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HPAC, a new human glucocorticoid-sensitive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line

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Summary

A new human pancreatic cancer (HPAC) cell line was established from a nude mouse xenograft (CAP) of a primary human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In culture, HPAC cells form monolayers of morphologically heterogenous, polar epithelial cells, which synthesize carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 19-9, CA-125, cytokeratins, antigens for DU-PAN-2, HMFG1, and AUA1, but do not express chromogranin A or vimentin indicative of their pancreatic ductal epithelial cell character. In the presence of serum, HPAC cell DNA synthesis was stimulated by insulin, insulin growth factor-I, epidermal growth factor, and TGF-α but inhibited by physiologic concentrations of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone. Dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis was limited to steroids with glucocorticoid activity. The inhibitory effect of dexamethasone was abolished by the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 38486. Binding of [3H]dexamethasone to cytosolic proteins was specific and saturable at 4° C. Scatchard analysis of binding data demonstrated a single class of high-affinity binding sites (Kd=3.8±0.9 nM; Bmax=523±128 fmol/mg protein). Western blot analysis revealed a major protein band that migrated at a Mr of 96 kDa. Northern blot analysis identified an mRNA of approximately 7 kilobases which hybridized with a specific glucocorticoid receptor complementary DNA probe (OB7). These findings support a role for glucocorticoids in the regulation of human malignant pancreatic cell function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, USA

    William R. Gower Jr.

  2. Surgery Services, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, USA

    Constantine V. Godellas & Peter J. Fabri

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, 33612, Tampa, Florida

    William R. Gower Jr. & Robert M. Risch

  4. Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, 33612, Tampa, Florida

    Constantine V. Godellas & Peter J. Fabri

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  1. William R. Gower Jr.
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  2. Robert M. Risch
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  3. Constantine V. Godellas
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  4. Peter J. Fabri
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Gower, W.R., Risch, R.M., Godellas, C.V. et al. HPAC, a new human glucocorticoid-sensitive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Animal 30, 151–161 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02631438

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02631438

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