M. Nakai et al., ESTABLISHMENT OF A MURINE MODEL FOR METASTASIS OF CYTOKINE-PRODUCING TUMOR TO THE BRAIN, Pigment cell research, 10(5), 1997, pp. 304-309
The A375 cell line, derived from human malignant melanoma, has charact
eristics of interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. By using this cell line,
we have investigated a murine metastasis model of IL-6-producing tumor
s to the brain by injecting A375 cells directly into the left cardiac
ventricle. Nude mice were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection
of pentobarbital sodium. Next, A375 cells suspended in phosphate-buffe
red saline (PBS) were injected into the left cardiac ventricle of mice
. An intracardiac injection of 10(5) cells developed tumor colonies in
the brain after 4 to 6 weeks. Metastatic cells were found in every lo
be of the brain. An immunocytochemical study revealed IL-6 production
by A375 cells at the metastatic sites in the brain. By the transfectio
n of genes encoding proteins into A375 cells, a novel model of protein
expression in the brain in vivo could be constructed. Our system does
not require great skill. Our experimental model will facilitate futur
e studies of the local effects of proteins in the brain.