Human fibroblasts (KMST-6/RAS line) transformed with 60Co gamma-rays and c-Ha-ras oncogene constitutively produce a large amount of human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).

Human fibroblasts (KMST-6/RAS) transformed with 60Co gamma-rays and the Ha-ras oncogene formed tumors in nude mice. These mice showed splenomegaly and an increase in granulocytes in the peripheral blood. There was a direct correlation between tumor size and spleen size. Histologically, prominent proliferation of granulocytes was observed in the enlarged spleen. These findings indicated that KMST-6/RAS cells might have been producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the nude mice. In fact, in vitro studies demonstrated that the cells produced G-CSF in the culture medium and that production of G-CSF was greater during the logarithmic growth than during the stationary phase. Nearly equal amounts of G-CSF were produced by cells grown in serum-free or 10% serum-supplemented medium. Neither expression of the ras oncogene nor the tumorigenicity of cells correlated with the production of G-CSF. G-CSF production in KMST-6/RAS cells was significantly stimulated by butyrate, but not by dexamethasone or 5-azacytidine.