Chicken embryo extract mitigates growth and morphological changes in a spontaneously immortalized chicken embryo fibroblast cell line

• Published in: Poultry science 2005-09, Vol.84 (9), p.1423-1431
• Main Authors: Christman, S.A, Kong, B.W, Landry, M.M, Foster, D.N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Cycle Proteins - genetics; Cell Division; Cell Line, Transformed - cytology; cells; Chick Embryo - cytology; Chick Embryo - physiology; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; E2F Transcription Factors; E2F1 Transcription Factor; embryo (animal); Fibroblasts - cytology; Gene Expression; gene expression regulation; Genes, p16; growth factors; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Transcription Factors - genetics
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1093/ps/84.9.1423

The SC-1 spontaneously immortalized chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cell line has been established recently. Although this cell line had been in culture for over 3 yr, its growth rate has remained lower than that of primary CEF cells, and the morphology has not been as uniform as observed in primary cells. In the present study, the SC-1 cell line was treated with chicken embryo extract (CEE) to determine whether growth rates could be increased and cell morphology enhanced. The CEE also was tested on primary CEF cells, another spontaneously immortalized CEF cell line (DF-1), and on 2 other nonvirally and nonchemically immortalized CEF cell lines (BCEFi and HCEFi). Results indicated that concentrations of CEE greater than or equal to 100 microgram/mL inhibited growth of all cells tested. However, addition of 50 microgram of CEE/mL enhanced the growth rate and improved the morphology of the SC-1 cells. Addition of CEE to the other immortal or primary CEF cells did not increase the growth rate or change their morphology. Analysis of mRNA expression revealed that SC-1 cells treated with 50 microgram of CEE/mL had lower levels of the p16(INK4a) alternate reading frame sequence (ARF) and E2F-1 than untreated SC-1 cells. The increased growth rate and improved morphology of the SC-1 cells achieved with CEE treatment were retained following removal of CEE, and these improvements should aid in increasing the utility of the SC-1 cell line as a cellular/molecular reagent.