Differential response to retinoic acid of Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts expressing v-src or v-Ha-ras oncogenes

Effects of retinoic acid on NIH3T3 cell transformation by the H-ras oncogene

Exposure of NIH3T3 cells to retinoic acid resulted in a dose-dependent modulation of transformed focus formation after transfection with an activated H-ras oncogene. Inhibition induced by 10 microM retinoic acid was maximal at 21.4% of control values. Maximal inhibition of transformation was found after exposure to 10 microM retinoic acid between days 0 and 3 of the transfection period. This concentration was also inhibitory for colony formation upon transfection of the non-transforming gene aph, suggesting that retinoic acid acts primarily on the process of transfection to inhibit focus or colony formation. Exposure to retinoic acid during the late period of the transfection protocol (days 14-20) resulted in alterations in focus morphology. A transformed cell line containing H-ras underwent reversion of the transformed phenotype after 4 weeks of treatment with retinoic acid, as determined by alterations in cell morphology and anchorage-independent growth. Phenotypic reversion was not associated with changes in the expression of the exogenous H-ras or endogenous c-myc or c-fos oncogenes.

Transforming growth factors-beta 1 and beta 2 are mitogens for rat Schwann cells

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and TGF-beta 2 were found to be potent mitogens for purified rat Schwann cells, each stimulating DNA synthesis in quiescent cells and also increasing their proliferation rate. Half-maximal stimulation of DNA synthesis occurred at approximately 0.1 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 or TGF-beta 2. Mitogenic stimulation by TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 was enhanced by forskolin, which activates adenylate cyclase, at concentrations up to 0.5 microM forskolin. However, at 5 microM forskolin, the synergistic interaction between forskolin and TGF-beta 1 was abolished. These results are in contrast to the observed synergy between forskolin and another Schwann cell mitogen, glial growth factor (GGF). Both 0.5 and 5 microM forskolin were found to enhance the stimulation of DNA synthesis by partially purified GGF (GGF-CM). As well as being functionally distinct, TGF-beta 1 and GGF-CM activities were also physically separable by chromatography on a Superose 12 gel permeation column. Thus, TGF-beta 1 and beta 2 are rat Schwann cell mitogens, and Schwann cells are one of the few normal cell populations to respond mitogenically to TGF-beta.

Retinoic acid increases the sensitivity of the rat embryo fibroblast transformation assay

The rat embryo fibroblast focus assay is used to evaluate the transforming potential of several oncogenes. The sensitivity of this assay increased fivefold when retinoic acid was added to tissue culture media. Retinoic acid probably acts by selectively inhibiting the proliferation of nontransformed cells.

Retinoic acid increases the sensitivity of the rat embryo fibroblast transformation assay

The rat embryo fibroblast focus assay is used to evaluate the transforming potential of several oncogenes. The sensitivity of this assay increased fivefold when retinoic acid was added to tissue culture media. Retinoic acid probably acts by selectively inhibiting the proliferation of nontransformed cells.