It has been proposed that extremely low frequency magnetic fields may enhance tumorigenesis through a co-promotional mechanism. This hypothesis has been further tested using the two-stage model of mouse skin carcinogenesis, i.e. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced promotion of skin carcinogenesis in mice initiated by a single subcarcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Experimentation utilized three different doses of TPA within its dose-response range (0.85, 1.70 or 3.40 nmol) and examined the following early biomarkers of tumor promotion after 1, 2 and 5 weeks of promotion: increases in epidermal thickness and the labeling index of epidermal cells, induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and down-regulation of epidermal protein kinase C activity, Mice exposed to a 60 Hz magnetic field having a flux density of 2 mT for 6 h/day for 5 days/week were compared with mice exposed to an ambient magnetic field. Within the sensitivity limits of the biomarker methodology and the exposure parameters employed, no consistent, statistically significant effects indicative of promotion or co-promotion by the magnetic field were demonstrated.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its receptor are believed to play an important role in mitogenesis and neoplastic transformation. The purpose of this study was to further examine the role of IGF-1 during tumor promotion in mouse skin. HK1.IGF1 transgenic mice, which overexpress IGF-1 in epidermis via the human keratin 1 promoter, were previously shown to be hypersensitive to skin tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We examined these mice for their sensitivity to diverse classes of tumor-promoting agents. HK1.IGF-1 transgenic mice initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene were more sensitive to treatment with a wide variety of tumor promoters, including chrysarobin, okadaic acid, and benzoyl peroxide, which resulted in more rapid development of tumors and a dramatic increase in the number of tumors per mouse compared with corresponding non-transgenic mice treated with the same compounds. Histological analyses of skin from HK1.IGF-1 mice treated with various tumor promoters revealed that these mice were also more sensitive to the induction of epidermal hyperplasia and cell proliferation. Analysis of the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1r) and epidermal growth factor (ECFr) in the epidermis of TPA-treated HK1.IGF-1 transgenic and non-transgenic mice revealed that both receptors were activated (hyperphosphorylated on tyrosine residues), and the level of activation was higher in transgenic mice. The mechanism for the increased sensitivity of HK1.IGF-1 mice to tumor promoters may involve cooperation between the ICF-1r and EGFr signaling pathways. Our data suggest that IGF-1r signaling may play an important role in the process of tumor promotion by diverse classes of tumor promoters. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The current study was designed to further establish that most papillomas produced in SENCAR mice during two-stage skin carcinogenesis are, in fact, premalignant lesions and to specifically determine the malignant conversion potential of papillomas that arise at different times during the carcinogenesis process. A method was established to physically map and monitor the lifespan of all papillomas produced in SENCAR mice during the course of an initiation-promotion experiment using DMBA as the initiator and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) as the promoter. The results from these experiments showed that in groups of mice initiated with either 0.5 or 2.0 microg DMBA, long-term (60 weeks) treatment with TPA yielded a significantly higher number of SCCs compared to short-term treatment (7 weeks). Papillomas that emerged after 11 weeks and thereafter in all treatment groups had the ability to progress to SCCs. The median conversion time for all papillomas in all groups was 26 weeks. When corrected for median conversion time, papillomas that emerged in week 11 and thereafter in all treatment groups had similar or greater conversion ratios compared to those that emerged within the first 10 weeks. Interestingly, the median conversion time was significantly shorter (18 versus 27 weeks, respectively; P<0.0002) for papillomas that emerged in week 11 and thereafter compared to those that emerged at or prior to 10 weeks for all groups. The data in this study demonstrate that papillomas arising throughout a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol in SENCAR mice progress to SCCs. Many papillomas that arise later in two-stage carcinogenesis protocols do not have sufficient time to allow for conversion and should be excluded from the analyses. Furthermore, another novel finding of the current study was the observation that papillomas arising later in the two-stage protocol (>11 weeks) progressed to SCCs at a faster rate than those that arose earliest in the protocol.

Transgenic mice were developed to explore the role of the erbB2 during epithelial homeostasis and tumorigenesis, through targeted expression of the neu oncogene (neu*). Expression of a neu* cDNA was targeted to the basal layer of skin epidermis as well as other epithelial tissues of transgenic mice via the bovine keratin 5 promoter. Two transgenic founders were obtained that were morphologically distinguishable from non-transgenic littermates by their visibly thickened skin and patchy hair growth by day 3 after birth. The presence of the transgene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of tail DNA and immunofluorescence analysis of neu* protein in skin sections. Histological evaluation revealed significant hyperplasia of the follicular and interfollicular epidermis, the abnormal presence of horny material in the dermis and hypodermis, and a dramatic increase in epidermal proliferation. Many areas of the dermis involving this abnormal epithelial proliferation exhibited a squamous cell carcinoma-like appearance. In addition, there was unusual proliferation of the sebaceous glands. One founder died at day 14 and the other at day 20. The latter founder had two papillomas at the time of death. Additional phenotypic changes resulting from the expression of neu* in other tissues included hyperkeratosis in the forestomach and esophagus. In addition, there was a lack of distinction of the cortical-medullary boundaries and an increased rate of cell death in lymphocytes in the thymus. The phenotypic changes in these other tissues correlated with transgene expression. The data suggest that erbB2 signaling has an important role in epidermal proliferation. In addition, the data provide strong support for a role for erbB2 signaling during epidermal carcinogenesis in mouse skin.

Multiple epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) ligands have been identified, including transforming growth factor a (TGF alpha), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), amphiregulin (AR), and betacellulin (BTC). Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that TGFa mRNA and protein are upregulated in epidermis during tumor-promoter treatment of mouse skin and in skin tumors produced by initiation-promotion regimens. The purpose of the study described here was to explore the role of other EGFr ligands in multistage skin carcinogenesis. A single topical treatment of either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or chrysarobin or a single full-thickness wound induced the expression of HB-EGF and AR in mRNA samples isolated from whole mouse skin. However, only full-thickness wounding significantly elevated expression of the BTC transcript. The revels of HB-EGF and AR transcripts were significantly elevated in skin tumors (both papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas) induced by initiation-promotion protocols. BTC transcript levels were low and barely detectable in all skin tumors examined. The level of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) mRNA was also examined as a possible mechanism for upregulation of EGFr ligands. Only full-thickness wounding significantly elevated KGF transcript levels in whole-skin RNA samples. Furthermore, no evidence for upregulation of KGF mRNA in skin tumors was obtained. The results are discussed in terms of the role of EGFr activation in skin carcinogenesis and the mechanisms for altered regulation of EGFr ligands. Mel. Carcinog. 22:73-83, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

It has been known for many years that there are dramatic differences in the susceptibility of mouse stocks and strains to two‐stage skin carcinogenesis and that these differences are due to the animals' responsiveness to tumor‐promoting agents. In earlier studies using several inbred mouse strains, we found that susceptibility to skin tumor promotion by phorbol esters such as 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) is a multigenic trait. To extend this work, we conducted a genome scan of (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 × C57BL/6 mice previously scored for sensitivity to skin tumor promotion by TPA. As a result of this scan, we now report an association of increased TPA promotion susceptibility with inheritance of the DBA/2 alleles of markers on the distal portion of mouse chromosome 9. Additional linkage analyses using (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F2 and B×D recombinant inbred mice confirmed this association and suggested that a TPA promotion susceptibility locus maps near D9Mit51 (LODw = 4.1). We designated this locus promotion susceptibility locus 1 (Psl1). Mol. Carcinog. 20:162–167, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Transgenic animals were developed to assess the role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in skin growth, differentiation and organization, as well as its importance in tumor formation. Expression of a human IGF-1 cDNA was targeted to the interfollicular epidermis of transgenic mice using a human keratin 1 promoter construct (HK1). Transgenic animals (HK1.IGF-1 mice) could be identified at birth by early ear unfolding and excessive ear and skin growth compared to non-transgenic littermates. Further examination of the skin from these mice showed epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, marked thickening of the dermis and hypodermis, and early hair follicle generation in newborns. The severity of this phenotype correlated with transgene expression both of which subsided with age. Adult HK1.IGF-1 mice developed spontaneous tumors following treatment with 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) alone and exhibited an exaggerated epidermal proliferative response following treatment with the tumor promoter compared to non transgenic littermates. Additionally, HK1.IGF-1 transgenic mice developed papillomas faster and in markedly greater numbers compared to non-transgenic littermates in standard initiation-promotion experiments. The data presented suggest an important role for IGF-1 in the process of multistage carcinogenesis in mouse skin.

We examined the possible role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) and IGF-I receptor (IGF-Ir) during multi-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. For th is purpose, the expression of both IGF-I and IGF-Ir was investigated in mouse skin during tumor promoter treatment and in primary papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) obtained from SENCAR mice treated with standard initiation-promotion regimens. ICF-I transcripts were not detectable or only weakly detectable in normal SENCAR mouse epidermis by northern or reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, respectively, whereas IGF-I-transcripts (primarily a 7.0-kb transcript) were readily detected in RNA preparations from the dermis by both northern blot analysis and RT-PCR analysis. in contrast, IGF-Ir transcripts were observed in RNA samples from both epidermis and dermis of control SENCAR mice. Single and multiple topical treatments with 3.4 nmol of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) had no effect on dermal or epidermal IGF-I and IGF-Ir mRNA levels. In contrast, the levels of IGF-I transcripts were elevated (2.5- to 15-fold) in a significant number of mouse skin tumors (71% of all tumors examined). Transcripts of 7.0, 2.5, and 1.3 kb were more consistently overexpressed in skin tumors compared with epidermis, whereas the two smaller transcripts were most consistently overexpressed compared with the dermis. The levels of an 11.0-kb IGF-Ir transcript were also elevated (2.5- to 8-fold) in some papillomas (20%) and SCCs (55%), but the percentage of tumors exhibiting this property (32% of all tumors examined) was lower than the percentage overexpressing IGF-I. These data suggest that altered expression of ICF-I and IGF-Ir may play a role in multistage carcinogenesis in the mouse skin model, The inability of TPA to induce elevated IGF-I or IGF-Ir expression suggests that these changes in skin tumors are coincident with tumor formation and not a direct result of altered epidermal proliferation per se. Altered expression of IGF-I in a high percentage of papillomas may indicate that IGF-I has an important role in the development of autonomous growth in these tumors. The higher percentage of SCCs with altered levels of IGF-Ir mRNA may indicate a role for these changes in the later stages (i.e., tumor progression) of carcinogenesis in this model system. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The present study was designed to further investigate the role of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) in mouse skin tumor promotion by evaluating the status of the EGFr in tumor promoter-treated mouse epidermis and in mouse skin tumors. Female SENCAR mice received three topical treatments of either the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or the nonphorbol esters okadaic acid and chrysarobin. Membrane proteins from SENCAR mouse epidermis were isolated 6 h after the last treatment, and the phosphotyrosine content of the EGFr and several potential substrates were examined by Western blot analysis. The results indicated that multiple applications of all three tumor promoters led to an increase in the phosphotyrosine content of the EGFr and also of several lower molecular weight proteins (M(r) approximately 80,000-85,000). Phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1 on tyrosine residues could not be detected in tumor promoter-treated mouse epidermis when the phosphotyrosine content of the EGFr was elevated or in cultured keratinocytes exposed to exogenous EGF. When two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrphostins RG50864 and RG13022) were incorporated into the treatment regimens, the TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia and cell proliferation were effectively blocked, and the TPA-stimulated EGFr tyrosine phosphorylation was significantly reduced. Examination of the phosphotyrosine content of epidermal membrane proteins isolated from skin papillomas revealed that the EGFr also had elevated phosphotyrosine levels. These results demonstrate that multiple topical treatments with both phorbol ester and nonphorbol ester tumor promoters lead to activation of the EGFr tyrosine kinase in mouse epidermis. In addition, these data suggest that signaling through the EGFr pathway plays an important role in the tumor promotion stage of multistage carcinogenesis in mouse skin.

The present study has examined changes in activities and levels of four protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes (PKC alpha, PKC beta, PKC gamma and PKC delta) detectable in mouse epidermal preparations following both single and multiple treatments with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In addition, PKC epsilon and PKC eta protein levels were monitored by immunoblotting following TPA application. Finally, PKC isozyme activity profiles were also examined in epidermal preparations from mice treated with single applications of two non-phorbol ester tumor promoters: chrysarobin (CHRY) and okadaic acid (OA). Fifteen minutes following topical treatment with a tumor promoting dose of TPA (3.4 nmol), the activities of PKC beta and PKC gamma decreased in the epidermal cytosol to 30% and 50% of control values, respectively, while these activities were increased in the epidermal particulate fraction by approximately 50%. PKC delta activity, found predominantly in the particulate fraction of control epidermis, was greatly diminished in both subcellular fractions at 15 min while PKC alpha activity was translocated approximately 20% from cytosol to particulate fraction. Significant reductions in all four detectable PKC isozyme activities in both particulate and cytosol fractions were observed 48 h after a single treatment with TPA, although particulate PKC alpha activity appeared to be less affected at this point in time compared to the other PKC isozymes. Immunoblotting analyses of PKC isozyme protein levels after TPA treatment followed the changes in activity for cytosolic PKC alpha, PKC beta and PKC gamma. However, particulate PKC delta and PKC epsilon protein levels remained relatively unchanged while particulate PKC eta protein levels were significantly down-regulated after a single TPA treatment. Multiple topical treatments (twice-weekly for 2 weeks) with TPA produced a pattern of loss followed by only partial recovery of total PKC activity. Furthermore, all four PKC isozyme activities examined by hydroxylapatite (HA) chromatography were significantly reduced, including PKC alpha, after four applications of TPA. Cytosolic PKC alpha, PKC beta and PKC gamma protein levels as determined by immunoblotting again followed the activity profiles; particulate PKC eta protein levels were significantly reduced, whereas particulate PKC delta and PKC epsilon levels again appeared relatively unchanged. Fifteen minutes after topical application of 220 nmol CHRY, an approximately 25% decrease in particulate associated with PKC alpha activity was observed while particulate activities associated with PKC beta, PKC gamma and PKC delta were unaffected by CHRY at this time point.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The modulation of xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase (XD/XO) activities in vaginal epithelium as a function of estrogen- and progesterone-induced differentiation was investigated in ovariectomized SENCAR mice. The vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized mice consisted of one or two cell layers. Intraperitoneal administration of 20 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol stimulated vaginal hyperplasia, and orthokeratinization. In contrast, although i.p. administration of 2.5 mg progesterone induced hyperplasia, it caused mucification of surface cells. Relative to ovariectomized control mice, vaginal XO specific activities were significantly elevated within 48 h of estradiol treatment and reached a maximum (285%-330% of control) 24-48 h later. The changes in XO specific activity correlated with the appearance of granular and horny layers in the epithelium, and reflected increases in both tissue XD content and the conversion of XD to XO. Approximately 45% of total XD + XO activity was XO in control mice. In contrast, 80% of total activity was contributed by XO in mice 72 h or 96 h after 17 beta-estradiol treatment. In marked contrast, vaginal XO + XD and XO specific activities, and XO/XD + XO ratios were unaffected in ovariectomized mice treated with progesterone. Collectively, these studies suggest that the expression of XD, and the conversion of XD to XO in vaginal epithelium are differentiation-specific, and characteristic of the orthokeratinization pathway of differentiation.

The murine skin multistage carcinogenesis model was used to characterize the co-promoting and tumor progressing activities of i.p. administered recombinant DNA-derived murine gamma interferon (rMuIFN-gamma). The dorsal skins of female SENCAR mice were topically initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted twice a week for 20 weeks with 1 microgram of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Doses of rMuIFN-gamma that had no effect on papilloma multiplicities when administered 1 day prior to TPA treatment increased the numbers of papillomas per mouse by 33-38% when administered immediately prior (zero time) to TPA application. A minimum of 6 weeks of co-treatment with TPA and rMuIFN-gamma (zero time) were necessary for demonstration of rMuIFN-gamma-dependent co-promotion. The ad libitum administration of either 0.25 or 1% (w/v) solutions of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in the drinking water inhibited by 90% the TPA-dependent elevation of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity but had minimal effect on papilloma multiplicities in TPA-promoted mice. However, both doses of DFMO completely suppressed rMuIFN-gamma-dependent co-promotion. Carcinoma incidence and multiplicities by weeks 46-48 of the promotion-progression period were statistically indistinguishable for initiated mice treated with TPA, TPA + DFMO, TPA + IFN-gamma or TPA + DFMO + IFN-gamma. Similarly, i.p. administration of rMuIFN-gamma to papilloma-bearing mice in a tumor progression study, with and without simultaneous topical TPA treatment, did not affect carcinoma latency or carcinoma multiplicities. C57BL/6 mice initiated with DMBA developed few papillomas (0.2 paps/mouse) after 19 weeks of TPA promotion. The i.p. administration of rMuIFN-gamma to C57BL/6 mice at the time of TPA treatment, at doses that were co-promoting in SENCAR mice, did not increase papilloma multiplicities. Collectively, our studies suggest that the co-promoting activity of rMuIFN-gamma is exceptionally sensitive to inhibition by DFMO and dependent upon the scheduling and duration of rMuIFN-gamma treatment, and the mouse strain/stock employed for the studies.

A procedure was developed for the per cell estimation of catalase activities in suspensions and cultures of murine epidermal keratinocytes (MEKs). Per cell catalase activity in MEKs cultured in low Ca2+ medium was relatively constant during the proliferation phase of culturing, but increased approximately 100% within 24 h of cessation of cell division. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) treatment of proliferating MEKs cultured in low Ca2+ medium resulted in (i) an initial suppression of proliferation, (ii) the accelerated detachment and differentiation of detached MEKs and (iii) a suppression of catalase induction in the detached population. Induction of MEK differentiation by raising the medium Ca2+ concentration resulted in rapid inhibition of cell division and approximately 200% increases in per cell catalase activities. Addition of TPA immediately prior to Ca2+ shift completely suppressed the Ca2(+)-dependent increases in activity. However, the addition of TPA 48 h after the induction of differentiation by Ca2+ shift had no effects on the elevated, pre-existing catalase activities. Per cell catalase activities varied in vivo with the stage of MEK differentiation. Specifically, the lowest and highest per cell activities (approximately 4-fold difference) were measured in enriched basal cell and spinous cell populations respectively. Catalase activity in the more differentiated MEKs was reduced approximately 33% within 24 h of topical treatment of dorsal skin with a promoting dose of TPA. However, catalase activity in enriched basal cell preparations was unaffected. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that per cell catalase activities increase as MEKs differentiate, and that TPA suppresses the increases in catalase activities that normally occur during differentiation.

Recombinant DNA-derived murine gamma-interferon (rMuIFN-gamma) was tested in the murine skin multistage carcinogenesis model as a modulator of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promotion. Female SENCAR mice were topically initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and promoted twice weekly with TPA for 20 weeks. Intraperitoneal administration of rMuIFN-gamma 1 day prior to TPA treatment affected neither the kinetics of papilloma development nor the percentage of mice that developed tumors. However, papilloma multiplicities could be either inhibited or increased depending upon the dose of rMuIFN-gamma. Papilloma multiplicities for mice receiving 100, 500, 1000, and 5000 units of rMuIFN-gamma were 184, 122, 105, and 84% of TPA control values, respectively. In contrast, twice weekly i.p. treatments of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene initiated mice with only rMuIFN-gamma for 20 weeks did not promote the development of any tumors. Consequently, TPA functioned as a copromoter in those situations in which combined TPA and IFN-gamma treatments elevated papilloma multiplicities. Collectively, the current study demonstrates that rMuIFN-gamma can systemically modulate TPA-dependent promotion in mouse skin.

The distributions of xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in subpopulations of murine keratinocytes differing in their stages of terminal differentiation were determined by enzymatic analyses. Keratinocytes were isolated from the skins of female SENCAR mice that had been treated 72 h earlier with either acetone or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The ratio of XO/(XD + XO) specific activities was used as an index of the XD to XO conversion. The XO/(XD + XO) ratios for basal cell, suprabasal cell, granular cell plus squamae, and horny sheet preparations isolated from acetone- or TPA-treated mice were 0.35, 0.35, 0.45, 0.75 and 0.28, 0.29, 0.58, and 1.0, respectively. Total XD + XO and XO specific activities in each subpopulation derived from TPA-treated mice were approximately twice the values measured in their control counterparts. Suspension culturing of basal cell keratinocytes in methylcellulose induced terminal differentiation and a conversion of XD to XO. The kinetics of keratin disulfide crosslinking and the XD to XO conversion were similar and preceded cornification. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the conversion of XD to XO occurs primarily during the later stages of keratinocyte terminal differentiation. Furthermore, the increases in XO activity measured in epidermal homogenates after TPA treatment are due to TPA-dependent increases in 1) the relative proportions of keratinocytes undergoing differentiation, 2) tissue XD content, and 3) increased conversion of XD to XO.

Recombinant DNA-derived murine 7-interferon (rMuIFN-7) was tested in the murine skin multistage carcinogenesis model as a modulator of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promotion. Female SENCAR mice were topically initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz- (a)anthracene and promoted twice weekly with TPA for 20 weeks. Intraperitoneal administration of rMuII N-> 1 day prior to TPA treat ment affected neither the kinetics of papilloma development nor the percentage of mice that developed tumors. However, papilloma multi plicities could be either inhibited or increased depending upon the dose of rMuIFN-7. Papilloma multiplicities for mice receiving 100,500,1000, and 5000 units of rMull N-->were 184, 122, 105, and 84% of TPA control values, respectively. In contrast, twice weekly i.p. treatments of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene initiated mice with only rMuIFN-7 for 20 weeks did not promote the development of any tumors. Consequently, TPA functioned as a copromoter in those situations in which combined TPA and IFN-7 treatments elevated papilloma multiplicities. Collec tively, the current study demonstrates that rMuIFN-7 can systemically modulate TPA-dependent promotion in mouse skin.