LIPOFECTION-MEDIATED IMMORTALIZATION OF HUMAN PROSTATIC EPITHELIAL-CELLS OF NORMAL AND MALIGNANT ORIGIN USING HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-18 DNA

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 DNA was introduced into epithelial cell strains derived from normal and cancer tissues of human prostatec tomy specimens by the lipofection transfection method. Two cell lines were established: PZ-HPV-7 (transfected normal cell) and CA-HPV-10 (tr ansfected cancer-derived cell). These lines have been maintained for o ver 100 passages. Incorporation of HPV type 18 DNA was confirmed by po lymerase chain reaction. Immunocytochemical analysis showed expression of keratins 5 and 8, similar to the cells of origin, end the early re gion 6 oncoprotein of HPV. PZ-HPV-7, derived from normal diploid cells , had a modal chromosome number of 46 in early passages but became tet raploid later. CA-HPV-10 cells were aneuploid, and some retained the d ouble minute chromosomes that were noted in the cancer-derived cells o f origin. The cell lines showed a typical transformed morphology and w ere nontumorigenic in nude mice. We conclude that human prostatic epit helial cells derived from both normal and cancer tissues have been suc cessfully transformed to immortality with HPV type 18 DNA. The establi shment of these cell lines provides an opportunity for further develop ment of an in vitro model of carcinogenesis for prostate cancer.