CULTURED PIG RHABDOMYOSARCOMA CELLS WITH A DELETION OF THE XQ24-QTER CHROMOSOME REGION - AN IMMUNOCHEMICAL AND CYTOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION

A pig rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (PRUM59) was established, and the imm uno(histo)chemical and cytogenetic characterization of these cells was determined. At various swine farms in the Netherlands, pigs were obse rved that had solitary or multiple skin nodules, which were diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcomas. Cells of a tumor derived from a 3.5-week-old fem ale pig were cultured for immunochemical and cytogenetic analyses. The cell line had characteristic features of undifferentiated muscle cell s, similar to those observed in tumor tissue sections; they contained titin, a high-molecular weight protein specific for striated muscle, a s dot-like aggregates and as filaments, desmin filaments and cross-str iations, smooth muscle actin stress fibers, and vimentin filaments. Th e cells stained positively for striated muscle actin and tropomyosin a s well. The immunohistochemical staining results were supported by res ults of immunoblotting experiments. Karyotyping of the cells revealed a deletion of a major part of Xq24-qter, a part of the long arm of 1 o f the 2 X chromosomes. The other X chromosome and all autosomes appear ed to be normal.