Editor's statement This paper describes the possible role of a mycoplasma organism, which induces cataracts and brain pathology similar to Creutzfeld Jacob and other degenerative diseases, in malignant transformation of mammalian cells. In addition to this surprising and novel finding is the observation that the mycoplasma resides in an intracellular position. These findings may have important implications for understanding malignant transformation and the nature of the diseases produced by this organism.
Summary
A helical mycoplasma,Spiroplasma mirum strain SMCA, produced malignant transformation in mouse NIH 3T3 cells and monkey kidney CV-1 cells. The transformed cells exhibited morphological changes consistent with the transformed phenotype, grew in soft agar and produced tumors in athymic and BALB/c mice. Transmission electron microscopy revealed structures morphologically similar to mycoplasmas present in the cytoplasm of transformed but not untransformed 3T cells. The time of inoculation ofS. mirum SMCA to 3T3 cells and the passage level of 3T3 cells affected transformation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Cole, R. M. Mycoplasma and spiroplasma viruses: ultrastructure. Barile, M. F.; Razin, S., eds. The Mycoplasmas, Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press; 1979: 385–410.
Clark, H. F. Suckling mouse cataract agent. J. Infect. Dis. 114: 476–487; 1964.
Clark, H. F.; Rorke, L. Spiroplasmas of tick origin and their pathogenicity. Whitcomb, R. F.; Tully, J. G., eds. The Mycoplasmas, Vol. III. New York: Academic Press; 1964; 155–174.
DeFeo-Jones, D.; Scolnick, E. M.; Koller, R.; Dhar, R.ras-related gene sequences identified and isolated fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Nature 306: 707–709; 1983.
Fabiyi, A.; Pounds, J. E. Suckling mouse cataract agent (SMCA) in tissue culture. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 136: 88–99; 1971.
Garnier, M.; Steiner, T.; Martin, G.; Bove, J. Oxydo-reduction sites and relationships of spiroplasmas with insect cells in culture. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 20: 840–842; 1984.
Grieg, R. G.; Koestler, T. P.; Trainer, D. L.; Carwin, S. P.; Miles, L.; Kline, T.; Sweet, R.; Yokoyuma, Sh.; Poste, G. Tumorigenic and metastatic properties of “normal” and rastransfected NIH/3T3 cells. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 82: 3698–3701; 1985.
Harasawa, R.; Barile, M. F. Survey of plasmids in various mycoplasmas. Yale J. Biol. Med. 56: 783–788; 1983.
Jensen, F. C.; Girardi, A. J.; Gilden, R. V.; Koprowski, H. Infection of human and simian tissue cultures with Rous sarcoma virus. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 52: 53–59; 1964.
Kotani, H.; McGarrity, G. J. Rapid and simple identification of mycoplasmas by immunobinding. J. Immunol. Meth. 85: 257–267; 1985.
Land, H.; Parada, L. F.; Weinberg, R. A. Tumorigenic conversion of primary embryo fibroblasts requires at least two cooperating oncogenes. Nature 304: 596–602; 1983.
McGarrity, G. J.; Detection of mycoplasmal infection of cell cultures. Maramorosch, K., ed.; Advances in Cell Culture, Vol. 2, New York: Academic Press; 1982: 99–131.
McGarrity, G. J.; Kotani, H. Use of cell cultures to study spiroplasma pathogenesis. Isr. J. Med. Sci. 20: 924–926; 1984.
McGarrity, G. J.; Megraud, F.; Gamon, L. Rabbit lens cell cultures in the characterization ofSpiroplasma mirum pathogenicity. Ann. Microbiol. (Inst. Pasteur) 135A: 249–254; 1984.
Megraud, F.; Gamon, L.; McGarrity, G. J. Characterization ofSpiroplasma mirum (suckling mouse cataract agent) in a rabbit lens cell culture. Infect. Immun. 42: 1168–1175; 1983.
Ranhand, J. M.; Mitchell, W. O.; Popkin, T. J.; Cole, R. M. Covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acids in spiroplasmas. J. Bacteriol. 143: 1194–1199; 1980.
Razin, S. Molecular biology and genetics of mycoplasmas (Mollicutes). Microbiol. Rev. 49: 419–455; 1985.
Steiner, T.; McGarrity, G. J.; Phillips, D. Cultivation and partial characterization of spiroplasmas in cell cultures. Infect. Immun. 35: 296–304; 1982.
Steiner, T.; McGarrity, G. J.; Bove, J.; Phillips, D.; Garnier, M. Insect cell cultures in the study of attachment and pathogenicity of spiroplasmas and mycoplasmas. Ann. Microbiol. (Inst. Pasteur) 135A: 47–53; 1984.
Tully, J. G. Interaction of spiroplasmas with plant, arthropod and animal hosts. Rev. Inf. Dis. 4 (Supplement): S193-S199; 1982.
Tully, J. G.; Whitcomb, R. F.; Clark, H. F. Pathogenic mycoplasmas: cultivation and partial characterization of spiroplasmas in cell cultures. Science 195: 892–894; 1977.
Tully, J. G.; Bastian, F. O.; Rose, D. L. Localization and persistence of spiroplasmas in an experimental brain infection in suckling rats. Ann. Microbiol. (Inst. Pasteur) 135A: 111–117. 1984.
Weinberg, R. A. The action of oncogenes in the cytoplasma and nucleus. Science 230: 770–776; 1985.
Williamson, D. L.; Tully, J. G.; Whitcomb, R. F. The GenusSpiroplasma. Whitcomb, R. F.; Tully, J. G., eds. The Mycoplasmas, Vol. V. New York: Academic Press; in press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kotani, H., Phillips, D. & McGarrity, G.J. Malignant transformation of NIH-3T3 and CV-1 cells by a helical mycoplasma,Spiroplasma mirum, strain SMCA. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 22, 756–762 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02621093
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02621093