The in vitro Cell Transformation Assay (CTA) is a powerful tool for mechanistic studies of carcinogenesis. The endpoint is the classification of transformed colonies (foci) by means of standard morphological features. To increase throughput and reliability of CTAs, one of the suggested follow-up activities is to exploit the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying cell transformation. To this end, we have performed CTAs testing CdCl2, a widespread environmental contaminant classified as a human carcinogen with the underlying mechanisms of action not completely understood. We have isolated and re-seeded the cells at the end (6 weeks) of in vitro CTAs to further identify the biochemical pathways underlying the transformed phenotype of foci. Morphological evaluations and proliferative assays confirmed the loss of contact-inhibition and the higher proliferative rate of transformed clones. The biochemical analysis of EGFR pathway revealed that, despite the same initial carcinogenic stimulus (1 μM CdCl2 for 24 h), transformed clones are characterized by the activation of two different molecular pathways: proliferation (Erk activation) or survival (Akt activation). Our preliminary results on molecular characterization of cell clones from different foci could be exploited for CTAs improvement, supporting the comprehension of the in vivo process and complementing the morphological evaluation of foci.

Forcella, M., Callegaro, G., Melchioretto, P., Gribaldo, L., Frattini, M., Stefanini, F., et al. (2016). Cadmium-transformed cells in the in vitro cell transformation assay reveal different proliferative behaviours and activated pathways. TOXICOLOGY IN VITRO, 36, 71-80 [10.1016/j.tiv.2016.07.006].

Cadmium-transformed cells in the in vitro cell transformation assay reveal different proliferative behaviours and activated pathways

Forcella, M
Primo
;
Callegaro, G
Secondo
;
Melchioretto, P;Fusi, P
Penultimo
;
Urani, C
Ultimo
2016

Abstract

The in vitro Cell Transformation Assay (CTA) is a powerful tool for mechanistic studies of carcinogenesis. The endpoint is the classification of transformed colonies (foci) by means of standard morphological features. To increase throughput and reliability of CTAs, one of the suggested follow-up activities is to exploit the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying cell transformation. To this end, we have performed CTAs testing CdCl2, a widespread environmental contaminant classified as a human carcinogen with the underlying mechanisms of action not completely understood. We have isolated and re-seeded the cells at the end (6 weeks) of in vitro CTAs to further identify the biochemical pathways underlying the transformed phenotype of foci. Morphological evaluations and proliferative assays confirmed the loss of contact-inhibition and the higher proliferative rate of transformed clones. The biochemical analysis of EGFR pathway revealed that, despite the same initial carcinogenic stimulus (1 μM CdCl2 for 24 h), transformed clones are characterized by the activation of two different molecular pathways: proliferation (Erk activation) or survival (Akt activation). Our preliminary results on molecular characterization of cell clones from different foci could be exploited for CTAs improvement, supporting the comprehension of the in vivo process and complementing the morphological evaluation of foci.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Cadmium; Carcinogenesis; Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway; In vitro cell transformation assay;
Cadmium; Carcinogenesis; Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway; In vitro cell transformation assay
English
2016
36
71
80
none
Forcella, M., Callegaro, G., Melchioretto, P., Gribaldo, L., Frattini, M., Stefanini, F., et al. (2016). Cadmium-transformed cells in the in vitro cell transformation assay reveal different proliferative behaviours and activated pathways. TOXICOLOGY IN VITRO, 36, 71-80 [10.1016/j.tiv.2016.07.006].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/129349
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