Bendit I, Rich M A, Moldwin R, Waber P, Steinberg B M, Nisen P D
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9063.
Pediatr Res. 1991 Mar;29(3):268-71. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199103000-00009.
N-myc oncogene expression was characterized in porcine kidneys to investigate the potential role of this gene in normal renal development and oncogenesis. N-myc RNA expression was detected in porcine kidneys from birth until 5 wk of age, which corresponds to the time when glomerular differentiation is completed. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that N-myc protein was selectively expressed in the primordia of renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. These cells were cultured in vitro and continued to express N-myc for a limited time. Comicroinjection of a mutant ras oncogene and N-myc into these cells led to focus formation in soft agar, loss of contact inhibition, and the establishment of an immortalized cell line. These findings support a multistep model of renal oncogenesis that involves overexpression of N-myc.
