Transformation and immortalization of diploid xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts

Diploid xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) skin fibroblast strains from various XP-complementation groups (B, C, G, and H) were transformed with an origin-defective SV40 early region or with the pSV3 gpt plasmid. In the latter case, transfected cells were selected for their ability to express the dominant xgpt gene. Immortalized cell lines were obtained, from XP-complementation groups C (8CA, 3MA, and 20MA; XP3MA and XP20MA were formerly considered to belong to complementation group I), G (2BI and 3BR), and H (2CS). No immortalized cells could be isolated from complementation group B (11BE). The immortalization frequency of wild-type diploid fibroblasts and diploid cultures from XP patients was not significantly increased by cotransfection with the SV40 early region plus several selected viral and cellular oncogenes. In fact, co-transfection with some of the oncogenes caused a marked decrease of the transformation frequency. The observed immortalization occurred at a frequency of approximately 5 x 10(-8).