Coordinate morphological and biochemical interconversion of human neuroblastoma cells

• Published in: JNCI : Journal of the National Cancer Institute Vol. 71; no. 4; p. 741
• Main Authors: Ross, R A, Spengler, B A, Biedler, J L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1983
• Subjects: Cell Line; Clone Cells; Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase - analysis; Epithelium - metabolism; Epithelium - pathology; Humans; Karyotyping; Neuroblastoma - metabolism; Neuroblastoma - pathology; Neuroblastoma - ultrastructure; Neurons - enzymology; Neurons - ultrastructure; Phenotype; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - analysis
• ISSN: 0027-8874; 1460-2105
• DOI: 10.1093/jnci/71.4.741

This study was undertaken to determine whether the two type of cells (one neuroblast-like and the other epithelial in appearance) of the human neuroblastoma line SK-N-SH in culture undergo morphological interconversion, whether conversion is bidirectional, and whether there are coordinate neurochemical changes. Phenotypic analysis of serially isolated neuroblast clones (SH-SY, SH-SY5, SH-SY5Y) revealed conversion to epithelial-like cells. Conversely, conversion also was promoted from an epithelial-like clone (SH-EP) to neuroblastic subclones. Cell origin could be verified because of a marker chromosome specific to SH-EP. Only neuroblastic subclones of SH-EP contained activities for tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, enzymes unique to catecholamine neurons; epithelial-like cells lacked activities for these enzymes. These findings indicate a coordinate morphological and biochemical interconversion of neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells and reveal a plasticity in phenotypic expression in malignant neuronal cells.