Characterization of Tu-2449, a glioma cell line derived from a spontaneoustumor in GFAP-v-src-transgenic mice: comparison with established murine glioma cell lines

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-v-src transgenic mice develop sponta neous gliomas with a high incidence of malignant progression. We characteri ze the first glial cell line derived from v-sr-e transgenic mice, Tu-2449 i n comparison with a virally induced murine glioma, SRB-10, and a spontaneou s murine glioma, P497. Doubling times were lowest, as clonogenicity in soft agar was highest for Tu-2449, and to a lesser degree, Tu-2449 cells formed spheroids and showed migratory behaviour and invaded fetal rat brain aggre gates. BCL-2 and BAX expression were lower in Tu-2449 and P497 than in SRB- 10 cells. Only Tu-2449 cells accumulated p53 protein in response to genotox ic stress. Tu-2449 and SRB-10 cells that showed low CD95 expression were re sistant to CD95 ligand (CD95L)-induced apoptosis unless coexposed to CD95L and inhibitors of RNA or protein synthesis. A chemosensitivity profile reve aled Tu-2449 to be rather chemoresistant. Tu-2449 thus displays growth char acteristics and patterns of resistance to apoptosis similar to those of oth er mouse and human glioma cell lines and may therefore become a valuable to ol to evaluate new therapies for malignant gliomas in vitro and in vivo.