CHARACTERIZATION OF TCDD-TRANSFORMED HUMAN KERATINOCYTE CELL-LINE

Exposure of Ad12-SV40 immortalized human keratinocyte cell line to TCD D led to morphological transformation and the subsequent injection of these transformed cells into nude mice induced carcinoma. Induction of EROD activity was dose-dependent, as was transformation. Thus, the ca rcinogenicity of TCDD in this human cell system appears to be an Ah re ceptor-mediated process. Analysis of transformed cells revealed signif icant increase of total transglutaminase, as compared to parent cells. Subsequent treatment of transformed cells with retinoic acid (3 mumol /L) induced 3-fold increase of transglutaminase activity.