Takamasa Moroyama

Malignant tumor cell lines produce interleukin-1-like factor

SummarySixty-four malignant cell lines were examined for interleukin-1 (IL-1) activities in their conditioned medium using thymocyte and fibroblast proliferation assays. Sixteen cell lines showed high IL-1 activity. Comparison of these activities with human IL-1 showed similarity between some biological properties. However there was no correlation between cell origin and IL-1 activity. These results suggest the possibility that most malignant cells may produce an IL-1-like factor.

Monoclonal antibodies against human oral squamous cell carcinoma reacting with keratin proteins

Two mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), B10 and 1H5, were generated by fusing mouse myeloma NS‐1 cells with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized with Ueda‐1 cells derived from human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the floor of the mouth. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that these MoAbs recognize the filamentous components of cytoplasm which were protein in nature. While the pattern of antigen distribution in various cell lines was not cell‐type specific, reactivity of these antibodies with tissue sections was informative. MoAb 1H5 was preferentially reactive with well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, however, reaction with adenocarcinoma was observed infrequently. This antibody also preferentially reacted with the spinous layer of normal stratified squamous epithelium. MoAb B10, however, was reactive with nonepithelial tissues as well as with epithelial ones, and its level of binding bore no relationship to the grade of histologic malignancy. SDS‐PAGE and Western blotting analysis, using cytokeratin extracts of Ueda‐1 cells and human epidermis, demonstrated that MoAb B10 reacted with a wide range of keratin proteins of 65–67K, 58K, 56.5K, 56K, 52K, 50K, 48K, 45K, 40K, 38K, 36K, and 34K molecular weight (MW), while MoAb 1H5 reacted with keratin proteins of 65–67K, 58K, 56.5K, 56K, 52K, 48K, and 34K MW. These results suggest that MoAb 1H5 may recognize keratin subfamilies related to squamous differentiation, whereas MoAb B10 recognizes a wide range of keratin proteins, and may even react with other kinds of intermediate filament proteins (IFPs).

Differentiation of cultured epidermal keratinocytes related to sterol metabolism and its retardation by chemical carcinogens

The amount of 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol of mouse dorsal skin was increased after parturition until 10 days of age, reaching a maximum 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol/5-cholesten-3 beta-ol ratio of 0.43. [2-14C]Acetate was incorporated almost exclusively into 5-cholesten-3 beta-ol in the basal cell culture of epidermal keratinocytes. However, when the concentration of calcium was changed from 0.07 to 1.9 mM to induce terminal differentiation of keratinocytes, a definite amount of radioactive acetate was incorporated into 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol. The extent of the incorporation was increased at least until 72 h after changing medium, and the ratio of radioactive 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol/radioactive 5-cholesten-3 beta-ol was constantly increased in this period, indicating that the accumulation of 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol in the cell is concomitant with the differentiation of the cell. Pretreatment with chemical carcinogens such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 20-methylcholanthrene inhibited the incorporation of radioactive acetate into 5 beta-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol in the high calcium medium at least for the initial 24 h. After that, the incorporation was gradually restored to the normal level. Pretreatment with a tumor promoter, such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate, however, did not inhibit the incorporation. Thus, sterol metabolism is suggested to be a useful indicator for differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes.