Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Repopulation of denuded tracheal grafts wth normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic epithelial cell populations

Journal Article · · Cancer Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5884040

The purpose of these experiments was to study the in vivo growth characteristics of nonmalignant and malignant epithelial cell cultures maintained in vitro for various lengths of time. Cell cultures tested originated from normal or carcinogen-exposed tracheal epithelium of Fischer 344 rats. The cultures were inoculated into isolated tracheas, which were then grafted to isogenic recipients. Inoculation of denuded tracheas with 1-week-old primary cultures of normal tracheal epithelium resulted in the reestablishment of a nearly normal mucociliary tracheal lining within 1 to 2 weeks. Injection of primary epithelial cultures older than 1 week failed to reestablich an epithelial lining. Inoculation with preneoplastic epithelial cell lines resulted in the establishment of a well-organized, keratinizing squamous epithelium, which remained stable for at least 6 weeks if the recipient was immunosuppressed, but which was rejected at 4 weeks in immunocompetent hosts. Inoculation with a neoplastic cell line resulted in the establishment of a well-organized squamous epithelium for 3 to 4 weeks and the development of disorganization, exophytic growth, and invasion at 4 to 6 weeks in immunosuppressed recipients. In immunocompetent hosts the epithelial lining was completely rejected within 2 weeks. When cells from a highly malignant squamous cell carcinoma line were inoculated into tracheas with an intact epithelial lining, only a few isolated nests of malignant cells were observed at 6 weeks. Repopulation of denuded tracheas with cells from the same tumor line resulted in the establishment of an atypical squamous lining at 1 week. At 2 weeks invasion was widespread, resulting in destruction of the tracheal grafts. This in vivo culture system is well suited to the study of growth and differentiation characteristics of carcinogen-altered or preneoplastic epithelial cell populations.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5884040
Journal Information:
Cancer Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Cancer Res.; (United States) Vol. 38; ISSN CNREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English