GROWTH-INHIBITION OF NEWLY ESTABLISHED HUMAN GLIOMA CELL-LINES BY LEUKEMIA INHIBITORY FACTOR

We have established three new cell lines deriving from malignant human gliomas. The cell lines were described in terms of both morphology an d growth characteristics. Most cells in all three cell lines expressed the neuroepithelial marker protein GFAP. In terms of growth character istics, the cells showed only slight differences. The cell lines showe d no expression of the neural form of the c-src gene, pp60(c-srcN), bu t did express the ubiquitous form, pp60(c-src). The established glioma cell lines were also examined for expression of members of the neurop oietic cytokine family, CNTF and LIF, and their respective receptor co mponents CNTFR alpha, LIFR beta and gp130. With the exception of CNTFR a both the ligands and their receptor components were expressed in sim ilar amounts in all three cell lines. The presence of ligand and recep tor prompted us to study the effects of exogenously supplied factors o n the growth of the glioma cell lines. Whereas LIF induced a high c-fo s expression, only low c-fos induction was observed upon CNTF treatmen t. Accordingly, CNTF did not have any noticeable effects on glioma cel l growth in culture, while LIF mediated an inhibiting effect on the gr owth of the three glioma cell lines in culture.