Eukaryopedia

As most synthetic biologists and iGEM teams work with Escherichia Coli, the use of other model systems can create confusion. Eukaryopedia contains short descriptions of the cell lines and transcription factors we studied.

MCF-7

MCF-7 is a hormone-dependent, poorly invasive human breast cancer cell line [1]. Originally, the cell line was derived from a postmenopausal woman with metastatic breast cancer at the Michigan Cancer Foundation. It was observed, however, that cell lines used in different laboratories vary greatly in their biological characteristics, so that it is suggested that they were derived from different patients [2]. MCF-7 cells are estrogen-receptor positive and require estrogen for tumorigenesis in vivo. 17β-estradiol induces an TGFα-like activity [3], which promotes tumor growth and progression [4]. Furthermore the cells express receptors for and respond to several other hormones including androgen, progesterone, glucocorticoids, insulin, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, prolactin and thyroid hormone [2].

HeLa

The cells were originally derived in 1952 from Henrietta Lacks, who suffered from an adenocarcinoma of the cervix. The HeLa cells were the first human epithelial cells established in long-term culture [5]. There are three main characteristics of the genome of HeLa by which they can be recognized: hypertriploid chromosome number (3n+), 20 clonally abnormal chromosomes and the integration of multiple copies of HPV18 (Human Papilloma Virus) at various sites [6]. It has been shown, that the HeLa genome has been remarkably stable after years of subcultivation [6], but it is also possible to select strains of HeLa cells with certain properties by putting them under selection pressure [7].

U2-OS

U2-OS, formerly known as 2T cell line [8], were derived from a 15-year-old girl with a moderately differentiated osteogenic sarcoma of the shinbone. Cell culture of U2-OS started at the time of amputation of the left leg on September 3, 1964 [9]. U2-OS cells express adhesion molecules such as integrins, Ig-CAMs and chemokine receptors as well as growth factors which are either constitutively expressed (such as IL-7) or inducible (such as TNF) by PMA (phorbol ester) or ionomycine. The adhesion molecules and growth factors support the growth of CD34 progenitor cells [10].

References

[1] Clark, R. (1990) The process of malignant progression in human breast cancer. Annals of oncology: official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology/ESMO 1: 401-407.
[2] Osborne, C. K., Hobbs, K. & Trent, J. M. (1987) Biological differences among, MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines from different laboratories. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 9: 111-121.
[3] Dickson, R. B., Bates, S. E., McManaway, M. E. & Lippman, M. E. (1986) Characterization of Estrogen Responsive Transforming Activity in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Cancer Research 46: 1707-1713.
[4] Booth, B. W. & Smith, G. H. (2007) Roles of transforming growth factor-α in mammary development and disease. Growth Factors 25: 227-235.
[5] Gey, G. O., Coffman, W. D. & Kubicek, M. T. (1952) Tissue culture studies of the proliferative capacity of cervical carcinoma and norml epithelium. Cancer Research 12: 264-265
[6] Macville, M., Schroeck, E., Padilla-Nash, H., Keck, C., Ghadimi, M. B.,Zimonjic, D., Pospecu, N. & Ried, T. (1999) Comprehensive and definitive moleculare cytogenic characterization of HeLa cells by spectral karyotyping. Cancer Research 59: 141-150
[7] Masters, J. R. (2002) HeLa cells 50 years on: the good, the bad and the ugly. Nature Reviews 2:315-319
[8] Ek, E. T. H., Dass, C. R. & Choong, P. F. M. (2006) Commonly used mouse models of osteosarcoma. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 60: 1-8.
[9] Ponten, J. & Saksela, E. (1967) Two established in vitro cell lines from human mesenchymal tumours. International Journal of Cancer 2: 434-447.
[10] Nelissen, J. M. D. T., Torensma, R., Pluyter, M., Adema, G. J., Raymakers, R. A. P., van Kooyk, Y. & Figdor, C. G. (2000) Molecular analysis of the hematopoiesis supporting osteoblastic cell line U2-OS. Experimental Hematology 28: 422-432.