assays without amplification.

Mutagenicity of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and the acidic, basic and neutral fractions of CSC was examined in the AL hybrid cell, a Chinese hamster ovary cell containing one human chromosome 11. Since the human chromosome 11 is not necessary for survival of the AL cells, mutations involving large deletions and chromosomal loss by non-dysjunction are non-lethal events that are detectable by loss of human cell surface antigens (a1, a2 and a3) encoded by genes on chromosome 11p (a1 and a3) and 11q (a2) through an antibody-complement lysis assay. Exposure of AL cells to CSC without exogenous metabolic activation caused a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. Mutagenicity also increased with time of incubation up to 3 h with a maximum of 300 a1- mutants/10(5) survivors (250% above background; P less than 0.0005) after incubation with 100 micrograms/ml CSC. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of CSC were inversely proportional to cell density. Fifty percent lethal doses for the acidic, basic and neutral fractions of CSC after 3 h of incubation were 30, 100 and 240 micrograms/ml respectively, and the acidic fraction at a concentration of 25 micrograms/ml induced 350 a1- mutants/10(5) survivors (230% above background; P less than 0.0005); the basic and neutral fractions were less mutagenic. These results indicate that CSC and fractions of CSC can directly produce a spectrum of mutations, through both deletional and non-dysjunctional mechanisms of a kind known to lead to inactivation of tumor suppressor genes.

This is a time of rapid progress in the field of human bronchogenic carcinogenesis due to recent advances in cellular and molecular biology. Important developments over the last 10 years include establishment of methods for culturing NHBE cells under defined conditions, and molecular biological and biochemical epidemiological techniques for identifying genetic changes that are associated with malignant transformation of these cells. Most progress in defining genes associated with human carcinogenesis has been due to discoveries related to oncogenes and more recently, tumor suppressor genes. As was described in Section II.B.3.a, we now know that oncogene products serve as growth factors, growth factor receptors, and cytosolic and nuclear regulatory proteins. In addition, although the actions of putative tumor suppressor genes are less well understood, the first isolated tumor suppressor gene Rb, interacts with the products of DNA viruses which, in turn, are involved in regulation of transcription as was described in Section II.B.3.b. Thus, not surprisingly, both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes code for classes of proteins that are known to play an important role in regulation of cell proliferation. Recently, a second gene that appears to possess tumor suppression activity (p53) has been identified on the short arm of chromosome 17 (17p). The initial data suggesting a possible tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 17p came from cytogenetic and RFLP studies associating loss of heterozygosity in the chromosome 17p13 region with tumor cells and tissues. Since the p53 gene is located in this region it was evaluated and found to be frequently or always altered in several types of tumor cells. Recently, it was determined that introduction of the wild-type p53 gene into NIH3T3 cells will inhibit subsequent malignant transformation. Thus, the preponderance of evidence now supports the hypothesis that while mutated p53 acts as an oncogene, the wild-type p53 gene codes for a tumor suppressor function. The role of balance between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in control of proliferation is presently an active area of investigation. As discussed, introduction of a chromosome containing a tumor suppressor gene will suppress tumorigenicity of a malignant cell line, even though that cell line possesses an active c-Ha-ras oncogene. Whether or not the level of expression of an activated oncogene is related to tumorigenicity is presently being investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The differential effects of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and its fractions (neutral, basic, and acidic fractions) on proliferation and squamous differentiation of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells versus human lung carcinoma cells were investigated. CSC, and the neutral and acidic fractions inhibited cellular proliferation more than the basic fraction. When compared to the acidic and basic fractions, CSC and the neural fraction were more effective in causing squamous differentiation of NHBE cells and inhibiting specific binding of phorbol dibutyrate (PDBU). There were no significant changes in ionized cytosolic calcium concentration when NHBE cells were treated with CSC. In contrast to the normal epithelial cells, neither HUT-292 nor the 3 other carcinoma cell lines examined showed marked squamous morphological changes when exposed to either CSC or its fractions and the carcinoma cells were more resistant to their inhibiting effects on cellular proliferation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that differential effects of tobacco smoke components on cellular proliferation may allow clonal expansion of preneoplastic and neoplastic human bronchial epithelial cells during lung carcinogenesis.

The effects of aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin on the clonal growth rate, cross-linked envelope formation and plasminogen activator secretion of normal human bronchial epithelial cells were studied. Neither compound was mitogenic over a wide range of concentrations (10(-13) to 10(-7)M). Both aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin inhibited clonal growth rate with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 3 x 10(-11)M and 10(-10)M, respectively. Both compounds induced the formation of cross-linked envelopes and increased plasminogen activator secretion with equal potency. These data are similar to those previously obtained with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin B and suggest that aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin induce terminal squamous differentiation in normal human bronchial epithelial cells.

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) is a cytokine produced by a number of cell types including macrophages, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and mesangial cells. We were interested in identifying a DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for the IL-1 alpha gene for use in studies of genetic alteration in various human cancers. Human genomic DNA from 32 unrelated individuals was digested with various restriction enzymes, alone and in combination, and subjected to Southern blot analysis. Hybridization to 32P-labeled IL-1 alpha cDNA revealed an insertion-deletion-type polymorphic pattern. After digestion with RsaI, insertion-deletion-type polymorphic bands with sizes of 3.4 kb, 3.1 kb, and 2.8 kb and one invariant band of 0.8 kb were observed. These three alleles, designated A1, A2, and A3, had relative frequencies of 0.18, 0.06, and 0.78 with heterozygosity observed in 38% of the unrelated individuals studied. Evaluation of nine related individuals for this RsaI polymorphism was consistent with a Mendelian inheritance. Comparison of restriction patterns following Southern analysis of DNA digested with several different enzymes showed that the polymorphic region resides within the sixth intron. Furthermore, this RFLP results from a variable length region containing multiple copies of a recognition sequence for SP1, an imperfect copy of viral enhancer elements, and an inverse and complementary sequence of the glucocorticoid receptor binding site. The identified polymorphism may be of value in analyses of chromosome 2 and may help to elucidate mechanisms by which IL-1 alpha transcription is regulated.

The effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on 10 human lung carcinoma cell lines were compared to those seen on normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. TPA (0.1 to 100 nM) did not enhance the clonal growth rate for any of the cell lines. As little as 3 nM TPA induced the NHBE cells to undergo terminal squamous differentiation and thus completely inhibited their proliferation; in contrast, none of the carcinoma cell lines was significantly inhibited at this concentration, and they all continued to proliferate in as much as 100 nM TPA. To determine if this lack of TPA inhibition of clonal growth reflected resistance to TPA induction of terminal squamous differentiation, we measured the ability of TPA to induce cross-linked envelope formation and to increase plasminogen activator activity in four carcinoma cell lines. Cross-linked envelopes were not induced in two lines, and only a small number were induced in the other two lines relative to NHBE cells; plasminogen activator activity was induced in NHBE cells but not in any of the cell lines.

Human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) produces and secretes BN/GRP (bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide). Because BN stimulates the growth of SCLC cells and these cells have receptors for BN-like peptides, it is important to define agents which disrupt this self-promoting autocrine growth cycle. Here, substance P analogues were evaluated as BN receptor antagonists using SCLC cell lines. (D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7.9, Leu11) substance P [(APTTL)SP] was one of the more potent analogues tested in inhibiting BN-like peptide receptor binding with an IC50 value of 1 microM. Micromolar concentrations of (APTTL)SP antagonized BN receptor mediated elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels and decreased the colony formation in soft agarose. These data suggest that SP analogues function as SCLC BN receptor antagonists and may be useful in disrupting the autocrine growth function of BN-like peptides.

The ability of the highly reactive aldehyde acrolein to affect growth, membrane integrity, differentiation, and thiol status and to cause DNA damage has been studied at serum- and thiol-free conditions using cultured human bronchial epithelial cells. Acrolein markedly decreases colony survival at 3 microM whereas about 10-fold higher concentrations are required to increase membrane permeability, measured as uptake of trypan blue dye. Acrolein at micromolar concentrations also causes epithelial cells to undergo squamous differentiation as indicated by decreased clonal growth rate, dose-dependent increased formation of cross-linked envelopes, and increased cell planar surface area. Acrolein causes a marked and dose-dependent cellular depletion of total and specific free low-molecular-weight thiols as well as protein thiols. Exposure to acrolein did not cause oxidation of glutathione indicating that thiol depletion occurred by direct conjugation of reduced glutathione to acrolein without concomitant generation of active oxygen species. Furthermore, acrolein is genotoxic and causes both DNA single strand breaks and DNA protein cross-links in human bronchial epithelial cells. The results indicate that acrolein causes several cytopathic effects that relate to multistage carcinogenesis in the human bronchial epithelium.

The mechanisms of action of extracellular mitogens for normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) were investigated by observing their effects on selected biochemical pathways when the cells were incubated in serum-free media. We find that (a) epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and the rate of cell division without stimulating cAMP; (b) alone, pituitary extract (PEX) does not stimulate ODC activity, cAMP levels, or cell division; (c) when PEX is added to medium containing EGF there is a further increase in both ODC activity and the rate of cell division, again with no increase in cAMP levels; (d) in contrast, alone, L-epinephrine (EPI) stimulates an increase in both ODC and cAMP but does not stimulate cell division; (e) when EPI is added to medium containing both EGF and PEX a further increase in the rate of cell division is noted; (f) the specific inhibitor of ODC, alpha-(difluoromethyl)-ornithine (DMFO), also inhibits NHBE cell proliferation; and (g) the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol inhibits the mitogenic action and ODC induction by EPI observed under condition e. We conclude that an increase in ODC activity is necessary but not sufficient for an increase in proliferation of NHBE cells. In contrast, cAMP stimulation is not necessary for an increase in NHBE cell division. However, in the presence of undefined factors in PEX, increases in cAMP levels result in a synergistic increase in the rate of EGF-stimulated clonal growth. By correlating the biochemical pathways invoked by EGF, PEX, EPI, and combinations thereof with their mitogenic actions, we have better defined the role each of these different mitogens plays in stimulating epithelial cell division.

Human peripheral lung tissue samples were obtained at autopsy from 17 individuals of known occupational and smoking histories. A spectrum of different carcinogen-DNA adducts was detected using a variety of sensitive techniques. High-pressure liquid chromatography-linked synchronous fluorescent spectrophotometry and an ultrasensitive enzyme radioimmunoassay detected adducts derived from benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide and other apparent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. An amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated the presence of 4-aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts in many of these samples. A number of these specimens also contained O6-alkyldeoxyguanosine as measured by 32P-postlabeling techniques. Thus this pilot study indicates not only that human lung contains a spectrum of carcinogen-DNA adducts, but also that a full scale molecular dosimetry study of human exposure to both aryl and alkyl chemical carcinogens is warranted.

A novel cyanobacterium capable of swimming motility was isolated in pure culture from several locations in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a small unicellular form, assignable to the genus Synechococcus, that is capable of swimming through liquids at speeds of 25 micrometers per second. Light microscopy revealed that the motile cells display many features characteristic of bacterial flagellar motility. However, electron microscopy failed to reveal flagella and shearing did not arrest motility, indicating that the cyanobacterium may be propelled by a novel mechanism.

We investigated the effect of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), two basic fractions (BIa and BIb) of CSC, the ethanol-extracted weakly acidic fraction (WAe), and the methanol-extracted neutral fraction (Nmeoh) on the clonal growth rate, plasminogen activator (PA) activity, cross-linked envelope (CLE) formation, and ornithine decarboxylase activity, epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding, thiol levels, and DNA single strand breaks in cultured human bronchial cells. Neither CSC nor any of the fractions were mitogenic over the range 0.01-100 micrograms/ml. All were growth inhibitory at higher concentrations. The 40% growth inhibitory concentrations for CSC, BIa, BIb, WAe, and Nmeoh were 10, 10, 10, 3, and 1 micrograms/ml, respectively. Effects on CLE formation, morphology, PA, and ornithine decarboxylase activities, EGF binding, and thiol levels were evaluated using 40% growth inhibitory concentrations. We found that CSC and all fractions caused an increased formation of CLEs, from a baseline of 0.5% in the untreated cells to a maximum increase of 25% induced by Nmeoh. A squamous morphological change was observed within 1 h after exposure to Nmeoh, WAe, and CSC. The BIa and BIb fractions had little effect. Only Nmeoh increased PA significantly, from 2.5 +/- 0.4 to 5.1 +/- 0.3 units/mg cellular protein. CSC and the WAe and Nmeoh (Nmeoh greater than WAe greater than CSC) fractions caused a decrease in EGF binding, in each case reaching a maximum effect after a 10-12-h incubation. This effect on EGF binding was further characterized in the case of Nmeoh. In untreated normal human bronchial epithelial cells, by Scatchard analysis the kd was 2.0 nM and there were 1.2 X 10(5) receptors/cell. In cells incubated in medium containing Nmeoh (3 micrograms/ml) the kd was 3.2 nM and there were 1.1 X 10(5) receptors/cell. Thus, inhibition of EGF binding by Nmeoh was due primarily to a decrease in the affinity. At the 40% growth inhibitory concentrations neither CSC nor any of the fractions significantly affected intracellular thiol levels. While a 3-h incubation in medium containing CSC caused significant DNA single strand breaks only at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml, Nmeoh caused a marked effect at 5 micrograms/ml. Neither CSC nor any of the fractions had an effect on ornithine decarboxylase activity. Due to the effects of the Nmeoh fraction on growth, morphology, EGF binding, PA activity, and formation of single strand breaks we consider it to be the most likely portion of CSC to contain compounds with actions similar to those of the phorbol ester, indole alkaloid, and polyacetate tumor promoters.

Transfection of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells with a plasmid carrying the ras oncogene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus (v-Ha ras) changed the growth requirements, terminal differentiation, and tumorigenicity of the recipient cells. One of the cell lines isolated after transfection (TBE-1) was studied extensively and shown to contain v-Ha ras DNA. Total cellular RNA from TBE-1 cells hybridized to v-Ha ras structural gene fragment probes five to eight times more than RNA from parental NHBE cells. The TBE-1 cells expressed phosphorylated v-Ha ras polypeptide p21, showed a reduced requirement for growth-factor supplements, and became aneuploid as an early cellular response to v-Ha ras expression. As the transfectants acquire an indefinite life-span and anchorage independence they became transplantable tumor cells and showed many phenotypic changes suggesting a pleiotropic mechanism for the role of Ha ras in human carcinogenesis.

DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis has been successfully applied both to evaluate possible human susceptibility factors as well as to identify genes involved in malignant transformation of human cells. In this report we review previous applications of RFLP analysis to evaluation of human malignancies and discuss our RFLP studies of human bronchogenic carcinoma, which are in progress. Preliminary results of our analysis of the RFLP associated with the cHa ras variable tandem repeat (VTR) indicate that rare alleles of this VTR are more frequent in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma than in controls.

Glycogen synthase kinase was isolated from rat skeletal muscle. This kinase, which is cyclic nucleotide-independent and calcium-independent, was separated from phosphorylase kinase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and phosvitin kinase by phosphocellulose chromatography. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 resolved the glycogen synthase kinase into two fractions with apparent molecular weights of 68 000 (peak I) and 52 000 (peak II). This step also separated glycogen synthase kinase from the catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, which had an apparent molecular weight of 39 000. Peak II glycogen synthase kinase activity was not affected by the addition of calcium, EGTA or a number of cyclic nucleotides. In addition to ATP, dATP would serve as the phosphate donor. Other trinucleotides tested were either poor or ineffective substrates. Activity was about 5-fold greater with Mg2+ than with Mn2+. Glycogen stimulated activity about 25%. Modifications of the methods of Soderling et al. ((1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 6317--6328) and Nimmo et al. ((1976) Eur. J. Biochem. 68, 21--30) were developed for purification of glycogen synthease (UDPglucose:glycogen 4-alpha D-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.11) to specific activity of 35 units/mg of protein. Using this preparation of glycogen synthase as substrate, the phosphorylation and inactivation catalyzed by glycogen synthase kinase was compared to that catalyzed by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or phosphorylase kinase. Each of the kinases had different specificities for phosphorylation sites on glycogen synthase.

Activation of protooncogenes and inactivation of putative tumor suppressor genes are genetic lesions considered to be important in lung carcinogenesis. Fifty-four cases of non-small-cell lung cancer (23 adenocarcinomas, 23 squamous-cell carcinomas, and 8 large-cell carcinomas) were examined for loss of DNA sequences at 13 polymorphic genetic loci. Loss of heterozygosity was seen more frequently in squamous-cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma. The loss of DNA sequences from the short arm of chromosome 17 (D17S1 locus) was detected in 8 of 9 heterozygous cases of squamous-cell carcinoma and in only 2 of 11 heterozygous cases of adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, in 7 of these 8 squamous-cell carcinomas, loss of heterozygosity from chromosome 17 was accompanied by loss of DNA sequences from chromosome 11. The spectrum of allelic sequences lost from chromosome 11 was, however, similar in every type of carcinoma studied, and the data show two regions commonly deleted from chromosome 11 (11pter-p15.5 and 11p13-q13) that may have a role in the pathogenesis of all these types of non-small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Loss of DNA sequences from chromosome 3 was seen in 16 of 31 cases where the constitutive DNA was heterozygous-i.e., informative. These data included only 6 of 16 cases where loss of heterozygosity involved a chromosomal locus previously shown to be lost consistently in small-cell lung cancer (DNF15S2). Loss of heterozygosity at the chromosome 13q locus, D13S3, was seen in 9 of 21 informative cases, and in 2 cases, both adenocarcinomas, duplication of the intact DNA sequences suggested the possibility that mitotic recombination had occurred. Frequent DNA sequence deletions, including those from chromosome 17, in squamous-cell carcinomas may reflect the extensive mutagenic and clastogenic effects of tobacco smoke that may lead to inactivation of putative tumor-suppressor genes.

The metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), for example benzo[a]pyrene, leads to the formation of carcinogen-macromolecular adducts. Methods that make it possible to detect low levels of these adducts in human peripheral blood samples should be useful in the dosimetry of human exposure to carcinogens. We demonstrated previously the usefulness of enzyme immunoassays and of synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) for detecting and characterizing low levels of PAH-macromolecular adducts present in synthetic adduct mixtures. These methods have now been refined and applied to the analysis of samples of peripheral blood collected from occupationally exposed individuals (coke-oven workers) and from people attending smoking cessation clinics. The results of both immunoassays and SFS show the presence of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA, BPDE-haemoglobin and other putative PAH-macromolecular adducts in peripheral blood samples from certain individuals.

Effects of teleocidin B, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), phorbol, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (DCDD) on normal human bronchial epithelial cell cultures were assessed by quantitation of cellular morphology, clonal growth (population doublings per day), cross-linked envelope (CLE) formation and the enzymatic activities of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and plasminogen activator (PA). Toxicity was assessed by clonal growth assays. Teleocidin B and TPA had similar effects on growth, morphology and enzyme activities. When the cells were incubated with TPA or teleocidin B at concentrations of 1-100 nM for 6 h, RNA synthesis was unaffected, but DNA synthesis decreased and squamous differentiation, marked by an increase in cell surface area and cross-linked envelope formation, was increased. TPA and teleocidin B also increased ODC activity in LHC-0 medium (a maintenance medium without epidermal growth factor) but caused a decrease of ODC activity in LHC-4 (a growth medium containing epidermal growth factor). Finally, TPA and teleocidin B each caused an increase of PA and a decrease of AHH activities in both media. Phorbol, a non-promoting analogue of TPA, had no effect on growth, morphology or biochemical assays. TCDD (100 nM) caused a 15% decrease in cell growth when cells were incubated in LHC-4, and this was accompanied by an increase in cell surface area, PA activity, and CLE formation. TCDD caused an increase in AHH and ODC activities when the cells were incubated in either LHC-0 or LHC-4 medium. DCDD did not alter cell growth, and its morphological and biochemical effects were similar to those of TCDD although less marked. In conclusion, results reported here are consistent with the hypothesis that an important property of some tumor promoters is their ability to induce terminal differentiation in normal, non-initiated epithelial cells.

The acute effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate [(TPA) CAS: 56937-68-9], T-2 toxin (CAS: 21259-20-1), capsaicin (CAS: 404-86-4), cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), and ethanol (CAS: 3807-77-0) were examined in secondary cultured human esophageal epithelial cells in serum-free LHC-8 medium. Effects were evaluated by morphology and measurement of clonal growth rate (population doublings per day), cross-linked envelope (CLE) formation, and the enzymatic activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and plasminogen activator (PA). All compounds tested were inhibitory to clonal growth; concentrations causing 50% growth inhibition were estimated as 10 nM TPA, 6 nM T-2 toxin, 40 microM capsaicin, 8 micrograms CSC/ml, 540 mM ethanol, and 0.8 microgram CSC/ml with 220 mM ethanol. None of the compounds tested induced CLE formation, although calcium ionophore (A23187) could induce CLE in at least 60% of the cells. TPA (10 and 100 nM) decreased the ODC activity of cells, and capsaicin (100 microM) induced ODC by 220%. TPA (1-100 nM) and capsaicin (100 microM) also induced PA activity. Slight increases in ODC activity by CSC (10 micrograms/ml), CSC (1 microgram/ml) with ethanol, and T-2 toxin (1 nM) were observed, but PA activity was not affected by these compounds. The results indicated that the response of human esophageal epithelial cells to TPA is both similar to and different from that reported for human epidermal and bronchial cells in vitro. Enhancement of PA activity and decrease in ODC by TPA are found in all three human epithelial cell types. However, these changes are not associated in esophageal cells with increased CLE formation as reported in studies with the use of bronchial and epidermal epithelial cells. The results from these acute studies provide the basis for designing in vitro carcinogenesis investigations using these agents.

Bombesin and the C-terminal portion of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP14-27) each increase clonal growth rate and colony-forming efficiency of normal human bronchial epithelial cells. These effects occur in the presence or absence of an optimal concentration (5 ng/ml) of epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast to EGF bombesin and GRP14-27 do not stimulate cell migration. Thus, bombesin and the C-terminal fragment of gastrin-releasing peptide represent a new class of peptides mitogenic for normal human epithelial cells.

Fluctuations in ionized cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) are considered important signals for induction of growth or differentiation in mammalian cells. The resting concentrations of [Ca2+]i in normal and adenovirus 12-SV40 hybrid virus-transformed (BEAS-2B) human bronchial epithelial cells were 63 +/- 15 nM (SD) and 44 +/- 15 nM, respectively. Eight % calcium-free fetal bovine serum rapidly caused a significant increase in [Ca2+]i, while causing both cell types to undergo squamous differentiation. When treated with 8% calcium-free fetal bovine serum, a serum-sensitive subclone of BEAS-2B cells exhibited a higher elevation of [Ca2+]i than a serum-resistant (i.e., not stimulated to differentiate by serum) subclone. However, a serum component involved in the induction of squamous differentiation, transforming growth factor type beta, did not increase [Ca2+]i in either normal cells or BEAS-2B cells. 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, an exogenous inducer of squamous differentiation and activator of protein kinase C, did not increase [Ca2+]i, but did attenuate serum-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that while an increase in [Ca2+]i is associated with serum-induced squamous differentiation, a cytosolic ionized calcium signal is not required for the initiation of the squamous differentiation pathway induced by either transforming growth factor type beta or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

The effects of several aldehydes and peroxides on growth and differentiation of normal human bronchial epithelial cells were studied. Cells were exposed to formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzoyl peroxide (BPO), or hydrogen peroxide (HPO). The effect of each agent on the following parameters was measured: (a) clonal growth rate; (b) squamous differentiation; (c) DNA damage; (d) ornithine decarboxylase activity; (e) nucleic acid synthesis; (f) aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity; and (g) arachidonic acid and choline release. None of the agents were mitogenic, and their effects were assessed at concentrations which reduced growth rate (population doublings per day) to 50% of control. The 50% of control concentrations for the 6-h exposure were found to be 0.065 mM BPO, 0.21 mM formaldehyde, 1.2 mM HPO, and 30 mM acetaldehyde. BPO-exposed cells were smaller than controls (median cell planar area, 620 sq microns versus 1150 sq microns), and acetaldehyde-exposed cells were larger than controls (median cell planar area, 3200 sq microns). All agents increased the formation of cross-linked envelopes and depressed RNA synthesis more than DNA synthesis. HPO caused DNA single-strand breaks, while formaldehyde and BPO caused detectable amounts of both single-strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links. Other effects included increased arachidonic acid and choline release due to HPO. The similarities and differences of the effects of these aldehydes and peroxides to those caused by tumor promoters are discussed.