TY - JOUR
T1 - EGF-R antisense RNA blocks expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and suppresses the transforming phenotype of a human carcinoma cell line
AU - Moroni, Maria Cristina
AU - Willingham, Mark C.
AU - Beguinot, Laura
PY - 1992/2/5
Y1 - 1992/2/5
N2 - We have used an antisense approach to investigate the role of overexpression of the normal human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the transformed phenotype of KB cells, which are a tumor derived human cell line. Initial experiments performed in vitro, showed that antisense RNA complementary to the entire coding region (AS-FL) or to parts of the EGF-R mRNA (AS-3', AS-5', and AS-K) effectively blocked translation of EGF-R mRNA. In addition, upon microinjection into KB cells, the in vitro synthesized antisense RNAs were able to inhibit transiently the synthesis of EGF-R. Inhibition was concentration-dependent, both in vitro and in cells, and the most effective constructs were those complementary to the entire coding region (ASFL) or to the 3'-coding end of the mRNA (AS-3'). Transfection of the same EGF-R antisense RNA constructs into the human epidermoid carcinoma KB cell line gave rise to several clones stably expressing elevated levels of antisense RNA and resulting in low residual levels of EGF receptor. The most reduced clones exhibited a totally restored serum-dependent growth and were severely impaired in colony formation and growth in agar. In addition the severity of the phenotype was directly proportional to the residual amount of EGF-R expressed. We conclude that overexpression of normal EGF-R plays a direct primary role in the development of the transformed phenotype of this human cancer cell line.
AB - We have used an antisense approach to investigate the role of overexpression of the normal human epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the transformed phenotype of KB cells, which are a tumor derived human cell line. Initial experiments performed in vitro, showed that antisense RNA complementary to the entire coding region (AS-FL) or to parts of the EGF-R mRNA (AS-3', AS-5', and AS-K) effectively blocked translation of EGF-R mRNA. In addition, upon microinjection into KB cells, the in vitro synthesized antisense RNAs were able to inhibit transiently the synthesis of EGF-R. Inhibition was concentration-dependent, both in vitro and in cells, and the most effective constructs were those complementary to the entire coding region (ASFL) or to the 3'-coding end of the mRNA (AS-3'). Transfection of the same EGF-R antisense RNA constructs into the human epidermoid carcinoma KB cell line gave rise to several clones stably expressing elevated levels of antisense RNA and resulting in low residual levels of EGF receptor. The most reduced clones exhibited a totally restored serum-dependent growth and were severely impaired in colony formation and growth in agar. In addition the severity of the phenotype was directly proportional to the residual amount of EGF-R expressed. We conclude that overexpression of normal EGF-R plays a direct primary role in the development of the transformed phenotype of this human cancer cell line.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 1733967
AN - SCOPUS:0026803055
VL - 267
SP - 2714
EP - 2722
JO - Journal of Biological Chemistry
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
SN - 0021-9258
IS - 4
ER -