Y. Shounan et al., TRANSFORMATION OF FDC-P1 CELLS TO IL-3 INDEPENDENCE BY A RECOMBINANT MURINE RETROVIRUS CONTAINING V-ERB-B, Experimental hematology, 23(6), 1995, pp. 492-499
The oncogene v-erb-B has been shown to transform pre-B lymphocytes and
early erythroid precursor cells and has been implicated in leukemogen
esis. We have examined the effect of this oncogene on the growth of a
murine myeloid interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line, FDC-P1. FDC-P
1 cells were infected with a recombinant murine retrovirus containing
v-erb-B. As a result, clonal IL-3-independent cell lines (FI-v-erb-B)
were generated with a high level of v-erb-B expression and an altered
morphology compared to parental FDC-P1 cells. The FI-v-erb-B cells wer
e tumorigenic and did not express or secrete IL-3, suggesting the acqu
isition of IL-3 independence by a non-autocrine mechanism. In addition
to the formation of myeloid colonies, FI-v-erb-B cells, when grown in
semi-solid medium with exogenous IL-3, erythropoietin (Epo), or IL-3
plus Epo, could also form erythroid and mixed-erythroid colonies. By c
ontrast, parental FDC-P1 cells formed only myeloid colonies under the
same conditions. Our results indicate that v-erb-B abrogates growth fa
ctor dependence in these cells and may cause Lineage modulation by act
ing to allow the induction of erythroid differentiation in FI-v-erb-B
cells.