ESTABLISHMENT OF PROSTATIC CELL-LINE PRO9AD FROM A P53-DEFICIENT MOUSE

BACKGROUND. We demonstrated that p53-deficiency is sufficient for immo rtalization of fetal uterine cells. Ln the present study, we further e xtended our previous observations to prostate tissues from a young p53 -deficient adult mouse. METHODS. Cell lines were established from the ventral prostate of a p53-deficient male mouse and maintained in mediu m containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum supple- supplemente d with insulin (10 mu g/ml), transferrin (10 mu g/ml), cholera toxin ( 10 ng/ml), and selenium (10(-8) M). RESULTS. Pro9ad, one of the line e stablished, exhibits a typical epithelial morphology in culture. Despi te the possession of androgen receptors, the growth of Pro9ad was not stimulated by 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Hepatocyte growth factor (H GF) slightly: stimulated proliferation: whereas fibroblast growth fact or-1 (FGF-1), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and platelet-derived g rowth factor AB (PDGF-AB) had no stimulating effect on growth. However , FGF-2, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) accelerated proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. EGF a nd ICF-I additively stimulated growth. CONCLUSIONS. These results sugg est that Pro9ad shares characteristics in common with primary prostati c epithelial cells despite p53-deficiency, and that p53-deficiency alo ne allows establishment of clonal cell lines of the prostate epitheliu m. Furthermore, th prostates of p53-deficient mice are useful sources for obtaining cell lines. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.