Proto-oncogene expression in cloned T lymphocytes: Mitogens and growth factors induce different patterns of expression

J. C. Reed, J. D. Alpers, P. A. Scherle, R. G. Hoover, P. C. Nowell, M. B. Prystowsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have compared the effects of a mitogenic lectin, concanavalin A (ConA), and a growth factor, interleukin-2 (IL-2), on the expression of the c-myc, c-fos, and c-myb proto-oncogenes in cloned T lymphocytes. Accumulation of c-myc mRNA was induced by both ConA and IL-2 in these cells. In contrast, expression of c-fos was stimulated primarily by ConA, and accumulation of c-myb mRNA was induced predominantly by IL-2. Thus, ConA and IL-2 induce expression of overlapping, but non-identical, sets of proto-oncogenes in T lymphocytes. Investigations with several different cloned T cells revealed that: (1) c-myb is not induced in all T cells stimulated to grow, indicating that its expression may not be absolutely required for their proliferation; and (2) expression of c-myc, even in combination with c-fos, can be insufficient for growth, demonstrating functional differences between cellular and viral oncogenes in T cells. These observation provide insight into the roles of the c-myc, c-fos, and c-myb proto-oncogenes in normal T cell responses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)223-228
Number of pages6
JournalOncogene
Volume1
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

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